NBA News

Desmond Bane Joins Orlando Magic in Major Trade, Shaking Up NBA Landscape

June 15, 2025NBA News

After spending five seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, Desmond Bane is set to be traded to the Orlando Magic, as reported by ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania on Sunday. In exchange, the Grizzlies will acquire Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony, along with the 16th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, the Phoenix Suns’ first-round selection …

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Headline: Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders Fourth-Quarter Surge Powers Thunder to Game 4 Comeback Against Pacers

June 15, 2025NBA News

**INDIANAPOLIS** — The Indiana Pacers executed their strategy flawlessly, nearly sealing a decisive victory over Oklahoma City. However, a sudden shift in momentum led to their undoing, as the Thunderstorm arrived unheralded. While the final outcome of Game 4 may not solely define the series, it marked a significant turning point for the Pacers. Their once-comfortable lead dwindled, confidence crumbled, …

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Headline: Thunders Game 4 Masterstroke: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Steps Up as Unlikely Screen Setter to Spark Comeback

June 15, 2025NBA News

In challenging circumstances, unconventional strategies are often employed. This is especially true in the high-stakes atmosphere of the NBA Finals, where teams may resort to tactics they haven’t frequently used throughout the season. Such was the situation on Friday when the Oklahoma City Thunder pivoted with a significant tactical shift, opting for a rarely utilized maneuver that could potentially alter …

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Isaiah Hartenstein Reclaims Starting Spot as Thunder Seek Momentum in Crucial Game 4 Against Indiana

June 14, 2025NBA News

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)— The Oklahoma City Thunder reverted to the lineup that served them well during the earlier playoff rounds for Game 4 of the NBA Finals against Indiana, reintroducing Isaiah Hartenstein to the starting lineup on Friday night. Hartenstein joined forces with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, and Chet Holmgren. This combination features two 7-foot players in their …

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Reimagining Greatness: The Indiana Pacers Emerge as Unstoppable Contenders in the NBA Finals

June 13, 2025NBA News

**Editor’s Note:** For additional NBA analysis, check out more coverage from The Athletic here. The opinions expressed on this page may not represent those of the NBA or its teams. * * * With every exhilarating victory and each stride they take toward capturing the franchise’s inaugural NBA championship, the Indiana Pacers are gradually challenging our perceptions and methods of …

