Latest news with #SGA
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing tonight against the Indiana Pacers in NBA Finals Game 7? Latest update on the OKC Thunder star's injury report (June 22, 2025)
Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing tonight? (Image via Getty Images) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), the Oklahoma City Thunder's franchise cornerstone and reigning NBA MVP, enters Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the in peak physical condition, with no injury concerns whatsoever. Shai Gilgeous-Alexandar's Injury History and Playoff Durability Throughout the 2025 postseason, SGA has been a model of durability. He has played every game since the conference semifinals, averaging over 32 points per contest and logging heavy minutes without missing a beat. Even as the Pacers' defense ramped up its physicality, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has consistently been available, never appearing on the Thunder's injury report for any significant ailment. The only minor scare came after Game 2 of the Finals, when he briefly experienced some ankle soreness, but this did not result in any missed time or limitations. Game 6 Setback and Mental Reset Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Image via Getty) Despite his health, SGA and the Thunder suffered a tough blowout loss in Game 6, where Gilgeous-Alexander recorded a playoff-low 21 points and tied his postseason career high with eight turnovers. The Pacers' swarming defense and the Thunder's overall struggles led to a lopsided defeat, but SGA has remained publicly focused and determined. 'One game. Bring your A game. I don't try to complicate it,' he said, emphasizing the mental reset needed for the winner-takes-all finale. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like (1) Your Antivirus May Require Activation Click Here Undo Shai Gilgeous-Alexandar's Current Status for Game 7 - Injury Status: Fully healthy, no restrictions, not listed on the injury report. - Availability: Expected to play his usual heavy minutes and lead the Thunder in a do-or-die scenario. - Mentality: Focused, determined, and ready to put Game 6 behind him. Summary Table: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Health Timeline Date/Stage Injury Status Details Post-Game 2 (Finals) Ankle soreness Minor, no missed time or limitations Throughout Playoffs Fully healthy Played every game, no injury report appearances NBA Finals Game 7 Fully healthy No restrictions, expected to play pivotal role Also read: Will Pascal Siakam play tonight against the OKC Thunder in Game 7 NBA Finals? Latest update on the Indiana Pacers star's injury report (June 22, 2025) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is fully healthy and prepared to lead the Thunder in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. His durability, elite production, and leadership will be essential as Oklahoma City seeks to capture its first championship since relocating to the city. With no injury concerns, all eyes are on SGA to deliver a legacy-defining performance on the NBA's biggest stage. Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
4 things Thunder must do to win 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 over Pacers
Jun 19, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) rebounds against the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter during game six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana will square off in the highest of stakes on Sunday. The 2025 NBA Finals will conclude with a Game 7. The championship series has seen both teams exchange punches to the point that the series is tied at 3-3 apiece. The Thunder enter as favorites, but a Game 7 includes all kinds of wackiness. Especially at this stage. This will be the first NBA Finals Game 7 since 2016. The home teams are 15-4, but the margin of victory has been less than seven points. Advertisement If the Thunder want to complete one of the greatest seasons ever, here are four things they must do to bring home the NBA championship: SGA cements spot as all-time great Gilgeous-Alexander understands the stake. Before Game 6 even ended, he rallied the troops and said Game 7 will be for all the marbles. This is the peak of pressure basketball. Game 7 is do-or-die, now multiply that tenfold with a championship on the line. Now add an extra layer of pressure on the Thunder. They had one of the greatest seasons ever. A 68-win campaign is a franchise best. A plus-12.9 point differential is the best ever. They cruised through the Western Conference in the playoffs. All will be for knot if they can't bring home the trophy. Advertisement The Thunder entered the NBA Finals as a heavy favorite. If the Pacers pull it off, it'll be one of the greatest upsets in NBA history. Gilgeous-Alexander will headline the result, for better or worse. Gilgeous-Alexander has been dominant against the Pacers, but not in a truly otherworldly manner. He's averaged 30.5 points on 47.3% shooting. He'll have one last chance to go off and cement his spot as one of the best players ever. Go back to steal-and-scores To keep their championship hopes alive, the Pacers out-OKC'd the Thunder in Game 6. They blitz them in the halfcourt. The offense bogged down. The Thunder's ball security fell apart with plenty of avoidable turnovers caused by second-guessing themselves. Advertisement Now it's the Thunder's turn to do