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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Stephen A. Smith's daughter made a surprise appearance that no one saw coming
(Image Source - Getty Images) Game 6 was supposed to be all about Thunder vs. Pacers—until Samantha walked into the shot. Thanks to Elle Duncan's playful invite, Stephen A. Smith's daughter made a surprise cameo that changed the whole vibe. A quick quip, a proud grin, and just like that, the night's most unexpected highlight wasn't a buzzer-beater—it was a dad trying to keep it cool on live TV. A sudden entrance prepares ESPN viewers for more than just basketball Just as Tyrese Haliburton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were about to take center stage, Samantha jumped in. Thanks to Elle Duncan's invitation, she appeared on screen, greeted everyone, and humorously said, 'I'm so happy to be here, I've made so many friends'. Her appearance caught Stephen A. completely off guard—he quipped, 'You just got here five minutes ago,' expertly blending dad humor with live TV discipline. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv) With SportsCenter airing from courtside, Elle Duncan took a fun chance. She kicked things off with, "Bring your daughter to work day," which really set the vibe for a spontaneous family appearance. The segment moved from serious analysis to a more affectionate tone, offering viewers a break from all the stats and strategies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Зачем на ночь сжигают лавровый лист? Undo Samantha, already comfortable, brought her own charm, playfully joking with Duncan and lightly teasing her dad—showing that parenting and sports commentary can mix on live TV. Later on NBA Countdown, Samantha came back to share her thoughts on how the night turned out. She confidently chose the Oklahoma City Thunder, going against the grain, which everyone enjoyed. Stephen A. couldn't help but react, grinning as he said, 'She usually beats me on predictions'. Although Stephen A. has lived much of his life under the spotlight, he has kept his daughters, Samantha and younger sister Nyla, mostly out of the limelight. He only confirmed they existed in 2019, when they were already 11 and 10 years old. His heartfelt pride for his girls—"my daughters are everything to me"—was evident in those few seconds of on-air interaction, providing social media with a rare look at the softer side of the fiery analyst. At one of the shows with a lot of rivalry and playoff drama, it was the showdown between Stephen A. Smith and his daughter which actually touched hearts, not to mention led to the news headlines. Samantha was natural and her chat pointed to another side of the long serving commentator Kenro where at that moment being a father took center stage as compared to his role as an analyst. Also Read: Kevin Durant responds sharply as fist fight rumors drag Phoenix Suns deeper into chaos For fans captivated by the Thunder-Pacers matchup, this surprise family moment served as a lovely reminder that even in high-pressure sports, it's the spontaneous, heartfelt instances that truly connect with us. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
New York Post
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Stephen A. Smith's daughter makes NBA Finals cameo — and the ESPN star didn't know how to handle it
What is better than one Smith? Two Smiths. Famous ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith and his daughter, Samantha, shared rare screen time together ahead of the Pacers' 108-91 Game 6 trashing of the Thunder in Indianapolis. It seemed like Smith had no intentions of bringing his daughter on 'SportsCenter' until co-host Elle Duncan invited her on camera. 4 Stephen A. Smith and his daughter on ESPN's 'SportsCenter.' @awfulannouncing/X and ESPN Just like her father, Samantha was a natural in front of the camera. 'Hi guys, I'm Samantha. I'm so happy to be here, I've made so many friends. This is really a great experience,' Samatha said. 'This is a really great experience and I feel really grateful to be here, you guys.' While Samantha gave her introduction, her father did not look too thrilled. Later during the conversation, Stephen even gave some pointers to his daughter on how to act professionally in front of the camera after Samantha interjected while Duncan talked. 'Did you just interrupt her while she was talking?' Stephen said. After that, the conversation wrapped up and Samantha was on her way. 4 Stephen A. Smith and his daughter, Samantha. @awfulannouncing/X But that was not the end of her night on TV. Later, during 'NBA Countdown' on ABC, Samantha returned to make her Game 6 pick. 4 Samantha returned to offer her pick. @TSN_Sports/X 'I'm going OKC,' Samantha said. 'I think they're just going to end it tonight.' This pick went against her father's take and Stephen would get the last laugh. 4 Indiana's Obi Toppin, who had a team-high 20 points, and James Johnson. AP The Pacers led by as much as 31 points to force a Game 7 on Sunday thanks to an all-around strong performance that featured six players scoring at least 10 points. Samantha is one of Smith's two daughters. She has a younger sister, Nyla.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Sport
