Latest news with #CasonWallace
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Why does the NBA still force traded NBA Draft players to wear original hats?
It happens every year. Often several times. When a pick at the NBA Draft is traded from one team to another, but the player selected with the pick has to wear the hat of the original team they were just traded from. For example: Cason Wallace, who just won a championship with the only team he's ever played for -- the Oklahoma City Thunder -- is sporting a Dallas Mavericks hat in his draft day photo. Wallace was taken with the pick that was traded to OKC for Dereck Lively II, who had to wear a Thunder cap in his photo. Why does this happen? There's actually a pretty simple explanation. After 2 p.m. on draft day, draft picks technically can't be traded, according to SI, only the rights to whoever is taken with each pick. So, what happens is teams that agree to swap picks after that time will let the team who owns the pick they want know which player to take, and that team is essentially drafting a player on behalf of the team they'll be routed to. And that's why players have to suffer through those awkward moments of wearing the hat of a team they'll never play for.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder vs Pacers grades: Jalen Williams, Red Panda steal the show in NBA Finals Game 5
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The Thunder withstood a late Pacers push, winning Game 5 120-109 on Monday night in Oklahoma City to take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. The Thunder can close things out Thursday in Indianapolis. Let's get to the Game 5 grades: Advertisement MUSSATTO: How can Thunder lose these NBA Finals when it 'feels like the court is shaking'? Mark Daigneault likes when his guys have their 'foot on the gas.' Well, Jalen Williams was flooring it in Game 5. J-Dub was the Thunder's MVP Monday night. He scored 40 points on 14-of-25 shooting. He had six rebounds and four assists. Williams' 3-pointer with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter was the biggest shot of the game. The Pacers had just cut OKC's lead to two points on a Pascal Siakam 3-pointer, and Williams matched it 24 seconds later to put the Thunder back up by five. — Joe Mussatto, columnist Advertisement BY THE NUMBERS: One Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stat that ties Jordan, Kobe and Hakeem in NBA playoff lore Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams (8) celebrates a basket in the first half of Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Monday, June, 16, 2025. 3-point shooting: A There have been some stinkers from behind the arc in these playoffs, but Monday was not one of those nights. The Thunder hit 14 of 32 and got 3s from five players. Aaron Wiggins led the way with four while Jalen Williams, Lu Dort and Cason Wallace had three apiece. Chet Holmgren hit one from deep, too. Shooting 43.8% from 3-point range is a good night regardless, but doing that three days after shooting 18.8% was quite the turnaround. In Game 4, the Thunder managed only three 3-pointers total. Advertisement —Jenni Carlson, columnist CARLSON: How is OKC Thunder one win from an NBA title? 'Always starts defensively' Cason Wallace: A Imagine the relief Cason Wallace must have felt when his first 3-point attempt dropped. The euphoria that must have followed his second. And his third … After going a combined 0 of 8 from 3-point range in Games 1 through 4 of these NBA Finals, Wallace was 3 of 4 from behind the arc in Game 5. Wallace's steal and transition slam early in the fourth quarter was among the biggest plays of the game. The NBA Finals lights had seemed a little bright for the 21-year-old guard in his second NBA season. Understandably so. But with the home crowd behind him, Wallace seemed to have regained his confidence in Game 5. Advertisement — Joe Mussatto, columnist 5 TAKEAWAYS: OKC Thunder nears first title after dominating NBA Finals Game 5 vs Pacers Defending Tyrese Haliburton: A+ Tyrese Haliburton didn't score a basket. The Pacers star finished 0 of 6 with seven rebounds, six assists and three turnovers. All four of his points came at the foul line. ESPN's Shams Charania reported at halftime that Haliburton was dealing with calf tightness in his leg. A fully healthy Haliburton had his hands full against this Thunder defense. A hobbled Haliburton had no chance. Haliburton only attempted one shot in 17 second-half minutes. Haliburton was a no-show Monday, and his health will be a huge factor in Game 6. Advertisement — Joe Mussatto, columnist More: NBA Finals Game 5 results, highlights: Thunder pounds Pacers to move to brink of title The smallest guy on the court was a big ol' problem for the Thunder. He scored 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the third quarter and infused the Pacers at a time when they could've wilted. McConnell, who is only 6-foot-1, used his quickness and relentlessness to get in the lane and to the spots that he wanted. Through three quarters, McConnell had a team-high 18 points. But in the fourth quarter, the Thunder managed to cool him off a bit, limiting him to one shot but no baskets. He also had only one assist plus one turnover. Advertisement —Jenni Carlson, Columnist More: Thunder did some things to Pacers in NBA Finals Game 5 'that aren't survivable': Reaction Red Panda performs during halftime of Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Monday, June, 16, 2025. The greatest halftime act in the history of halftime acts graced Oklahoma City with her presence Monday, and even though it was long overdue — I mean, why wait until Game 5 of the NBA FInals?!?! — she was dazzling. Red Panda, the unicycle-riding, bowl-flipping marvel, was on top of her game. She caught each and every bowl that she flung from her outstretched leg onto her head. (Did we mention she does all of this while riding a unicycle that she gets on by climbing an extremely tall ladder?) Advertisement Some have said Red Panda is slipping. Pfffft. If that's slipping, I want to be Red Panda when I grow up — but minus the extremely tall unicycle. I'm scared of heights. —Jenni Carlson, columnist More: NBA Finals Game 5 box score, stats: Jalen Williams, Thunder beat Pacers, move to brink of title Forcing turnovers: A+ This was classic Thunder defense in how it feasted off turnovers. Twenty-two turnovers, that is, for the Pacers. The Thunder outscored the Pacers 32-9 in points off turnovers, which was more than the difference in the game. Pascal Siakam had a game-high six turnovers. Every Pacers starter except for center Myles Turner committed multiple turnovers. Advertisement — Joe Mussatto, columnist More: Sam Anderson in OKC for Thunder in NBA Finals: 'Boom Town' author reflects on book, city Inbounds plays: D They weren't the unmitigated disaster that they were in Game 3, but the Thunder is still struggling to get the ball inbounds. Pacers pest TJ McConnell didn't come up with any thefts, but two of his teammates did. Obi Toppin intercepted a bad Chet Holmgren pass late in the third quarter; the Thunder lucked out because the Pacers didn't capitalize on the mistake, turning the ball over themselves. But a few minutes later, Pascal Siakam picked off an inbounds pass from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Holmgren and took it the length of the floor for an uncontested bucket. Advertisement To have such a problem with a fundamental part of the game in the NBA Finals? Unacceptable. The Thunder needs to get this figured out. Josh Giddey ain't walking through that door. —Jenni Carlson, columnist This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA Finals Game 5 report card: Jalen Williams, Red Panda steal show
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cason Wallace to start over Isaiah Hartenstein for Thunder vs Pacers in NBA Finals Game 1
Cason Wallace will get the start over Isaiah Hartenstein for the Thunder against the Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Wallace is making his first career playoff start. The 21-year-old guard is averaging 5.4 points, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game this postseason. Advertisement Wallace will play a key role in helping defend Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton. Other guards such as Lu Dort and Alex Caruso will surely help with that as well. The decision to start Wallace will also result in Chet Holmgren being moved to center. The 7-foot-1 big man is more than capable of holding his own defensively at the five, and he can also provide some floor spacing on offense. Wallace and Holmgren will be joined in the starting lineup by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort and Jalen Williams. More: Thunder vs Pacers live score updates: NBA Finals Game 1 highlights, how to watch, stream Justin Martinez covers sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@ or on X/Twitter at @JTheSportsDude. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Cason Wallace to start for OKC Thunder vs Pacers in NBA Finals Game 1
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'This NBA finals has been a joke': Fans furious over missed call on Oklahoma City Thunder guard who grabbed T.J. McConnell's hand
Image credit: Getty Images The Oklahoma City Thunder have won their maiden NBA championship title but it seems there was a foul that was just ignored by the referee. A video showing Thunder guard Cason Wallace grabbing Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnells' hand has gone viral. The NBA fans have slammed the referees for not calling it out and have called them partial. The Thunders went on to beat the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in the NBA Finals that had Wallace scoring 10 points for the Pacers. Cason Wallace grabs McConnell's hand in front of referee During Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Cason Wallace grabbed T.J. McConnell's arm while he was dribbling the ball. McConnell lost possession and the Thunders recovered the ball and eventually scored the basket. Cason Wallace made his NBA debut in 2023 and must have made a mistake but the internet wasn't in mood to forgive and forget. Fans slam referee for ignoring Thunder guard grabbing T.J. McConnell's hand The moment was shared on Reddit where the NBA fans shared their surprise at how it wasn't noticed by the referee. Several Reddit users reacted to it in sarcasm, with one saying, 'Buddy might've forgot he was a ref.' Another commented, 'Refs were terrible tonight. It was obvious they favored OKC in calls. NBA is just embarrassing to watch.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025: Steel Suppliers From Mexico At Lowest Prices (Take A Look) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo One more said, 'This finals has been a joke regarding calls.' A Reddit user commented, 'The insanity is always when another player just looks at the ref like dude. TJ clearly looks at the ref almost like if not now then when.' A comment also read, 'It was this the entire playoffs. OKC got the ref pass against every opponent. Then they cry anytime they called for an obvious foul.' Coming up with an excuse on part of the Thunders, a Reddit user wrote, 'OKC's defensive strategy is: 'well the refs can't call everything'.' Another wrote, 'OKC fans: "he's just a great defender!" One more said on behalf of Thunders, "Show me in the rule book where it says you can't hold a wrist!!!?" Also Read: How Many Points Did T.J. McConnell Score in NBA Finals Game 7? Pacers Guard Posts Season-High 16 Points vs Thunder In an emotional reaction after the game, T.J. McConnell apologised to the Indiana Pacers fans after the team's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. He scored 16 points in 28 minutes of his time on the court and played a crucial role in putting up a strong front against the Thunder. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oklahoma City Thunder win first NBA title with dominant defense in Game 7
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace, right, fouls Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso, left, defends against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) passes against Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the second half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Matthew Stockman/Pool Photo via AP) Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Matthew Stockman/Pool Photo via AP) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace, right, fouls Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso, left, defends against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) passes against Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the second half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Matthew Stockman/Pool Photo via AP) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder won their first NBA title with a heavy dose of an old standby –- their stingy defense. The Thunder, who led the league in defensive rating in the regular season and the playoffs, turned in another gem in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, a 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night. Oklahoma City held the Pacers to 41.4% shooting in the deciding game, far below the 48.4% Indiana shot in the playoffs overall. The Thunder forced 21 turnovers and blocked eight shots. Advertisement 'You have to really grind it out,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 'It's an endurance race. You have to be able to win in the mud. You have to be able to win ugly, have to be able to gut it out. That's what we did. The team did an unbelievable job of that.' The defensive effort, combined with another strong offensive performance by Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, put Oklahoma City over the top. The Thunder became the youngest NBA champions since the 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers, with an average age of 25.68 years. 'It's one of the biggest moments in city history,' Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said. 'We've achieved sports immortality, and that will open doors in our community far beyond basketball for years, decades to come. It's a very, very special day we can build upon forever.' Chet Holmgren led the way with five blocks, the most by a player in an NBA Finals Game 7 since blocks were first recorded in the 1973-74 season. Advertisement 'Honestly, I never really play for records,' the 7-foot-1 forward said. 'I never play for stats. All that will be forgotten. But us winning is forever. It's immortal. I'm just so happy we were able to do that together as a team.' Thunder guards Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace each had three steals. Indiana played most of the game without guard Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered a lower right leg injury in the first quarter. Bennedict Mathurin did his best to help the Pacers stay in the game with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Another spectacular effort by veteran TJ McConnell prevented Oklahoma City's swarming defense from being even more dominant. McConnell scored 16 points on 8-for-13 shooting, confounding Thunder defenders with crafty moves around the basket. Advertisement But he also had seven turnovers. 'Their pressure can really get to you, but I was just trying to be aggressive and had some uncharacteristic turnovers, but that happens,' McConnell said. 'Just proud of the fight. We fought to the end. Credit to OKC. They are just really good.' Pascal Siakam, who had caused problems for the Thunder throughout the series, was held to 16 points on 5-for-13 shooting. Dort, an All-Defense first-team selection, gave Indiana credit for hanging tough. 'I mean, they're a great team,' he said. 'They've got great players. I feel like we was just trying different stuff to mess them up and to disturb them. We threw them a lot of different defensive stuff. We were just trying to slow them down.' ___ Freelance writer Conrad Evans contributed to this report. ___ AP NBA:
