Latest news with #KyleTerada-Imagn
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder X-factor that will determine NBA Finals Game 7 vs. Pacers
The post Thunder X-factor that will determine NBA Finals Game 7 vs. Pacers appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Oklahoma City Thunder collected 68 resounding victories in the regular season. But none of those wins matter if they don't play their best 48 minutes of basketball on Sunday. The Indiana Pacers will unleash every ounce of energy left in this epic NBA Finals matchup. Advertisement Both teams have exchanged blow after blow. Even unlikely heroes emerged — a la TJ McConnell for Indiana in Game 6. Or Isaiah Hartenstein on the Thunder's side. OKC needs more than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to will its way to the Larry O'Brien Trophy. He's the only Thunder player to score past 20 points in all six finals games. They'll need Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams to step up after a disastrous Game 6. The latter especially was on the wrong end of a Pascal Siakam dunk. But the Western Conference champs need more than the big trio to beat Indiana one last time. There's an even larger critical area OKC must address ahead of Sunday. Which rises as the x-factor that'll determine the outcome of Game 7. Bench play must step up for Thunder after Obi Toppin performance Kyle Terada-Imagn Images SGA is ready to empty the gas tank inside the Paycom Center. He'll go full throttle in the most important game of his career. Holmgren and Williams will get their minutes in, even if their shots don't fall. Advertisement But the last thing head coach Mark Daigneault wants is all three to get gassed. Furthermore, Daigneault needs a spark or sparks outside of the starting five. That's where the bench play must step up now more than ever. Indiana buried OKC with its reserves. Obi Toppin dropped 20 points off the bench. McConnell chipped in 12 on his end. Ben Sheppard, Bennedict Mathurin, Thomas Bryant and Tony Bradley also got their points in — leading to 48 bench points on Thursday. OKC shockingly had more players score off the bench with eight. But settled for 37 points there. They need more than Isaiah Joe to hit double figures. Thunder performs better vs. Pacers when bench accomplishes this mark Kyle Terada-Imagn Images The Thunder scored a total of 2,880 points off the bench this season per StatMuse. OKC increases its chances of winning when at least two reserve players cross the 10-point mark. Advertisement Such was the case in Game 5's win 120-109. And in Game 2 that tied the series the first time. The latter contest watched Alex Caruso explode for 20 points. Aaron Wiggins dropped 18 in that win. Caruso needs to erase his dismal Game 6 shooting night. He finished with zero points. OKC still needs to rely on his past championship winning experience for this moment. Wiggins can also improve from his own dismal shooting night. But another integral piece here is Cason Wallace. He's only reached double digits in scoring twice since May 15. Wallace delivered 11 off the bench in the Monday win. The Thunder needs that version of Wallace and more to place their fingers on the O'Brien hardware. Advertisement Whoever explodes after leaving their seat will alter this game. Indiana watched Mathurin and Toppin hit 20 points and boost the Pacers in this series. OKC needs someone on its side to pull something identical. And relieve SGA, Holmgren and Williams on the scoring end. Turnovers will be forced, shots will fall and adjustments will get made. But the best bench play matters here. Related: Pacers fatal flaw that will doom them in NBA Finals Game 7 vs. Thunder Related: Pacers' X-factor that will determine NBA Finals Game 7 vs. Thunder
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Ratings surge for NBA Finals Game 7 after early slump
Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate after winning game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images REUTERS Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) passes the ball againstIndiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images REUTERS Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) attempts a shot against the Indiana Pacers during game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images REUTERS Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) with head coach Mark Daigneault after winning game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images REUTERS Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; The Oklahoma City Thunder lift the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy as they celebrate after winning game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images REUTERS Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate after winning game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images REUTERS NEW YORK - Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers averaged 16.4 million viewers on Sunday, making it the most-watched Finals game in six years, the league said on Monday. The Thunder beat the Pacers 103-91 to clinch the title in a physical affair that unravelled for Indiana in the second half after point guard Tyrese Haliburton left with an Achilles injury early in the game. The viewership was welcome news for the NBA after the clash of two small-market teams yielded disappointing ratings early in the best-of-seven series. The Game 1 opener averaged 8.91 million viewers on ABC, according to Sports Media Watch, the lowest viewership for the Finals opener in the Nielsen era, outside of the two COVID-affected seasons. The series that was short on starpower ended with the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capping one of the best individual seasons in NBA history. The 26-year-old became only the fourth player - and the first since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 - to earn the scoring title as well as league and Finals MVP honours in the same season. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Basketball-Ratings surge for NBA Finals Game 7 after early slump
Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate after winning game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images NEW YORK (Reuters) -Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers averaged 16.4 million viewers on Sunday, making it the most-watched Finals game in six years, the league said on Monday. The Thunder beat the Pacers 103-91 to clinch the title in a physical affair that unravelled for Indiana in the second half after point guard Tyrese Haliburton left with an Achilles injury early in the game. The viewership was welcome news for the NBA after the clash of two small-market teams yielded disappointing ratings early in the best-of-seven series. The Game 1 opener averaged 8.91 million viewers on ABC, according to Sports Media Watch, the lowest viewership for the Finals opener in the Nielsen era, outside of the two COVID-affected seasons. The series that was short on starpower ended with the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capping one of the best individual seasons in NBA history. The 26-year-old became only the fourth player - and the first since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 - to earn the scoring title as well as league and Finals MVP honours in the same season. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New YorkEditing by Christian Radnedge)
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Tyrese Haliburton goes down injured in Game 7 of NBA Finals
Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts after suffering an injury during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Photo: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton left injured midway through the first quarter in the winner-take-all Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The point guard was off to a terrific start in the decider with three three-pointers in the first five minutes of the game when he slipped and fell while driving toward the basket at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. He slapped his fist and wept as team medical staff rushed to his aid with five minutes left in the quarter. He was later seen gingerly moving to the locker room with the aid of two staff members with a towel over his head. An NBA Finals MVP contender, Haliburton suffered a previous calf injury in Game 5 of the series. —Reuters
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers facing tough Game 7 NBA Finals trend after tying series vs. Thunder
The post Pacers facing tough Game 7 NBA Finals trend after tying series vs. Thunder appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Indiana Pacers created a far different celebration in front of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers were the ones in party mode, on a night the Thunder was one win away from securing the title. Advertisement Indiana rushed through OKC with an impressive 108-91 trouncing at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Fans glued to the NBA Finals now will get treated to a Game 7. Indiana showed its heart is still beating in avoiding an OKC celebration. But a certain trend is on the Pacers' side. One Indiana must find a way to scale. Sportsnet Stats unveiled what Indiana now faces ahead of Sunday. Before both teams enter the Paycom Center for the final time. 'This will be the 20th Game 7 in NBA Finals history. The home team has won 15 of the previous 19 contests,' the account posted on X. How Pacers forced Game 7 against Thunder Kyle Terada-Imagn Images The Pacers and Thunder will engage in the first NBA Finals seventh deciding game since 2016. LeBron James spearheaded the epic 3-1 comeback for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Golden State Warriors that night nearly a decade ago. Advertisement But how did Indiana force the final game? Especially after being down by a large deficit early? Chet Holmgren hit a finger roll layup to make it 10-2. OKC fans started to visualize a celebration after Thursday. But Pascal Siakam ignited the charge — banking a 16-foot jumper to spark the rally. Siakam then threw down a thunderous dunk in front of Jalen Williams. That helped place a cap on a massive second quarter onslaught. Indiana led 28-25 after the first quarter, but outscored OKC with an astonishing 36-17 second quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faced triple teams. The reigning Most Valuable Player settled for a series low 21 points. Holmgren settled for just four points — as that layup represented his final time getting the ball inside the hoop. Game 5 hero Williams was even bottled, ending with 16 on the evening. Advertisement The Pacers watched Obi Toppin drop 20 off the bench. Toppin became one of six Pacers in double figures and nailed four three-pointers. Tyrese Haliburton went from hobbled to scoring 14 facing elimination. Andrew Nembhard rained down 17 points including hitting three from behind the arc. Indiana is at a disadvantage still with the raucous crowd awaiting them. Plus the torrid history for road teams in Game 7. Although the last NBA Finals seventh game was won by the visitors. Indiana now can attempt to join the Cavs in NBA lore. Related: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton makes WWE exception to social media rule Related: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton reveals girlfriend's 'Love Island' plan after Game 6 victory
