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Indianapolis Star
19 minutes ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana Pacers do something that's never been done in NBA playoffs
You can argue all you want if the Indiana Pacers have a superstar, but their superpower is their depth. In Thursday's Game 6 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers had six players score in double figures, and that's been a constant this season — and postseason. In fact, the Pacers are the first team in NBA history with eight players to score at least 200 points in a single playoffs: In six NBA Finals games so far, the Pacers have had four players lead the team in scoring (Siakam in Games 1, 4 and 5, Haliburton in Game 2, Mathurin in Game 3 and Toppin in Game 6). "You've got a group of guys who all have all had a somewhat similar path of being overlooked," Turner said after Game 6. "You have guys like Aaron Nesmith and Pascal getting traded and Tyrese getting traded and Nembhard is a second-round pick. "I think we all carry a little bit of that weight with us. When you put a bunch of guys like that together, that starts to add up." All the right moves: How Pacers were built into an unlikely title contender Here are some more stats: ∎ McConnell had 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals, becoming the first bench player to hit those numbers in an NBA Finals game since starters and bench players were first tracked in the 1970-71 season. ∎ McConnell is the first bench player in NBA history with 60+ points, 25+ assists and 15+ rebounds in an NBA Finals, per StatMuse. ∎ Per Statmuse, Obi Toppin is just the second bench player in NBA Finals history with 70+ points, 30+ rebounds and 12+ 3s made. The other? Big Shot Bob, Robert Horry.
NBC News
28 minutes ago
- Sport
- NBC News
The ‘margin' stat that was the biggest key to the Indiana Pacers saving their season
INDIANAPOLIS — This late in a playoff series, as Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam put it Thursday night, there are no "secrets" left between opponents. There are very few — if any — surprise adjustments left on the board. The coaches know each other's plays. The players know each other's tendencies. Said Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton: 'All these games are coming down to the margins.' And there was one margin in particular that propelled Indiana to a stunning, 108-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, the same one that coach Rick Carlisle said cost them Game 5: Turnovers. 'We played better,' Carlisle said when asked about the giveaways after Game 6. 'We were where we should be most of the time. Well, a lot more than we were in Game 5. And we were stronger with the ball, and we had some that weren't great ones. But when we made a mistake, we bounced back well, and that's what you've got to do this time of year.' 'We watched film and it tells us what we do,' forward Obi Toppin added. 'They don't put too many good clips up on the film. We knew we had to be better today.' Thursday was a complete turnaround for the Pacers when it came to turnovers. In Game 5, the team coughed up the ball a whopping 22 times in an 11-point loss, including seven in the first quarter and eight in a tightly contested fourth. And they came in a variety of forms, from bad passes to aimlessly dribbling into traffic to picking up the ball too far away from the hoop. In Game 6, Indiana had zero turnovers in the first quarter, only two by halftime, and seven by the end of third — building a 30-point lead before backups played the majority of the fourth quarter. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had more turnovers by himself (eight) than the entire Pacers roster after three quarters. 'We were at least a little bit stronger with the ball,' Siakam said about the difference between the last two games. 'Obviously, we are not a team that really turns the ball over but when you play against a defense like they do that really disrupts you. 'Just the key is two hands on the ball, like the most basic stuff. You know, just make the pass, the easy pass usually, not try to complicate it, and I think that's the most important.' After a miraculous comeback in Game 1, in which Indiana turned the ball over 25 times but still managed to steal the game at the end, holding onto the ball has been a key indicator for the Pacers' success. In their last two wins in the finals, Indiana has averaged only 12.5 turnovers. In their three losses? 18. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, has forced 3.1 more turnovers per game in its playoff wins compared to its playoff losses. The extra possessions for Indiana especially paid off early. In the first 12 minutes of the game, the Pacers shot only 8-of-25 from the field, a ghastly 32% conversion rate. And yet, they still led by three after the first, in large part because Indiana had the ball more than the Thunder, who had five turnovers in the opening period. Whereas the Pacers had their lowest giveaway total of the championship round in Game 6, OKC had its highest turnover game of the playoffs, with 23 blunders leading to 32 Indiana points. Against an incredibly stingy defense, and with Haliburton limited by a calf strain, the Pacers desperately need any and all easy scores. And now, as the series shifts to a Game 7, Haliburton says it is the margins that will ultimately decide the winner, and crown a champion for the 2024-25 season. 'Can you win the rebound battle, can you win the turnover battle, can you set the tone from a physicality standpoint?,' Haluburton said. 'Those are all what's been very important through all these games and I feel like whoever has done that has won game. 'So going into Game 7, it's just important for us to control the controllables, the effort stuff. That's going to be really important.'
Newsweek
33 minutes ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Pacers' TJ McConnell Makes Massive NBA Finals History
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Indiana Pacers received yet another impressive performance off of the bench from backup point guard T.J. McConnell on Thursday night in their dominant 108-91 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. With their season on the line, the Pacers made it clear that they're not quite ready for the season to end. The win has set up a winner-take-all Game 7 in Oklahoma City on Sunday night. In the win, McConnell was once again the energizer bunny for Indiana. He came off the bench to play 24 minutes, scoring 12 points on 6-for-12 shooting to go along with nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals. T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in... T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. More Photo byMcConnell was once again a part of a bench explosion in the scoring column for the Pacers. As a whole, the Indiana bench scored 48 points. Read more: Spurs' Potential Kevin Durant Trade Pursuit Receives Major Update Obi Toppin led the team in scoring. He came off the bench to score 20 points on 6-for-12 shooting and knocked down four of his seven three-point attempts. Behind Toppin, the Pacers saw Andrew Nembhard score 17 points, Pascal Siakam chip in with 16 points and 13 rebounds, Tyrese Haliburton score 14 points despite dealing with a calf strain, McConnell score 12, and Aaron Nesmith put up 10. On Friday morning, Indiana took to social media to share that McConnell has now made massive NBA Finals history. According to the Pacers' post on X, McConnell is the first bench player in NBA history to have 60 or more points, 25 or more assists, and 15 or more rebounds in the NBA Finals. the first bench player in @nba history to have 60+ points, 25+ assists and 15+ rebounds in the NBA Finals: T.J. McConnell 😤 — Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 20, 2025 Needless to say, the 33-year-old point guard is one of the main reasons the Pacers are still alive. Their season comes to one game on Sunday. If they win, they are NBA champions, but if they lose, their magical season comes to a heartbreaking end. Read more: Mavericks Projected to Pair Star Free Agent With Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis So far in six games in the NBA Finals, McConnell has averaged 11.3 points, 4.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game in the second unit. He has shot 53.7 percent from the floor and has knocked down three of his five attempts from the three-point arc. If Indiana wants to pull off the shocking upset win in Game 7, McConnell will need to be a big part of it. Fans can be sure that he'll bring a lot of energy to the court on Sunday evening. That being said, Game 7 is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Pacers and Thunder will both be looking to close out a championship in the final game of the 2024-25 NBA season. For more on the Indiana Pacers and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'A keeper for sure'- Tyrese Haliburton's girlfriend Jade Jones' reaction on his calf injury wins hearts on social media
Tyrese Haliburton and Jade Jones via Instagram Tyrese Haliburton's presence in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals played a crucial role in leading the Indiana Pacers to their much-needed victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the speculations around his right calf sprain, Haliburton went on to become a hotbed of discussion in the NBA world. Tyrese Haliburton's girlfriend, Jade Jones' adorable reaction to his injury, has won the hearts of his fans on social media, and they just can't stop talking about her. Tyrese Haliburton's fans react to girlfriend Jade Jones' take on the Indiana Pacers' star's calf injury Tyrese Haliburton made headlines after he was seen limping during a postgame press conference after Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The speculations around his presence in Game 6 had set the internet on fire. Despite being injured in his right calf, Haliburton was spotted in full action against the OKC Thunder and accelerating the Pacers towards their much-needed victory. Haliburton's girlfriend, Jade Jones, became an internet sensation, all thanks to her adorable reaction to the NBA star's calf injury. From discussing her nails to her compassionate response to his injury, Haliburton's fans believe that he has struck gold, as Jones is a keeper for life. A fan even mentioned 'Wow, man he picked a keeper for sure.' 'A keeper cuz she has compassion!' 'Lowkey might be one of the prettiest NBA girlfriends I've seen.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 'If she ain't like this, I don't want her.' 'Damn, she's so beautiful, icl.' 'Look at her nails bruv. She's pretty tho.' 'I wonder what she'll put on his calf while watching Love Island.' 'Goat. Glad Halli is on the Love Island train.' During a recent press conference, Tyrese Haliburton provided a major update on his right calf injury. He sounded quite confident about facing the Thunder in the upcoming games. The Pacers' star said, 'I have a lot of trust in our medical staff. I have a lot of trust in our organization to make the right decision. I think there have been many situations through the course of my career where they've trusted me on my body. … I want to be out there. That's the plan.' As the cut-throat competition between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder inches closer towards Game 7, Tyrese Haliburton's contribution has been phenomenal during the ongoing 2025 NBA Finals Also Read: 'Series over'- Fans react to Tyrese Haliburton's exit from Game 6 of 2025 NBA Finals Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
For Pacers and Thunder, there's no looking back now. All eyes are only on Game 7 in the NBA Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half during the first half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP) Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton hugs NBA hall of fame Reggie Miller, left, after Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, stands with teammates during a timeout during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) attempts a shot against Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Maddie Meyer/Pool Photo via AP) Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) celebrates with forward James Johnson (16) during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) celebrates with forward James Johnson (16) during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half during the first half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP) Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton hugs NBA hall of fame Reggie Miller, left, after Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, stands with teammates during a timeout during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) attempts a shot against Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Maddie Meyer/Pool Photo via AP) Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) celebrates with forward James Johnson (16) during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Game 6 of the NBA Finals had been over for only about 10 or 15 minutes, and the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder were turning the page. What happened over the previous couple of hours in Indianapolis had already been deemed irrelevant. The only thing on their minds: Game 7. Advertisement 'A privilege,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 'A great privilege,' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. A back-and-forth title matchup — Indiana led 1-0 and 2-1, Oklahoma City led 3-2 — will end on Sunday night with an ultimate game, the first winner-take-all contest in the NBA Finals since 2016. It'll be Pacers at Thunder, one team getting the Larry O'Brien Trophy when it is over, the other left to head into the offseason wondering how they let the chance slip away. 'We have one game for everything, for everything we've worked for, and so do they,' Thunder guard and reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'The better team Sunday will win.' Advertisement History favors the home team in these moments: 15 of the previous 19 Game 7s in the NBA Finals were won by the club playing on its own court. The Thunder played a Game 7 at home earlier in these playoffs and won by 32, blowing out Denver to reach the Western Conference finals. Indiana's most recent Game 7 was at Madison Square Garden in last season's Eastern Conference semifinals; the Pacers blew out New York by 21 in that game. All-time, home teams are 112-38 in Game 7s (excluding the 2-2 record 'home' teams had in the bubble in the 2020 playoffs, when everything was played in Lake Buena Vista, Florida). But in recent years, home sweet home has been replaced by road sweet road; visiting teams have won nine of the last 14 Game 7s played since 2021. 'It's exciting, man. It's so, so, exciting,' Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said. 'As a basketball fan, there's nothing like a Game 7. There's nothing like a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. Dreamed of being in this situation my whole life. So, to be here is really exciting. Really exciting for our group. What happened in the past doesn't matter. What happened today doesn't matter. It's all about one game and approaching that the right way." Advertisement The fact that Haliburton is playing at all right now is a story in itself. He looked good as new in Game 6 even with a strained right calf, something that he's needed around-the-clock treatment on this week. The Pacers haven't had to coax him into it; Haliburton's own family is offering up constant reminders that he needs to be working on his leg. 'My family has been on me,' Haliburton said. 'If they call me, they are like, 'Are you doing treatment right now?' ... My family has been holding me accountable.' There's a lot of accountability going on among the Thunder right now as well. A different kind, of course. They were massive favorites going into Game 6 — +3000 odds to win the series, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. That means a $100 bet on the Thunder would have returned a whopping $103 or so if they had won the game and clinched the title. A 36-9 run by Indiana turned a one-point lead early in the second quarter into a full-fledged blowout early in the third. And with that, a Thunder team that finished with the best record in the NBA this season now has zero room for error. Advertisement Win on Sunday, and all ends well for Oklahoma City. Lose on Sunday, and they'll go down in history as one of the best regular-season teams that failed to win a title. 'If they had won by one, they would have probably walked out of this game with confidence,' Thunder guard Jalen Williams said of the Pacers before leaving Indy's arena for the final time this season. 'That's what makes them a good team. That's what makes us a good team. ... They're going to go into Game 7 confident, and so are we.' The Thunder flew home after the game on Thursday night. The Pacers were flying to Oklahoma City on Friday afternoon. They'll spend some time looking at film, then go through the final practices — which won't be much more than glorified walk-throughs — of the season on Saturday. And then, Game 7. For everything. 'I think we played to exhaustion,' Pacers guard T.J. McConnell said after Game 6. 'But we have to do it again on Sunday.' ___ AP NBA:
