Latest news with #ShaiGilgeousAlexander
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
For Pacers and Thunder, there's no looking back now. All eyes are only on Game 7 in the NBA Finals
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. '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.' 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 But in recent years, home sweet home has been replaced by road sweet road; visiting teams have won nine of the last 14 Game 7s played since 2021.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.' 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. 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.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Pacers star Pascal Siakam caught in scary pregame ritual before NBA Finals as fans claim 'devil magic' sealed win
NBA fans believe 'devil magic' was responsible for the Indiana Pacers' series-saving victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder after cameras spotted Pascal Siakam in a disturbing pregame ritual. The Pacers have set up a mouthwatering Game 7 showdown with the Thunder in this season's NBA Finals after an emphatic 108-91 win in Indiana on Thursday night. Before they blew Oklahoma City away at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Siakam could be seen going through a bizarre routine in the tunnel as he and his teammates huddled together for one last pep talk. Television cameras captured the Cameroonian power forward glancing up at the ceiling with his eyes completely rolled back, leaving fans both baffled and slightly terrified on social media. 'That man went to another place. Something happened here,' one user posted on X. 'Everybody praying & he turning into the exorcist,' wrote another. A third asked: 'And you're gonna tell me they don't [do] devil magic?' Siakam's routine clearly worked as he put up 16 points in a resounding win over the Thunder A fourth joked: 'Sold his soul for this game!' 'Undertaker?' said another who drew comparisons with the WWE legend. Whatever Siakam was up to in the tunnel, it worked for him and his team as he put up 16 points and 13 rebounds in a dominant victory for the Pacers. Star man Tyrese Haliburton scored 14 points for the Pacers, who started slowly and then turned things into a blowout. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was on hand with 21 points for the Thunder, who pulled their starters from the game when they trailed by 30 going into the fourth. Jalen Williams added 16. Indiana missed its first eight shots and got down 10-2. The arena, roaring just a few minutes before at the start, quieted quickly. After the slow start, the Pacers outscored the Thunder 68-32 over the next 24 minutes. An Indiana team that hadn't led by more than 10 points at any time in the first five games - and that double-digit lead was brief - led by 28 early in the third quarter. The margin eventually got to 31, which was Oklahoma City's second-biggest deficit of the season. Indiana's huge win means the thrilling series will now be decided on Sunday night when the action moves back to Oklahoma for a decisive Game 7, the first one in the NBA Finals since 2016.
Yahoo
3 hours 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:
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
For Pacers and Thunder, there's no looking back now. All eyes are only on Game 7 in the NBA Finals
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. '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.' 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." 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. 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.' ___
Associated Press
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
For Pacers and Thunder, there's no looking back now. All eyes are only on Game 7 in the NBA Finals
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. '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.' 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.' 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. 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:
