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USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Young Thunder falter and now face ultimate test: NBA Finals Game 7
Young Thunder falter and now face ultimate test: NBA Finals Game 7 Show Caption Hide Caption Shaq talks NBA Finals matchup and NBA on TNT Shaquille O'Neal joins Sports Seriously to talk about all things NBA and his upcoming Netflix docu-series 'Power Moves'. Sports Seriously The young Oklahoma City Thunder have absorbed lessons all season – in success and in failure through 82 regular-season games and 22 playoff games. The lessons for the Thunder after six NBA Finals games against the Indiana Pacers are clear. Clearer than ever. Winning closeout games in the conference final round is one thing; winning closeout games in the NBA Finals is another, much more demanding thing. The Thunder need to take the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy because the Pacers aren't going to give it up easily. They're going after it just as hard. The 2025 NBA Finals get a Game 7 because Tyrese Haliburton (and his one good leg) and the Pacers destroyed the Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 Thursday, June 19. 'From our standpoint, it was uncharacteristic,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. '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. We have to be a lot better before Game 7.' It was one of those games where the margin was not indicative of the beating the Pacers delivered. The Thunder were miserable across the board, but don't be fooled either. The feisty, admirable Pacers had a significant role in Oklahoma City's inability to score or defend. 'Obviously it was a very poor performance by us,' Daigneault said. 'But there's two teams out there. I want to give Indiana credit for the way they defended, the way they competed in the game, the way they played all the way around. They had a lot to do with it." If the Thunder want to win the franchise's first championship since moving to Oklahoma City from Seattle in 2008, they know they can't have a similar performance. Twenty-one turnovers leading to 19 Pacers points won't get it done. Shooting 26.7% on 3-pointers and allowing 15 made 3s won't get it done. Falling behind by 22 at the half and 30 by the end of the third quarter, going scoreless for a nearly seven-minute stretch at the end of the second quarter and start of the third, and eight turnovers by 2024-25 NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won't do the job. Gilgeous-Alexander didn't hide from the result. 'We got exactly what we deserved, what we earned. We have to own that," he said. As dominant as Oklahoma City has been this season, it's also easy to forget it is the second-youngest team to play in the Finals in the past 70 seasons. This group is playing in their first Finals together, and Daigneault just coached his 32nd career playoff game. Sunday is the 20th Game 7 in Finals history, and the first since Cleveland came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Golden State in 2016. For the Thunder, there are encouraging internal and external signs. The home team is 15-4 in Finals Game 7s, including 4-1 in the past 30 seasons, and the Thunder defeated Denver in Game 7 at home in this season's Western Conference semifinals. They lost two consecutive games just twice during the regular season and have not lost two consecutive playoff games this season. They respond to losses. 'It's a privilege to play in Game 7s. It's a privilege to play in the Finals,' Daigneault said. 'As disappointing as tonight was, we're grateful for the opportunity. We put in a lot of work this season to be able to play that game at home, which is exciting to be able to do it in front of our fans. 'Obviously disappointed tonight. But we'll regroup, get back to zero, learn from it with clear eyes, like we always do. Get ourselves as ready as we can be to play Game 7 on Sunday.' The biggest test is Sunday in a winner-take-all game. 'The way I see it is, we sucked tonight," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "We can learn our lessons. We have one game for everything, for everything we've worked for, and so do they. The better team Sunday will win. ... "One game for everything you ever dreamed of. If you win it, you get everything. If you lose it, you get nothing. It's that simple."
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bills QB Josh Allen makes honest admission on Patriots QB Drake Maye
Bills QB Josh Allen makes honest admission on Patriots QB Drake Maye Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has more than just respect for New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. He admitted that Maye is one of his favorite young quarterbacks in the NFL. That sets the stage for an interesting rivalry with Maye and Allen facing each other twice every season. Allen is the reigning NFL MVP and the face of the league, while Maye is the promising newcomer determined to one day take the throne. "I think Drake is super talented, he's one of my favorite young quarterbacks in the league," Allen told Sports Illustrated's Liam McKeone. "I've spent some time around him and he's got his head on his shoulders the right way. He just does things the right way. I think that he exemplifies football." Maye made the Pro Bowl and teased his elite potential as a franchise quarterback for New England in his rookie season. Getting a ringing endorsement from Allen isn't something to downplay. Maye will be in a position to take things to the next level in 2025 with an improved offensive line, more weapons and a much more experienced coaching staff. The Bills are still at the top of the mountain in the AFC East, but Maye and the Patriots might finally be closing the gap. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Photos: Best images from Thunder's 108-91 Game 6 loss to Pacers
Photos: Best images from Thunder's 108-91 Game 6 loss to Pacers The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a 108-91 Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. That evened the 2025 NBA Finals at 3-3 apiece, with a decisive Game 7 on the docket for the championship. The final score was prettied up in garbage time. The Thunder trailed by as many as 31 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander only had 21 points. Jalen Williams was limited to 16 points. Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton finished with 14 points and five assists. Pascal Siakam had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Obi Toppin scored 20 points off the bench and TJ McConnell had 12 points and nine rebounds. Let's look at some of the best photos from the Thunder's 17-point Game 6 loss to the Pacers:
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
T.J. McConnell's dad beamed with pride in heartwarming postgame appearance
T.J. McConnell's dad beamed with pride in heartwarming postgame appearance Through six games of these NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers backup point guard T.J. McConnell has been a revelation. Despite often being the oldest and smallest player on the court, McConnell has found a way to leave his imprint on every game. If he's not scoring with a patented short midrange jumper, he's stealing inbounds passes and diving on the floor to seemingly make so many critical hustle plays. Simply put, after a Game 6 blowout win, the Pacers would not be in position for their first NBA title in franchise history without McConnell's smart, hard-nosed play. I don't think it's a stretch to say that the person most happy about McConnell's efforts is his father, T.J. McConnell Sr. We saw this as much as the senior McConnell was invited onto the NBA TV postgame show while his son was being interviewed by the panel. McConnell's dad took this as an opportunity to do things like playfully criticize his son for missing some free throws in Game 6. But most importantly, he positively glowed about how proud he is of T.J. and his daughter Megan, who is a rookie with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, for being basketball players at the highest level of the sport. "I can't be more proud to say I have a son in the NBA, and I have a daughter in the WNBA," McConnell Sr. said. "This is a dream come true." It's really hard not to smile at this sequence, watching a dad unapologetically beam with pride and joy for his children: Man, no matter what happens in Sunday night's Game 7, it's these kinds of moments you'll always remember most. I challenge you to think of anything better in sports than seeing a proud, overjoyed parent act like this. Don't worry, I'll wait.
USA Today
an hour ago
- General
- USA Today
Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Pick 3, Pick 4 on June 19, 2025
Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Pick 3, Pick 4 on June 19, 2025 Looking to win big? The Idaho Lottery offers several games if you think it's your lucky day. Lottery players in Idaho can chose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Lucky For Life, 5 Star Draw, Idaho Cash, Pick 3 and Pick 4. Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here's what experts say to do first. Here's a look at Thursday, June 19, 2025 results for each game: Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 19 drawing Day: 7-0-7 Night: 0-5-8 Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 19 drawing Day: 8-5-8-0 Night: 8-1-5-5 Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lucky For Life numbers from June 19 drawing 02-05-08-18-45, Lucky Ball: 01 Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Idaho Cash numbers from June 19 drawing 06-09-12-14-19 Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ? Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday. Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily. Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily. Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday. Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday. Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily. Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Where can you buy lottery tickets? Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
