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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Winners and losers following the Ravens' 2025 offseason
Baltimore is loaded on both sides of the football, and GM Eric DeCosta knowingly chose to restock the defense with the organization's first two NFL draft picks. The Ravens cruised through the off-season workout program and have a looming two-day mandatory mini-camp scheduled before the team takes a five-week break before returning for the mid-July training camp. Baltimore's two top sack artists return on defense, but the edge rusher position will host the most challenging position battles, just ahead of third cornerback and safety. Advertisement As we await the arrival of training camp, here are the winners and losers of the Baltimore Ravens' offseason. Winners Keaton Mitchell A year and a half removed from a major knee injury that cut his rookie season short, Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell says he feels better than he did three years ago. As a rookie, Mitchell led all running backs with at least a dozen attempts in yards per carry (8.4 avg), and he has set personal records in all of his speed tracking analytics this offseason. OLB Mike Green Green, a second-round draft pick out of Marshall, displayed elite athleticism and outstanding quickness during OTAs. CB T.J. Tampa After spending the bulk of his rookie year injured, Tampa has plenty to prove this summer, and looked athletic and agile during OTAs. OLB Tavius Robinson Ravens pass rush coach Chuck Smith called Robinson "a centerpiece" of the Baltimore defense. The former Ole Miss pass rusher had 32 tackles (13 solo), including 3.5 sacks, one pass defensed, and 12 QB hits in 17 games last season. Advertisement The 2023 fourth-round pick out of Ole Miss spent the first half of the season in a rotational role at edge rusher, but he did start in the final six regular-season games. Robinson will likely serve as the Ravens' primary backup edge rusher for the 2025 campaign behind Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, while potentially sliding inside to defensive end in key schemes that feature Mike Green off the edge. DB Sanoussi Kane Ar'Darius Washington will be out until at least Week 13, opening up the door for Kane to nab the 3rd safety spot ahead of Beau Brade. Kane was flying around all OTAs, and the seventh-round pick out of Purdue has a shot at carving out an integral role after logging just 22 defensive snaps last season. DC Zach Orr Baltimore added Malaki Starks, Mike Green, Teddye Buchanan, Bilhal Kone, Aeneas Peebles, and Robert Longerbeam to the roster, giving defensive coordinator Zach Orr a starting safety, a lethal edge rusher, a starting inside linebacker candidate, two cornerbacks and a defensive lineman to a defense that was shredded early on last season. Losers QB Lamar Jackson Jackson was a full participant for the Ravens' first open practice of organized team activities on May 28, but hasn't returned to the field since, costing him $750,000 for the second consecutive year. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player's contract has a clause that pays Jackson nearly $1 million should he attend at least 80% of the team's voluntary workouts. The loss of income lowers Jackson's 2025 compensation from $43.5 million to $42.75 million. OL Emery Jones Jr. It was going to be hard for any of the rookies to make a significant contribution this year outside of Emery Jones Jr, the third-round pick and offensive tackle from LSU. A potential roster battle for the left or right guard spot hasn't materialized because Jones didn't practice and won't be ready until late in training camp because of a shoulder injury. QB Devin Leary Neither of the backup quarterbacks, Cooper Rush or Leary, has been impressive, but the former Kentucky quarterback could force Baltimore to add another signal caller to the mix. David Ojabo Odafe Oweh is likely safe after having his fifth-year option exercised, but the addition of Mike Green makes life difficult for David Ojabo and Malik Hamm. This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Baltimore Ravens off-season winners and losers
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder's Jalen Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander join LeBron James, Kyrie Irving in NBA Finals lore
The post Thunder's Jalen Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander join LeBron James, Kyrie Irving in NBA Finals lore appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Oklahoma City Thunder are a win away from having an NBA championship parade after they scored a pivotal 120-109 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Advertisement The Thunder's Game 5 victory probably would not have been possible without the incredible production of the duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. The 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player dropped 31 points on a 9-for-21 shooting from the floor while Williams led all players in the contest with an NBA Playoff career-high of 40 points on the strength of a 14-for-25 shooting from the field. With those performances, Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander became just the first pair of teammates in an NBA Finals game to pull off an astonishing scoring feat since LeBron James and Kyrie Irving did during their time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 'Jalen Williams and SGA join LeBron and Kyrie as the only teammates since 1980 to finish a Finals game with 40+ points for one and 30+ points for the other,' posted Zach Kram of ESPN on the social media platform, Bluesky. Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander took turns in pummeling Indiana, which didn't have its biggest star performing up to par. Tyrese Haliburton had a nightmarish night with his shot, as he missed all six of his attempts from the field while finishing with just four points, all from the foul line. Advertisement The Pacers had a spirited run in the fourth quarter, where they reduced an 18-point deficit down to a four-point disadvantage, but unlike in the series opener, Oklahoma City extinguished Indiana's comeback attempt and made great plays on both ends of the floor to avoid a complete collapse and secure a win. Game 5 was another reminder as well that the Thunder are more than just about Gilgeous-Alexander, with Williams doing most of the heavy lifting offensively. Meanwhile, Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace provided 25 points and seven 3-pointers together for the Thunder, who can close out the series and raise the Larry O'Brien Trophy as soon as Game 6 on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana. Through five games in the 2025 NBA Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the Thunder with an average of 32.4 points on a 47.5 field goal percentage, while Williams is right behind him with 25.8 points per outing on a 44.7 success rate from the floor. Related: Stephen A. Smith uses Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen example to praise Thunder's Jalen Williams Related: Thunder's Alex Caruso issues strong message after Game 5 victory
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers facing tough Game 7 NBA Finals trend after tying series vs. Thunder
The post Pacers facing tough Game 7 NBA Finals trend after tying series vs. Thunder appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Indiana Pacers created a far different celebration in front of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers were the ones in party mode, on a night the Thunder was one win away from securing the title. Advertisement Indiana rushed through OKC with an impressive 108-91 trouncing at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Fans glued to the NBA Finals now will get treated to a Game 7. Indiana showed its heart is still beating in avoiding an OKC celebration. But a certain trend is on the Pacers' side. One Indiana must find a way to scale. Sportsnet Stats unveiled what Indiana now faces ahead of Sunday. Before both teams enter the Paycom Center for the final time. 'This will be the 20th Game 7 in NBA Finals history. The home team has won 15 of the previous 19 contests,' the account posted on X. How Pacers forced Game 7 against Thunder Kyle Terada-Imagn Images The Pacers and Thunder will engage in the first NBA Finals seventh deciding game since 2016. LeBron James spearheaded the epic 3-1 comeback for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Golden State Warriors that night nearly a decade ago. Advertisement But how did Indiana force the final game? Especially after being down by a large deficit early? Chet Holmgren hit a finger roll layup to make it 10-2. OKC fans started to visualize a celebration after Thursday. But Pascal Siakam ignited the charge — banking a 16-foot jumper to spark the rally. Siakam then threw down a thunderous dunk in front of Jalen Williams. That helped place a cap on a massive second quarter onslaught. Indiana led 28-25 after the first quarter, but outscored OKC with an astonishing 36-17 second quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faced triple teams. The reigning Most Valuable Player settled for a series low 21 points. Holmgren settled for just four points — as that layup represented his final time getting the ball inside the hoop. Game 5 hero Williams was even bottled, ending with 16 on the evening. Advertisement The Pacers watched Obi Toppin drop 20 off the bench. Toppin became one of six Pacers in double figures and nailed four three-pointers. Tyrese Haliburton went from hobbled to scoring 14 facing elimination. Andrew Nembhard rained down 17 points including hitting three from behind the arc. Indiana is at a disadvantage still with the raucous crowd awaiting them. Plus the torrid history for road teams in Game 7. Although the last NBA Finals seventh game was won by the visitors. Indiana now can attempt to join the Cavs in NBA lore. Related: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton makes WWE exception to social media rule Related: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton reveals girlfriend's 'Love Island' plan after Game 6 victory
Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ruthless Pacers throttle Thunder to push NBA finals to decisive Game 7
Fueled by defense, depth and defiance, the Indiana Pacers stormed to a 108-91 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, leveling the NBA finals at three games apiece and setting up a decisive Game 7 in Oklahoma City. Obi Toppin came off the bench to score 20 points, Andrew Nembhard added 17 points with four assists and Pascal Siakam had 16 points and 13 rebounds as Indiana bounced back from consecutive losses. Tyrese Haliburton, cleared to play only hours before tipoff due to a strained right calf, delivered 14 points, five assists and two steals in 22 high-impact minutes. 'We just wanted to protect our court,' Haliburton said. 