the same. They had one of the best defenses ever by creating turnovers. That helped them end most games with more shot attempts. The math eventually overwhelms their opponent. Back home, OKC must win the turnover battle. It did in Game 5. If the Thunder can punch the ball out of the Pacers' hands and run out for fastbreak buckets, it could lead to one last avalanche run to knock out Indiana. The Thunder are due for one of those types of games. Closeout wins over the Nuggets and Timberwolves were examples of that. Williams, Holmgren step up The Thunder are at a fork in the road. Either they win and everybody views Williams and Holmgren as franchise cornerstones. That should be the case either way, but an NBA Finals Game 7 loss will cause strong reactionary responses. If they lose, folks might look at upgrading their roster. Advertisement The best way to shut doubters up is if Williams and Holmgren contribute to a Game 7 win. Williams is one efficient 25-point performance away from a serious case for NBA Finals MVP. Holmgren can only play better after being a no-show in Game 6. The Thunder will need their star trio to win Game 7. If they can pull it off, they'll forever be remembered in OKC history and could be the first championship of multiple, considering their title window. Keep foot on gas You can't let the Pacers hang around. The Thunder learned that the hard way in Game 1 with Tyrese Haliburton's game-winner. They've played catch-up the rest of the NBA Finals since that shocker. The Thunder are almost out of trouble but need one more win to forgive them for that stunner. Advertisement With the OKC crowd giving them extra adrenaline, the Thunder have played like a win machine at home in the playoffs. They're 10-2 and have won with mostly blowouts. The complete opposite of their mediocre 5-5 playoff record on the road. The game's vibes must reflect the scoreboard. Too many times in this series when the Thunder have dominated the Pacers on the court, but the score didn't show that. They can't let that happen again. Especially if they get off to a hot start. If the Thunder can keep up with their home trends, they should get a Game 7 win. If they can get up by double-digit points, the Pacers could feel the pressure and fall apart. This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: 4 things Thunder must do to win 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 over Pacers
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
4 things Thunder must do to win 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 over Pacers
Jun 19, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) rebounds against the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter during game six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana will square off in the highest of stakes on Sunday. The 2025 NBA Finals will conclude with a Game 7. The championship series has seen both teams exchange punches to the point that the series is tied at 3-3 apiece. The Thunder enter as favorites, but a Game 7 includes all kinds of wackiness. Especially at this stage. This will be the first NBA Finals Game 7 since 2016. The home teams are 15-4, but the margin of victory has been less than seven points. Advertisement If the Thunder want to complete one of the greatest seasons ever, here are four things they must do to bring home the NBA championship: SGA cements spot as all-time great Gilgeous-Alexander understands the stake. Before Game 6 even ended, he rallied the troops and said Game 7 will be for all the marbles. This is the peak of pressure basketball. Game 7 is do-or-die, now multiply that tenfold with a championship on the line. Now add an extra layer of pressure on the Thunder. They had one of the greatest seasons ever. A 68-win campaign is a franchise best. A plus-12.9 point differential is the best ever. They cruised through the Western Conference in the playoffs. All will be for knot if they can't bring home the trophy. Advertisement The Thunder entered the NBA Finals as a heavy favorite. If the Pacers pull it off, it'll be one of the greatest upsets in NBA history. Gilgeous-Alexander will headline the result, for better or worse. Gilgeous-Alexander has been dominant against the Pacers, but not in a truly otherworldly manner. He's averaged 30.5 points on 47.3% shooting. He'll have one last chance to go off and cement his spot as one of the best players ever. Go back to steal-and-scores To keep their championship hopes alive, the Pacers out-OKC'd the Thunder in Game 6. They blitz them in the halfcourt. The offense bogged down. The Thunder's ball security fell apart with plenty of avoidable turnovers caused by second-guessing themselves. Advertisement Now it's the Thunder's turn to do the same. They had one of the best defenses ever by creating turnovers. That helped them end most games with more shot attempts. The math eventually overwhelms their opponent. Back home, OKC must win the turnover battle. It did in Game 5. If the Thunder can punch the ball out of the Pacers' hands and run out for fastbreak buckets, it could lead to one last avalanche run to knock out Indiana. The Thunder are due for one of those types of games. Closeout wins over the Nuggets and Timberwolves were examples of that. Williams, Holmgren step up The Thunder are at a fork in the road. Either they win and everybody views Williams and Holmgren as franchise cornerstones. That should be the case either way, but an NBA Finals Game 7 loss will cause strong reactionary responses. If they lose, folks might look at upgrading their roster. Advertisement The best way to shut doubters up is if Williams and Holmgren contribute to a Game 7 win. Williams is one efficient 25-point performance away from a serious case for NBA Finals MVP. Holmgren can only play better after being a no-show in Game 6. The Thunder will need their star trio to win Game 7. If they can pull it off, they'll forever be remembered in OKC history and could be the first championship of multiple, considering their title window. Keep foot on gas You can't let the Pacers hang around. The Thunder learned that the hard way in Game 1 with Tyrese Haliburton's game-winner. They've played catch-up the rest of the NBA Finals since that shocker. The Thunder are almost out of trouble but need one more win to forgive them for that stunner. Advertisement With the OKC crowd giving them extra adrenaline, the Thunder have played like a win machine at home in the playoffs. They're 10-2 and have won with mostly blowouts. The complete opposite of their mediocre 5-5 playoff record on the road. The game's vibes must reflect the scoreboard. Too many times in this series when the Thunder have dominated the Pacers on the court, but the score didn't show that. They can't let that happen again. Especially if they get off to a hot start. If the Thunder can keep up with their home trends, they should get a Game 7 win. If they can get up by double-digit points, the Pacers could feel the pressure and fall apart. This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: 4 things Thunder must do to win 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 over Pacers
Hamilton Spectator
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Raptors mailbag: Toronto's sixth man, the Desmond Bane trade and lots of love for the NBA Finals
A very well-crafted bunch of questions for Ye Olde Mailbag . Thanks very much. Enjoy it and let's all hope that Game 7 in OKC Sunday night lives up to the lofty expectations we all have, and that this week's draft is truly uneventful so I don't have to work harder than usual. (Yes, we're at the 'it's all about me' time.) Hi, Doug! It's been such a treat to watch these NBA Finals, particularly because of the Canadians playing. Such great basketball, and it's impossible to choose a favourite — no matter who wins, Canada wins! Don't know how I missed this before, but we just noticed that SGA and Andrew Nembhard both play with the No. 2. Is there a Canadian link to that number, or is it just a coincidence? We've seen Superfan in his regular courtside seat at the Pacers games, but not at the Thunder games. Did Pascal Siakam get him those seats? Is he at both games, but just sitting elsewhere in the OKC games? And speaking of family connections, I noticed a player on OKC that looked a lot like Jalen Brunson. Turns out it's Brunson's half-brother Jaylin Williams. Are there any Canadian basketball family dynasties out there, or do we have to wait until this group of players' children get older and start playing sports? Cheers! —Cindy Some Canada Basketball stuff, cool. I don't mind talking about that any time. As far as I know, the uniform numbers for SGA and Nembhard are totally coincidental and has never been an issue with national team stuff. I don't know about any Canadian 'dynasties' coming, but if sisters Syla and Savvy Swords stay on their paths, I can certainly see them both being WNBAers in the future. One interesting Canadian familial angle few know? How about Kayla Alexander having had some time in the WNBA and her brother Kyle having a cup of coffee with Miami in the NBA. Even if they were short stints, that's quite an accomplishment, one Canadian fans should be proud of. My buddy Grange did an item a few years back that lays out part of what I'm talking about. As for Nav, he's got connections all over the place that help him buy tickets, although I don't recall having seen him in OKC. Maybe Sunday night. Hi, Doug. Just when we thought the corruption and concerns re: internet sports gambling would stabilize, we have this story from the Washington Post ( click here to read ) on increasing threats to pro athletes from frustrated online gamblers. So, now we have: But maybe the greatest threat of all is the threat to the meaning and enjoyment of sport itself. Your sports journalism colleagues are increasingly basing their sports 'coverage' and 'reporting' on discussing odds for in-game/game outcomes. Their own bets now often become the story! What has been sports journalism's joy and community now becomes shilling for the billions in the sports gambling industry. Words fail me. With sport and sports journalism corrupted like this, we all lose. We are ever more grateful to you for holding on to reporting stories about sport and people. Even if you might feel like a dinosaur. Do you? —Charles N. I do, in many ways. But I'll die on the hill that says sportswriting is storytelling about people and athleticism, and the ability and willingness of women and men to test their limits. It's about the human nature of handling both success and failure, and those are the stories we need to tell and people need to consume. It's not about parlays and point spreads and fantasy leagues. At least not for me. I understand that gambling is part of our society, for good or for bad. I think advertising of it should be more legislated — just as it is for beer and spirits