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Thunder-Pacers: 5 takeaways as Pacers rally once more for 2-1 series lead Текст: INDIANAPOLIS— There’s a different energy in the2025 NBA Finals, at least sensed by those in this historic and proud basketball state. The Indiana Pacers are leading the championship series and hopeful to spin their own Hoosiers tale. How realistic is that against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder? Any ambitious goal must start with a significant step, which was taken Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and perhaps that footprint left an impression on OKC. It wasPacers 116, Thunder 107, and this game presented a twist. In the first two games combined, the Pacers led by less than two minutes total. This time? Once the lead was seized with six minutes left, it was never surrendered, and here we are. There was too much Tyrese Haliburton, too much Bennedict Mathurin off the bench, too much rim protection by Myles Turner late in this game for OKC to handle. The Pacers played a more complete game for once and beat the Thunder at their own game — defense, depth and at times dominance. In the process, the Pacers finally broke their Game 3 jinx, having dropped all three such games in the postseason before Wednesday. Said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle: “Hard things are hard. Our guys, they have made the investment, and it’s an ongoing thing. It’s like a great marriage, it’s a lot of work.” The work is paying off so far for Indiana. Speaking of work: Suddenly, down a game in this series, nothing seems safe anymore for the Thunder, not even a simple inbounds pass. (Hello, T.J. McConnell!) Here are five takeaways from a momentum-shifting victory by the Pacers: They didn’t shut the MVP down. Honestly, given the season Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had — and is still having — that doesn’t seem reasonable. Yet this was a clear victory for Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard and the Pacers to flash a different strategy and prevent him from becoming a one-man demolition. “You’re consistently trying to mix things up because if you give any good player the same look over and over, it can be really tough,” Haliburton said. He was far from a factor Wednesday, which represented the first tame output by Gilgeous-Alexander in this series. No 30-piece this time, no soul-crushing run of buckets to snatch momentum, no steady trips to the free-throw line, none of that. Just six turnovers and a mild 24 points, which Indiana will take anytime. The sight of Gilgeous-Alexander working up a sweat to free himself from the Pacers’ clutches was different. Indiana brought help high in the pick-and-roll, which seemed to freeze him at times and limit his movement. He started slow (six first-quarter points) and managed onlyone bucket in the fourth. Gilgeous-Alexander had moments. He just didn’t have a game. The Pacers limit league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 24 points with 6 turnovers in Game 3. “With him, he’s the MVP,” Carlisle said. “You’ve just got to try to make it difficult. And you know, we’ve just got to keep platooning people onto him and try to keep our guys fresh somehow.” Have the Pacers figured something out? They did so against the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson in theEastern Conference Finals. Brunson plays a similar style and initially put the Pacers on red alert. But as that series progressed, he labored so much more. Such is the goal of Carlisle and also Nembhard, who is the first line of defense. They want, and probably need, to solve the Gilgeous-Alexander riddle to capture this series. Wednesday was either the start … or merely a temporary speed bump. “I’ll clean everything up and try to be better for this basketball team come next game,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. In a best-of-seven championship series, there’s always an unexpected source of production, usually from the bench. One day it’s Alex Caruso, the next it’s Aaron Wiggins or Obi Toppin. Game 3 was claimed by the Pacers’ Mathurin, a walking bucket on this night who caused problems for a usually dependable OKC defense. His mandate was clear — get ball, shoot ball. And he delivered on that duty. Let’s see: 27 points in 22 minutes? Shooting 9-for-12 and also 7-for-8 from the free-throw line? Dare we suggest that Mathurin was the best Canadian on a floor shared with Gilgeous-Alexander? And he didn’t even play in the first quarter? Well, once Carlisle put him in, he stayed with him. Mathurin was that effective and meant that much for an Indiana team that fed off his energy. “Just whenever my number is called, go into the game and do the right things and try to help my team win,” Mathurin said. “That’s the whole mindset.” He missed last season’s playoffs with a labrum injury, so in a sense, he was restless. He waited a year for his turn, and it arrived on Wednesday. The urgency and the energy of the Pacers was embodied in a series of blurs by T.J. McConnell, who placed his signature hustle on this game. “T.J. brought a competitive will to this game,” Carlisle said. “He’s a guy who inspires our team a lot.” He stole three inbounds passes off of made Indiana baskets. Those had a demoralizing effect on the Thunder and translated into additional points for the Pacers. In one sequence, he drove to the rim, passed to Toppin for a layup, then stole the inbounds. Another such steal led to a Pascal Siakam shot. It missed, but McConnell grabbed the rebound and dished an assist. McConnell played 15 minutes, had five steals — three in a rousing second quarter — 10 points and five assists. The crowd was energized and so were his teammates. “He did a great job of consistently getting there and making hustle play after hustle play, and sticking with it, and I thought we did a great job of just feeding off of what he was doing,” Haliburton said. In the two first halves of the previous Finals games, Haliburton was curiously absent. He totaled nine points in those 24 minutes, and for much of that time, the Pacers trailed big, including by as much as 20 in Game 2. He admitted he needed a better start, and being more aggressive was the key. That didn’t necessarily mean Haliburton had to force shots — that’s not his style anyway — but to create issues for OKC’s defense. Mission accomplished. One reason the Pacers led by four at halftime while shooting 55% was Haliburton, who had 12 points with seven assists in the half. He brought bounce, attacked the rim at times, controlled the pace, drew the double-team, which opened the floor for his teammates and helped them to open shots. “I thought his approach tonight was exactly what it need to be, a combination of spatial awareness and aggression, and you know, a real good feel for aggression to score along with getting his teammates involved at the right times,” Carlisle said. All told for Haliburton: 22 points (4-for-8 from deep), 11 assists and nine rebounds, a near triple-double all made possible by a first half where he was determined to be more impactful. “I’m just trying to play the right way,” he said. “This means the world to me and I’m excited to be here. But I do think it’s important that you don’t overreact at any point.” It’s very simple: the Thunder must win three out of four games to win the NBA championship. And the next game is in Indianapolis. And the Pacers lost only four games total in the previous three rounds before the Finals. This is enough to cause understandable concern for a 68-game winner in the regular season. But panic? OKC didn’t in theWestern Conference semifinalsagainst the Nuggets, so why start now? About that Denver series: OKC dropped the first game and trailed 2-1, much like this series so far. Each time, the Thunder’s response was emphatic. Theywon by 43 pointsin Game 2, then evened the series in Game 4 witha gutsy five-point winwhere they refused to crumble in the fourth quarter. So here they are again. OKC seemed poised to snatch control of this Game 3 in the last 52 seconds of the third quarter, when they flipped a one-point deficit to a five-point lead. Jalen Williams was the architect of that, assisting on a Chet Holmgren dunk before swishing a 26-footer at the buzzer. This time, though, the Pacers had all the fourth-quarter answers. Holmgren was shut down by Turner, Gilgeous-Alexander had one bucket in the fourth and OKC was outscored 32-18. All told, the Thunder had 19 turnovers, unusual for them. That was a wrap. “I thought they were in character in terms of their physicality, their pressure on defense,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “Then they were in character in terms of their pace on offense.” The slate is clean for Friday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC). In the Finals, each game takes on its own identity. What was evident one night could disappear the next. Those are all comforting words for a team eager to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole, which would create a scenario of doom. Panic? In such a situation, it would certainly creep into the conversation. “The great thing is we have another game coming up,” Holmgren said. “We can’t be thinking about frustration or anything. No matter how good it’s going, how bad it’s going, the focus can’t be on your emotions. It has to be on what we’re trying to accomplish — the task at hand.” * * * Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail himhere, findhis archive hereandfollow him on X. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.

June 13, 2025NBA News

INDIANAPOLIS— There’s a different energy in the2025 NBA Finals, at least sensed by those in this historic and proud basketball state. The Indiana Pacers are leading the championship series and hopeful to spin their own Hoosiers tale. How realistic is that against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder? Any ambitious goal must start with a significant step, which was taken Wednesday …

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NBA Finals MVP Ladder: Tyrese Haliburton regains lead as growing legacy blooms Текст: INDIANAPOLIS— Tyrese Haliburton can be somewhat of a polarizing figure in NBA circles. Is he an elite player? Where does he rank among this generation of point guards? And how should history explainwhat he’s doing now? Well, it’s very simple: If Haliburton wins a championship and captures the NBA Finals MVP, it would cement a storied run and become a legacy builder for a player who has never won a major award in his career or left the bench very much last summer for Team USA in the Olympics. That’s what’s at stake here for the Pacers guard against Oklahoma City. Even better for the Pacers, he wants it all, wants the trophy and the respect and recognition that comes with it. As of right now, he’s your leader in the NBA Finals MVP Ladder and perhaps two wins away from his goal. And if he finishes with a flourish in this series, will Haliburton become a household name in the game? At the very least, it would be a start, a foundation-builder for a player who’s just tapping his prime. The stat to know:Haliburton has yet to attempt a free throw in this series. Imagine the conversation if this were the case with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Anyway, Haliburton has 53 points total despite the lack of free throws. What they are saying:“I think Andrew is doing a great job of staying in front, being physical, just making it hard on him, just trying to give him different looks. He’s [Gilgeous-Alexander] the MVP, the best scorer in the NBA. Feels like when he wakes up, he has 30.” —Haliburton on teammate Andrew Nembhard’s defensive approach against SGA. 2025 Finals stats:17.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 7.7 apg His case:He has been the pace-setter for Indiana with his tempo and ability to score and find teammates. Game 3 was his most impressive start-to-finish performance in this series. Haliburton was aggressive, looked for his shot and helped the Pacers avoid the first-half stumbles of the first two games. Of course, there’s another reason he leads this ladder — the Pacers are leading the series. Other than being uncharacteristically reckless with the ball — he’s averaging four turnovers per game — Haliburton’s contributions are the primary reason the Pacers are up 2-1. 2025 Finals stats:32.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.0 apg His case:Still the most dangerous player on the floor, Gilgeous-Alexander is theleading scorer in the seriesand perhaps one win away from reclaiming the top spot on this ladder. OKC’s chances of winning increase substantially when he plays well, no matter what the Pacers offer. Game 3 represented aslight setbackfor him; he seemed to tire in the fourth quarter (just one basket) and suffered from six turnovers. Yet, Gilgeous-Alexander is the primary focus of the Pacers’ defense, as he should be. If he has a strong Game 4 reply, Gilgeous-Alexander is right back holding pole position in the Finals MVP conversation. SO. SHIFTY. Shai wiggles to the cup 🕺pic.twitter.com/n0fAhshY0G — NBA (@NBA)June 12, 2025 2025 Finals stats:18.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.7 apg His case:He only struggled in Game 2, like most of the Pacers in that loss. Otherwise, Siakam’s consistency stands out. He’s thePacers’ leading scorer and rebounderin the series while surrendering just three turnovers total. Siakam is doing almost all of his offensive damage from 18 feet; he hasattempted just eight3-pointers through three games. And yet, OKC hasn’t figured out a way to slow him down. Siakam proved to be a big-game player during the 2019 title run in Toronto and has the same mindset now. 2025 Finals stats:20.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.7 apg His case:There’s the feeling that Williams hasn’t yet put his stamp on this series. Overall, he has been solid, and at times, shaky, so maybe he’s due for a night. There were stretches in Game 3 where Williams teased about a takeover, especially at the end of the third quarter when he helped OKC assume a five-point lead. He has plenty on his plate as the No. 2 option on offense and checking Siakam defensively. One way or the other, Williams will be a factor in OKC winning or losing this series, especially if the Pacers apply additional handcuffs on Gilgeous-Alexander. JDUB BEATS THE 3RD QUARTER BUZZER 🚨pic.twitter.com/BrmxGzcyzD — NBA (@NBA)June 12, 2025 2025 Finals stats:11.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg His case:He swished a massive 3-pointer during Indiana’s valiant fourth-quarter run in Game 1, buthis impact is largely defensivein this series. While being guarded by Nembhard, Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting just 35%, which, for him, represents a step down from his usual efficiency standards. Nembhard’s confidence is growing by the game and he’s making Gilgeous-Alexander work for every shot. This is obviously important to the Pacers’ chances of winning the championship. While he remains a long shot to capture Finals MVP, Nembhard can become an instant Pacers hero if they win this championship. * * * Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail himhere, findhis archive hereandfollow him on X. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.