'We didn't want to see those guys celebrate a championship on our home floor. Backs against the wall, we just responded. So many different guys chipped in. It was a whole team effort. Really proud of this group.' Indiana missed their first eight shots and quickly fell behind 10-2. But the Pacers flipped the game with a relentless two-way surge that spanned the second and third quarters. They outscored the Thunder 68-32 in that stretch and led by as many as 31 points early in the fourth. It was their first double-digit win of the series and the Thunder's second-largest deficit of the season. The Pacers dominated across the box score. They forced 21 turnovers – including eight by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – and turned those into 19 points. They held the Thunder to just 8-for-30 (26.7%) from beyond the arc, outrebounded them 46-41, and led in fast-break points 22-11. TJ McConnell stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals, while Ben Sheppard added five points, five boards and a made three-pointer off the bench. Haliburton, who had finished with four points in Game 5, helped ignite a 30-9 run late in the second quarter with two threes, a steal and an assist to Siakam for a transition dunk. He also buried a deep three late in the first quarter to put Indiana up 24-17, their first real cushion of the night. Siakam followed up his dunk with an 18-foot jumper just before the halftime buzzer, giving Indiana a 64-42 lead. Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly minted Most Valuable Player, finished with a quiet 21 points. Jalen Williams, who erupted for 40 points in Game 5, was held to 16 on Thursday. The Thunder's usual defensive disruptiveness was absent and coach Mark Daigneault pulled his starters at the start of the fourth quarter. Now the series shifts to a winner-take-all Game 7 in Oklahoma City on Sunday night, marking the first time the NBA finals has gone the distance since 2016. Home teams are 15-4 in such games, though the Thunder franchise suffered one of those rare defeats as the Seattle Supersonics in 1978. Guardian
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
OKC Thunder ready to play for all the marbles: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam during the second half of Game 6. PHOTO: REUTERS OKC Thunder ready to play for all the marbles: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander INDIANAPOLIS – The Oklahoma City Thunder 'sucked' in a sloppy, lopsided NBA Finals Game 6 loss on June 19 to the Indiana Pacers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said, but he is confident that they have what it takes to claim the title in Game 7. 'The way I see it, we sucked tonight,' Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, said after the Thunder's bid to close out the Pacers ended in a 108-91 defeat in Indianapolis. Averaging more than 30 points per game in the Finals, the star point guard scored just 21 to go along with four rebounds, two assists and eight of the Thunder's 21 turnovers. 'Some of them I think was carelessness, not being as focused, not being engaged,' the Canadian added of the Thunder's uncharacteristic turnovers. 'They played harder than us tonight as well. When a team plays harder, they turn the other team over.' Gilgeous-Alexander's eight turnovers were more than his seven baskets, but Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said the defeat was on the entire team. 'First of all, credit Indiana,' he said. 'I thought they obviously earned the win. They outplayed us for most of the 48 minutes. That's the story of the game. They went out there and attacked the game. 'From our standpoint, it was uncharacteristic. It was disappointing. It was collective. It wasn't one guy. Just we were not where we needed to be on either end of the floor for much of the game.' The Pacers rallied around injured star Tyrese Haliburton, who was cleared to play with a right calf injury only a couple of hours before tip-off. He scored 14 points with five assists and two steals in a solid contribution to a comprehensive team effort. Obi Toppin led the Pacers scoring with 20 points off the bench as Indiana's reserves out-scored Oklahoma City's bench 48-37. Andrew Nembhard added 17 points and Pascal Siakam had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Pacers, who had lost the last two games to stand on the brink of elimination. 'We just wanted to protect home court,' Haliburton said. 'We didn't want to see these guys celebrate a championship on our home floor. 'Backs against the wall, we just responded... So many different guys chipped in, total team effort. I'm really proud of this group.' The Thunder, winners of a league-best 68 regular-season games, pulled their starters after falling behind by 30 going into the fourth quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander admitted the chance of clinching the franchise's first title since it relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008 – they won n 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics – was 'definitely in the back of our minds'. 'Now, we didn't play like it at all,' he added. 'That's why the night went the way it did. We got exactly what we deserved, what we earned. We have to own that.' But he did not think he and his Thunder teammates – who ousted the Denver Nuggets with a lopsided Game 7 win in their Western Conference semi-final series – needed to find something new. 'I don't feel like I have to do anything other than just be the best version of myself,' he said. 'I think that goes for everyone else in the room. We just have to bring what we bring to the table, what we've brought to the table all year. 'One game for everything you ever dreamt of. If you win it, you get everything. If you lose it, you get nothing. It's that simple.' The Pacers, meanwhile, are in search of a first NBA title. They won American Basketball Association titles in 1970, 1972 and 1973 before joining the NBA as part of the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. The term 'one game' was also on their minds as they look towards Game 7 on June 22. 'You know, we've got one game,' Haliburton said. 'All cards on the table. It's going to be a lot of fun.' AFP, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