and cannabis and tobacco. I do not for a second think it should encroach on what I do and how I do it. Hi, Doug. What do you think of moving RJ Barrett to the sixth-man position and, if the Raptors did this, who would you elevate to the starting five? Regards. —Creighton Hooper All things as they are now, I don't think he should be moved. Depending on what happens in the draft and around trades, starting Immanuel Quickley , Barrett , Scottie Barnes , Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl and seeing how it works makes the most sense. I guess if it had to happen — and again, I don't think it should — putting in a defensive-minded wing like Ochai Agbaji might make sense. Hi, Doug. Who called Pacers vs. Thunder going seven games? Really looking forward to it! Then, a few days later … the draft! Some questions: 1) Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit, but I am hoping to see an article about Maxime Raynaud, the seven-foot centre from Stanford, or Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner, another big centre. Both sound intriguing and are roughly the same size as Khaman Maluach , who many are speculating might be gone before our scheduled pick. Also hearing talk of trading down. What do you think? If Maluach is gone, would you think of trading down for extra picks or alternatively taking the best available player and making things work? Whatever happens Sunday night, Hamilton's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has ascended into the heavens in these NBA playoffs. Let's take a closer look. Whatever happens Sunday night, Hamilton's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has ascended into the heavens in these NBA playoffs. Let's take a closer look. 2) Between the Pacers and Thunder, one team will lose on Sunday. However, I can't really see any glaring holes in either lineup. What, if anything, would GM Doug Smith do for either team? Stand pat and run it back? 3) Speaking of running it back, what would you think of Toronto running it back with a healthy roster? How would they do against the new Eastern Conference? Or are trades absolutely necessary? 4) Does the Desmond Bane trade throw the scale of all other trades out of whack? As much as I like him as a player … if he's worth two players and FOUR first-round picks, Kevin Durant is worth a franchise and 20 draft picks (slight exaggeration). In the past weeks, what Orlando parted with was about what many suggested Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo would require. Thoughts? As the season ends, almost immediately there will be news of draft-day deals, followed by free-agent signings. A couple of weeks later, Summer League starts and we get to see this season's next Jamal Shead or undrafted gems show the world that they deserve a roster spot. Lots for you to write about and keep us fans entertained! —Bernie M. I don't know much about those other two guys, but I'll ask. I don't think trading back for multiple picks makes sense because the Raptors already have enough young kids, and probably don't want to afford two first-round guaranteed salaries as well. All teams can get better, for sure. I think the Pacers need some bench size; they get awfully small when Turner isn't playing. The Thunder can still use some consistent shooting off the bench. Unless it's for a proven star — Antetekounmpo or Durant — I think the Raptors should stand pat, see how it works and I suspect they'll be right in the fifth to eighth range next season. The Magic probably paid a premium, but they got what I think is a perfect fit. I don't see it having any ripple effect on other transactions around the league. Yeah, you'd like to think the off-season is coming. But when I just did some advance planning with the draft, any trades, a week at Vegas and some Canada Basketball stuff coming up, it seems there is no off-season. Maybe late August/early September will be slow. Hi, Doug. Hope you are well. I saw the story about Ace Bailey backing out of a personal workout with the Philadelphia 76ers. Had me wondering, what exactly would a team glean from an individual workout that they could not glean from scouting/observing games/asking questions from sources? I would think most teams are pretty well resourced at that and have a LOT of information already. Second — wouldn't doing something like this say something worrisome about his character? It would be one thing if he never agreed to go in the first place, but it sounds like he agreed to go then backed out, which … well, that just doesn't seem right. Finally, I suppose if he doesn't make it in basketball he could try hockey — he's got the name for it! Thanks for all you do. —MSG I suspect red flares are exploding around the league about Bailey and his unwillingness to visit teams and work out for them. I also suspect someone high in the lottery will take him regardless, thinking that it's worth the gamble. And the workouts are much more than just testing. It's seeing how he interacts with the staff, how he can take coaching and instruction and, most important, how he handles himself in interviews, dinners and meetings over a day or so. But yeah, he's got the name, and the fact that a banner in his honour is hanging in Scotiabank Arena already is kind of interesting. No matter who wins, hasn't this Finals been a breath of fresh air both on and off the court? Do you think it will help move the needle from the LeBron/Steph/K.D./Giannis