- Business Insider
Where to watch NBA Finals: Live stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers Game 6
The Thunder vs. Pacers Championship series heads to a sixth and potentially final game. We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch the NBA Finals, including live streaming options for those without cable. It's safe to say that the 2025 NBA Finals have been an exciting, far less predictable series than last year's 4-1 Boston Celtics blowout over the Dallas Mavericks. The No. 4 Indiana Pacers have mostly held their own against the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder. However, a difficult Game 5 and some potential injury action from Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton have put Indiana, now down 2-3, in jeopardy of being eliminated in Game 6. The series will return to Indianapolis for tonight's game, giving the Pacers a home-court advantage, but the Thunder could very well snag the 2025 title should they win. If the Pacers pull through, it will send the series to a definitive, winner-takes-all Game 7. The NBA Finals haven't reached a tie-breaking Game 7 since 2016, so extending past tonight's match-up would be a rarity and a first for this decade. Below, you can find some of the best viewing options for the game. If you don't want to read any further: the cheapest way to live stream the NBA Finals in the US without a free trial is through a subscription to Sling TV. We've outlined everything you need to know about Sling below and highlighted a few other popular streamers that can help you tune in. Follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp to stay up to date on the latest streaming deals, guides, and reviews What channel are the NBA Finals on? Game 6 of the Thunder vs. Pacers series will air on ABC in the United States. The game is scheduled to tip off on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, but viewers can tune in at 8 p.m. for pre-game NBA Countdown coverage. ABC will also host Game 7 if the 2025 NBA Finals extend past tonight. Where to watch NBA Finals in the US As we mentioned above, the absolute cheapest way for US cord-cutters to live stream the NBA Finals without a free trial is through Sling TV, since ESPN Plus won't be carrying the series. Sling costs $46 per month, but new customers can get 50% off their first month of service. That means you can watch every game of the NBA Finals (even if the series makes it to Game 7) for $23. Sling is a month-to-month cable alternative, which means that you can cancel at any time. You'll want to sign up for Sling's Orange plan, which carries ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, and 30 other popular live channels. ESPN3 live streams NBA on ABC games, so you'll be able to watch the Finals here. This is how I personally watched the Game 5 Championship win in 2024, and I've double-checked the Sling TV guide this year to confirm that Game 6 will live stream on ESPN3. While Sling doesn't have a free trial for new customers, other live TV streaming services that offer a free trial have significantly higher monthly fees, but they also come with even more channel options. Two of the best live TV streaming services that we've tried ourselves are DirecTV and Fubo. DirecTV 's signature Entertainment plan costs $85 per month, offers access to 90+ channels, and comes with a five-day free trial for new customers. Fubo 's Pro plan starts at $85 per month, comes with at least 150 live channels, and offers a seven-day free trial for new users. Plus, new Fubo users can get $20 knocked off their first month of service. How to watch NBA Finals from anywhere NBA fans traveling outside the US can still keep up with their usual viewing methods with the help of a VPN, or virtual private network. VPNs are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that enable people to change the virtual location of their devices. This way, they don't need to miss out on any games just because they're away from home. VPNs are popular ways to improve online security and privacy. The services we've highlighted today require US payment methods, so this option will work best for Americans who are just abroad at the moment. ExpressVPN consistently ranks among the best VPNs on the market. It's a top-rated, user-friendly option with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more about the app and its extensive cybersecurity features in our ExpressVPN review. Use a VPN to watch these events & shows free: All the items below have a free streaming option that can be unlocked from anywhere with a VPN. Set it to the corresponding country, and you're all set. MotoGP - various Love Island USA - various Love Island UK - various Queen's Tennis / Wimbledon - UK The Traitors - various Walking Dead: Dead City - New Zealand Poker Face - New Zealand The Handmaid's Tale - Australia Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
