3 h. ago NBA finals: Ruthless Thunder show Pacers no mercy as they level series 1

Indiana Pacers 107–123 Oklahoma City ThunderThunder level best-of-seven series at 1-1The Oklahoma City Thunder blew Game 1 of the NBA finals after holding a significant lead over the Indiana Pacers. In Game 2, they made sure there was no repeat, utterly dominating their opponents in a 123-107 victory that leveled the series at 1-1.In Game 1, the Thunder had a 12-point lead at half-time and a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter before losing to the Pacers courtesy of a Tyrese Haliburton basket in the final second. On Sunday night, they took control of the game early on, but this time they didn’t let their advantage go. Continue reading...

Culture

68 h. ago The unsinkable Pacers don’t need the lead. They just need the last word | Claire de Lune

Indiana didn’t lead for 47 minutes and 59.7 seconds of Thursday’s NBA finals opener. But belief, defiance and Tyrese Haliburton’s dramatic flair made the final 0.3 countThis is why you play the games, as the old adage goes. In recent years, the later rounds of the NBA playoffs – and the finals in particular – have felt rote. They’ve gone chalk. The drama was minimal, even under the brightest lights of the league’s biggest stage. This year has been different: a playoffs filled with suspense, tension and plot twists galore. But at the start of the finals, the scene was set for a regression to the intrigue-less mean. Every roundtable pundit, basketball expert and barbershop patron outside of Indiana state lines had Oklahoma City – basketball’s best team from wire to wire – winning the series easily.But Tyrese Haliburton, the instigator of several of this postseason’s most jaw-dropping twists, knows a thing or two about drama. It oozes out of his pores. And he and his Indiana Pacers had...

Politics

3 d. ago NBA finals: Indiana Pacers stun Oklahoma City Thunder in final second to win Game 1 thriller

As it happened: Pacers 111–110 ThunderTyrese Haliburton scores with 0.3 seconds left to seal winNearly every analyst coming into this year’s NBA finals had the Oklahoma City Thunder beating the Indiana Pacers comfortably. The first three quarters of Game 1 did very little to contradict those predictions until the final minutes, when all hell broke loose.The reigning NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, looked like, well, the NBA MVP for much of the game as he led the scoring with 38 points. His Thunder team went out to an early 7-0 lead and were 57-45 up by half-time. The second half seemed to be going the same way with the Thunder 15 points up at one point in the fourth quarter. Continue reading...

Sport

3 d. ago Indiana Pacers v Oklahoma City Thunder: NBA finals Game 1 – live

Oklahoma City host Indiana in NBA finals openerNBA finals 2025 predictions: can Indiana shock OKC?Send David an email at david.lengel@theguardian.comPacers 10-10 Thunder, 7:07, 1st quarterOKC force a turnover, but then Holmgren throws it away, giving the ball right back to Indy. Siakam shoots again, this time from 12 feet out, inside the paint, and gets a home roll, on the road. Continue reading...

Sport

3 d. ago Indiana Pacers v Oklahoma City Thunder: NBA finals Game 1 – live buildup

Oklahoma City host Indiana in NBA finals openerNBA finals 2025 predictions: can Indiana shock OKC?Send David an email at david.lengel@theguardian.comDavid will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look at our predictions for the NBA finals:Thunder in five. They’ve been utterly dominant all season. That’s mostly been the case for the playoffs too, allowing for some Jokić magic in the second round. The Pacers have been a ton of fun to watch, have impressive depth and a rising star in Haliburton. But the Thunder are deeper, more talented and have the best player in the series – that’s a recipe for a gentleman’s sweep. Ryan Baldi Continue reading...

Sport

3 d. ago NBA finals 2025 predictions: will the Pacers shock the Thunder? Our writers share their picks

Will it be Oklahoma City or Indiana? Our contributors pick the winner, key players and dark horses before the season’s grand finale tips off Thursday nightThe Thunder’s path to victory is to continue to be the most fearsome defensive unit we’ve seen in recent years. They play an uber-aggressive, hyper-switchable form of defense that has suffocated opponents all year long. It means they give up a lot of fouls, but they also get away with a bunch and force turnovers more than anyone else in the league. Keep that up and, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting his customary 32 points a night, they won’t be stopped. Ryan Baldi Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago NBA Finals prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder to secure first NBA Championship

Read the latest odds and tips ahead of the 2025 NBA Finals between OKC and the Pacers

Sport

8 d. ago Relentless Pacers overrun Knicks to set up NBA finals showdown with Thunder

Siakam scores 31 as Pacers reach second NBA finalsPacers’ 9-0 run after half sparks Game 6 knockoutKnicks commit 17 turnovers, fall short of comebackPascal Siakam scored 31 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and 13 assists, and the Indiana Pacers pulled away for a 125-108 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6 on Saturday night to reach the NBA finals for the second time in franchise history.Obi Toppin added 18 points and six rebounds against his former team as the gold-clad crowd gave the starters a roaring ovation when they departed with 47.2 seconds left. Continue reading...

Politics