Latest news with #NBAFinals
USA Today
18 minutes ago
- Business
- USA Today
How does the Desmond Bane trade from the Grizzlies to the Magic affect the Boston Celtics?
How does the Desmond Bane trade from the Grizzlies to the Magic affect the Boston Celtics? How does the Desmond Bane trade from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Orlando Magic affect the Boston Celtics, if at all? The Magic ponied up four first round draft picks, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Cole Anthony to secure Bane to their roster as they mushed their chips in to make a run at the 2026 NBA Finals in what is looking like a down season for Boston while star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum recovers from a torn Achilles tendon injury. Does this move change the order of the NBA's Eastern Conference for the 2025-26 NBA season? What about in future seasons? Was the move an overpay, or did it make sense given the market and the assets going out in the deal? The hosts of the CLNS Media "The Big Three NBA" podcast, A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn, and Kwani Lunis took some time on a recent episode of their show to talk the trade and its impact over. Check it out below! If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network:
Boston Globe
22 minutes ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Too bad the Celtics' roster can't remain the same, but it's good to know Brad Stevens will be in charge of the changes
Some of us, many of us, watched highlights of that championship run this week, and let me tell you if you do not know, it was the perfect elixir to stop thinking about how this season got away from them and appreciate what they achieved a season ago. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up I miss watching that team, and I'm going to miss the players from that team when some of them inevitably depart for other NBA destinations this offseason. Advertisement I don't want the Celtics to change. But they must. Life moves fast in the NBA, and a punitive collective bargaining agreement is going to make teams' championship windows slam shut even faster than before. The money and the math demand that the Celtics' — who are approximately $20 million over the second tax apron, a phrase all of us prefer to have never heard — make changes now, or face even more punitive punishments, ones that affect roster-building, a few long dribbles down the road. Advertisement It's not practical to stand pat, and most likely it would not have been even if But there is one compelling consolation. And now we're going to have the chance to watch him cook. As much as I'll miss any 2023-24 champion that moves on this offseason, I'm fascinated to see how Stevens approaches this. This much is certain: If and when he makes a major move, it would be a surprise if anyone sees it coming until it's about to happen or already has. I don't anticipate a long build-up of suspense or any leaks about what they might do given how his front office operates. I anticipate being blindsided. Every significant trade Stevens has made — starting with his first, in which he got out of Kemba Walker's deal and brought back Yes, that includes the move that sent Aaron Nesmith — a terrific shooter who has learned to crash into people more efficiently for the Pacers — out in a package for Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon helped bring Jrue Holiday here a year later, and Holiday helped put that newest banner in the rafters. Advertisement But Stevens's degree of difficulty is far higher than it has ever been. The franchise's tax circumstances are no secret, and any general manager with a clue will be trying to pry talent away at a discounted cost. That could be Holiday, who because of age, contract, and appeal to would-be contenders seems likeliest to move on. It could be Sam Hauser, whose extension has painful tax implications. It could mean Kristaps Porzingis, if one team watches his 2024 highlights on YouTube rather than the grim video of his 2025 playoff performances. WHAT A RETURN FOR KRISTAPS PORZINGIS 🔥 18 PTS 7-9 FGM 2 3PM 2 BLK He's the 9th player since 1976-77 to put up 18+ points in the first half of their NBA Finals debut 👏 — NBA (@NBA) It would be And what of Jaylen Brown? It would be tricky to trade him in a few ways. Only the Nets could take on his salary without sending salary back. And his appreciation for and understanding of Boston matters. But Stevens does have to consider it if a team such as the Rockets or Spurs makes an enticing offer. It was jarring watching the 2024 Finals highlights and realizing how much more explosive Brown was in that postseason than this one, when he played through a partially torn meniscus. He's had surgery, and perhaps that explosiveness comes all the way back. But these playoffs could be considered a glimpse at what Brown might be as a player when his athleticism starts to wane — a good one, for sure, but one who must become more efficient as he gets older. I'm not sure he will. Advertisement The Celtics also have picks 28 and 32 in next week's draft. Stevens has made just one first-round pick during his tenure, taking Baylor Scheierman of Creighton 30th overall last year. Scheierman looks promising, and Stevens must use the picks wisely again this year for a team that will require some young, low-priced talent to emerge. I'll reiterate: I'd love for them to find a way to land Georgia's Asa Newell, an energetic teammate of Cooper Flagg's at Montverde Academy. It won't be long now before the unflappable Stevens begins to shape the Celtics' future. I sure will miss the accomplished players who won't be part of those plans. But I can't wait to see who he chooses to succeed them. Chad Finn can be reached at
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Drake Loses $800K Bet On NBA Finals Following Thunder's Game 6 Upset
Drake Loses $800K Bet On NBA Finals Following Thunder's Game 6 Upset originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Indiana Pacers dominated the OKC Thunder in Game 6 to force a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. They won the game 108-91 and now head to Oklahoma to decide who wins the NBA championship. Advertisement Before the game, hip-hop sensation Drake posted a picture on his IG story where he confirmed betting $800,000 on the Thunder beating the Pacers to close out their series in six games and win the NBA championship. Now that the Pacers have won Game 6, Drake has lost that gamble. The Pacers had a dominant second quarter and took a 22-point lead to end the first half (64-42). The Pacers extended their lead to as far as 31 points before the Thunder waved the white flag and pulled out their starters at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Where Did It All Go Wrong For The Thunder? When Gilgeous-Alexander had a rough start to the game and had three turnovers in the first quarter, it felt like the game was not going to go the Thunder's way. He struggled tonight and scored only 21 points while attempting only one three-pointer, which he failed to make. Advertisement But the main struggle for him was the turnovers. He recorded the most turnovers in a single game for his entire career as he finished the game with eight of those. The poor start seemed to impact his confidence as he only attempted 15 shots before the reigning MVP was done for the night, while averaging almost 22 shots per game. For the Pacers, six players scored in double digits as Obi Toppin led all scorers with 20 points. Tyrese Haliburton made his first shot from the left side of the basket, as the injured Pacers star did not play most of the fourth quarter but provided a necessary spark for them to build the lead initially. The highlight of the game for the Pacers would be the Pascal Siakam poster dunk on Jalen Williams in the second quarter that essentially broke their spirits to even try and pull off a comeback. The play was started by a Tyrese Haliburton steal on the other end of the floor before a perfect 'no-look' dime set Siakam up for a thunderous slam. Drake Has Lost Millions On Sports Betting Earlier this week, Drake posted a screenshot on his Instagram story, which revealed the lesser desirable side of sports betting, his losses. According to the screenshots, he has lost over $8 million over the past month on sports betting. While presumably most of it is on the NBA Playoffs, it is not limited to just basketball. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the Canadian rapper has a net worth of over $250 million. Therefore, his gambling losses are only 3.2% of his net worth. Nonetheless, it revealed the risk that Drake regularly takes while putting money on his favorite sports teams. Advertisement Related: NBA Fans React After Drake Bets $620K Against The Lakers In Game 3 This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
News18
an hour ago
- Sport
- News18
OKC Thunder's Jalen Williams Scripts Unwanted NBA History In Blowout Game 6 Loss vs Pacers
Last Updated: Williams had a historic low in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, with a -40 +/- as the Thunder lost 108-91 to the Pacers. The series is now tied 3-3, with Game 7 set for Sunday. From scoring a whopping 40 points in Game 5 to registering a dismal -40 +/- total today, the OKC Thunder's Jalen Williams had a historic night in Indiana he'd like to forget as soon as possible. A hobbled Haliburton, backed by his relentless Pacers teammates, dismantled the SGA-led Thunder in a 108-91 blowout win in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, forcing a Game 7 for the winner to take all the spoils. Hundreds of confident Oklahoma City fans who flocked to the Paycom Center expecting to celebrate the Thunder's first NBA championship on Thursday night headed for the exits when their team fell behind by 30 points. Williams couldn't replicate his success from Game 5, finishing with just 16 points, 3 rebounds, and a staggering plus-minus of -40 — the worst in NBA Finals history, according to Basketball Reference. The previous record of -38 was held by Jrue Holiday, set during last year's Finals when he was with the Boston Celtics in Game 4 against the Dallas Mavericks. For comparison's sake, Williams was a game-high +14 in his much-discussed Game 5 masterpiece. The Thunder brought a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series into Game 6 in Indianapolis, only for everything to go wrong, as superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was left dismayed. Yet, all that he could do was watch helplessly as Pascal Siakam slam-dunked an exclamation point of a bucket onto his head. Till Game 6, the 24-year-old Williams had averaged 25.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 4.2 APG this series, with his rise in the last three games having elevated the Thunder to astronomical levels. Yet, it seems like they have still fallen one step short of a much-craved NBA Championship, and when the lights shone the brightest, Williams folded in the worst of fashions. 'We didn't do a good job trusting each other to make the next play like we did Game 5," Williams expounded in a post-game conference. 'That starts with me being better.. Good news is we have another game to figure it out." One can expect Williams and co. to regain their mojo back home when the Thunder and the Pacers set out to script history for their franchises in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, scheduled to take place this coming Sunday. First Published: June 20, 2025, 13:45 IST
Time of India
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NFL star Justin Jefferson caught playing Fortnite courtside at the NBA Finals
Image via Epic Games In a rather unexpected crossover between the worlds of professional sports and gaming, NFL superstar Justin Jefferson was seen playing Fortnite courtside during the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. While fans eagerly watched Game 6 unfold at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Pacers secured a 108-91 victory to keep the series alive, Jefferson - a four-time Pro Bowler and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver, was spotted with his eyes glued to a Fortnite session. The moment reportedly occurred during warm-ups, but that didn't stop it from setting social media ablaze. Jefferson's passion for Fortnite is well documented. In fact, the game introduced a skin based on him, along with his signature 'Griddy' dance, back in 2021. As one of the NFL's biggest stars since entering the league in 2020, his presence in the Fortnite universe has only grown, blending digital fame with athletic dominance. This past season, the wideout tallied 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns, adding another stellar chapter to an already impressive career. Fans react to Justin Jefferson's courtside gaming moment While some fans found Jefferson's gaming moment humorous and relatable, others weren't so kind. One Twitter user joked, 'Fortnite mobile at courtside is crazy,' while another wrote, 'Bro lockin' in - now this is game prep.' An old tweet from 2021 also resurfaced in light of Jefferson's courtside gaming, where he was humorously called out for skipping a media interview to play in a Fortnite match. Though not widely discussed at the time, the moment adds to a growing list of lighthearted instances that show just how committed Jefferson is to the game - both on the field and in the virtual world. Jefferson's courtside gaming moment also reinforces the lasting appeal of Fortnite, especially in 2025. Despite newer titles entering the scene, Fortnite continues to dominate with over 60 million daily active users and a whopping 650 million registered players globally. Major events, collaborations, and ever-evolving gameplay have kept it relevant across age groups and professions - even among elite athletes. The game remains a powerhouse on streaming platforms too, boasting 12 million weekly viewer hours on Twitch earlier this year. From music festivals and movie crossovers to NFL stars casually logging in courtside, Fortnite has proven itself more than just a battle royale - it's a cultural phenomenon. And with Justin Jefferson leading his own digital charge, it's safe to say the game's reach is only growing stronger. Also Read: Roblox dethrones Fortnite with 'Grow a Garden' hitting historic player peak Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