Black America Web
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Stephen A. Smith Tells Haters 'Kiss My Ass' Over Viral Solitaire Video, Social Media Rips Him Instead
Source: John Nacion / Getty Stephen A. Smith literally got caught in 4K, but he's still decided to stand on business. Last week, during Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, the ESPN pundit had an eagle-eyed view of the game. But instead of being fully engaged, a fan from up above caught him playing solitaire on his phone. He copped to it, and now he's doubling down on a recent episode of Sirius XM NBA Radio. 'I was doing what the hell I always do and for those out there that don't like it, kiss my a-s,' he said. Smith went on to explain that this is far from his first time playing the digital card during a live game. 'When I'm watching the game, I'm watching the game,' he said. 'If there's a break in the action — It could be a dead ball or a time out or something like that— I can play the game for two seconds.' He continues on, defending his grueling schedule as one of the hardest-working men in sports television. 'I watch over 100 games a year, I'm on TV every morning for two hours, and that's just one job,' he says before listing his other commitments like NBA Countdown and SportsCenter appearances. Smith confirms that he did actually win that solitaire game and joked that he's glad that's all they caught him doing on his phone. 'I work too damn hard too long too many hours to be worried about what people think I'm doing for two minutes,' he ended the conversation. When he was caught playing last week, the very critical host was suddenly the subject of people judging his actions during a game. He tried to claim it was during a break in play, but then video proved he was on his phone when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was on a fast break layup, and community notes on X further confirmed his lie . Even social media lurker Kevin Durant posted the incriminating photo to his Instagram Stories with the caption 'Cmon Steve.' Smith's moves are under a stronger magnifying glass than ever before because, just like the athletes he speaks on, he just signed a massive contract extension worth $100 million, making him the highest-paid on-air talent at ESPN. He's likely not going to face any punishment for his distraction, but it's not a good look when one of the network's most popular talking heads isn't even engaged in the NBA Finals. Especially as fans have complained about watching two small-market teams being a snooze fest and nitpicking small details, such as the lack of Larry O'Brien trophy decals on the hardwood. See social media's reaction to Smith's clapback below. Stephen A. Smith Tells Haters 'Kiss My Ass' Over Viral Solitaire Video, Social Media Rips Him Instead was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
2025 NBA Finals: How to stream, game times, and TV schedule
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder tied the NBA Finals series with a 111-104 win over Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 on Friday night. The game was played in Indianapolis. The series is now tied 2-2. Game 5 is set for Monday, June 16, at 7.30 pm. CT in Oklahoma City. The game will be played at Paycom Center and will air live on ABC. Fans can also stream the game on Fubo. Thunder games this season have gone over the 222.5-point total in 52 of 82 games. Pacers games went over that mark 60 times. The teams together average 237.9 points per game, which is 15.4 points higher than the set total. Their opponents combine for 222.7 points per game, just over the line. OKC has been the favorite in 78 games this year and has won 65 of them. Indiana has won 14 of 31 games as the underdog. The Thunder have beaten the Pacers in four of their last six games. OKC also holds a 4-2 record against the spread in those games and has covered in four straight, all as the favorite. Also Read: 'Shoot it 35 times, go for it': 4-time NBA champion tells Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to shut out media criticisms NBA Countdown, the Finals pregame show on ESPN and ABC, is hosted by Malika Andrews and includes Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins, Bob Myers, and Shams Charania. It airs 30 minutes before each game—8 p.m. CT for weeknight games and 7:30 p.m. CT for weekend games. On weeknights, coverage begins on ESPN2 from 7:30 to 8 p.m., then moves to ABC from 8 to 8:30 p.m. ESPN Radio is broadcasting all NBA Finals games live as it celebrates its 30th year covering the Finals. The games can be heard on ESPN Radio stations and the ESPN App. Marc Kestecher calls the games with analyst P.J. Carlesimo and reporter Jorge Sedano. NBA Today, ESPN's weekday NBA show, is also airing live from the Finals. It is hosted by Malika Andrews and features Kendrick Perkins, Chiney Ogwumike, Udonis Haslem, and Brian Windhorst. NBA Today airs from 3-4 p.m. CT on ESPN.