quicksand that the U.S. basketball media get so completely bogged down with? —Paul M. You'd sure think that some ascendant young stars emerging might herald a new era in the NBA, but the old heads still drive conversations and their time is not at the end yet. But we're getting closer to it. Hi, Doug. This is just a really dandy Finals, isn't it? I'm a Raptors fan first, not really an NBA fan, but have followed much of these playoffs, mostly for the ex-Raptors content but also for the Canadian content. OG Anunoby in New York, Pascal Siakam in Indiana, Fred VanVleet in Houston. Andrew Nembhard, Lu Dort, Bennedict Mathurin, SGA — lots of rooting interest. Really a great two months of basketball. Here's the question: If the Pacers win Game 7, does Nembhard get an MVP vote (a la VanVleet in 2019) for the work he has put in guarding SGA? I certainly hope so. All the best. —Jim It's certainly great, and I hope Game 7 lives up to the high expectations we all have for it. While Nembhard's done an admirable job and certainly opened a lot of eyes, I think Gilgeous-Alexander going for 30-plus in four of the first six games probably works against Andrew. There are usually about nine voters. If the Pacers win, I'm guessing the best player Sunday between Haliburton and Siakam will win.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"I have never seen a game with Jordan on the court where Pippen was a No. 1 option" - Stephen A. believes Jalen Williams can be more than SGA's sidekick
"I have never seen a game with Jordan on the court where Pippen was a No. 1 option" - Stephen A. believes Jalen Williams can be more than SGA's sidekick originally appeared on Basketball Network. This season, Jalen Williams has proved himself worthy of being labeled a star after registering an All-NBA Third Team selection and All-Defensive Second Team honor, averaging 21.6 points and 1.6 steals per game in the regular season. More impressively, J-Dub has continued this stellar form in the playoffs, averaging 21.7 points and 1.4 steals per game, making everyone believe that his rise has been one of the pivotal reasons for the Oklahoma City Thunder's thorough domination in the 2024-25 campaign. Advertisement However, after Jalen almost single-handedly led his team to victory in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Kendrick Perkins was among those who instantly drew parallels between him and two-way legend Scottie Pippen. However, Stephen A. Smith didn't quite agree with him being put in the "No. 2 option" category. Smith on why Williams is not like Pippen Throughout the Thunder's playoff run, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been the undisputed alpha, leading every series in scoring. This eventually led many to believe that, at best, Williams is the team's second-best option. However, Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals proved to be a different story. Jalen stepped up as the team's No. 1 option, dropping a game-high 40 points on 56 percent shooting from the field with just one turnover. On the other hand, while SGA played well with 31 points and ten assists, it was J-Dub who stole the limelight. Advertisement Stephen A. wholeheartedly acknowledged Jalen's grit and two-way ability, even likening his relentless approach to Scottie's. However, the ESPN analyst pushed back on the direct comparison. In his eyes, while Pippen was exceptional, he never took the No. 1 option seat ahead of Michael Jordan. However, Williams has been averaging 33.5 points over the past two games, which is superior to Gilgeous-Alexander's 33.0 points in that span, which shows that J-Dub could be more than just a sidekick in his career. "When you look at Jalen Williams – the brother is a stud, only one of those players who made an All-NBA and All-Defensive Team. The brother plays on both sides of the ball; he's got a J, a handle, passing ability, hit a jump shot, he can finish in the open court, he's athletic, the brother's got a bag. I don't know about the Scottie Pippen comparison because, for me, Scottie Pippen was among the all-time greats," Smith said. "I have never seen a game with Jordan on the court where Pippen was a No. 1 option. That never happened, but that happened with Jalen Williams last night." Related: "I can't get so close to it, too, because of my competitive nature" - Michael Jordan on why he can't get himself to be a fan of any one player in the NBA Stephen A. believes Jalen can single-handedly win the series for OKC There is no doubt that Shai will have over 25 points in every game of this series, regardless of how well the Indiana Pacers defend him. But if another Thunder star, like Jalen in Game 5, continues to expose their defensive line like this, Stephen A. believes this championship series is surely over. Thus, he urged Williams to play like he had over the last two games. Advertisement If the Thunder are to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy this year, it will mostly be because of SGA's dominance. However, the play J-Dub has displayed as a strong second option can't be overlooked and will help the two-way forward earn the ultimate respect around the NBA. It will be a welcome sight for Jalen and the rest of his OKC squad after being doubted for so long. Related: "When you have those two things, you're gonna figure it out" - SGA says he knew Jalen Williams was going to be special from the jump This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