June 13, 2025NBA News

INDIANAPOLIS— Tyrese Haliburton can be somewhat of a polarizing figure in NBA circles. Is he an elite player? Where does he rank among this generation of point guards? And how should history explainwhat he’s doing now? Well, it’s very simple: If Haliburton wins a championship and captures the NBA Finals MVP, it would cement a storied run and become a …

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Magic Johnson to Dončić: “Luka gotta understand this is not Dallas” Текст: Luka Dončić had a tough end to the 2024–25 season after being traded to theLos Angeles Lakers. He was recovering from a calf injury when Dallas suddenly sent him to L.A., where he helped the team earn the third seed in the West. However, theLakerswere eliminated in just five games by theTimberwolves. After the loss, Dončić faced criticism about his conditioning, with Lakers legend Magic Johnson saying on ESPN’s First Take that Dončić needs to take better care of his body and step up as a leader, like Kobe, Shaq, and LeBron did. “Luka gotta understand this is not Dallas. To your point—Kobe, a superstar who led us; Shaq led us to a championship; LeBron led us. And that’s what’s missing here. We shouldn’t have to tell you to be in shape, you should have been about that, right? Especially when you’re a superstar. So this is gonna be an important year for the Lakers, an important offseason for the Lakers.” This offseason will be crucial for both Dončić and the Lakers. The team must build a roster that fits around him, and he’ll need to come back stronger to lead L.A. deeper into the playoffs.

June 13, 2025NBA News

Luka Dončić had a tough end to the 2024–25 season after being traded to theLos Angeles Lakers. He was recovering from a calf injury when Dallas suddenly sent him to L.A., where he helped the team earn the third seed in the West. However, theLakerswere eliminated in just five games by theTimberwolves. After the loss, Dončić faced criticism about his …

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Headline: Pacers Defensive Tenacity Shines in Crucial Game 3 Comeback

June 12, 2025NBA News

INDIANAPOLIS— To capture the NBA championship, a team doesn’t necessarily need to dominate defensively across the league. However, even the most proficient offensive teams must still achieve a reasonable degree of defensive performance to clinch four playoff series. In the 2022-23 season, the Denver Nuggets ranked 15th in defensive performance during the regular season but elevated their game defensively in …

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Hoops and Heritage: Caitlin Clark Joins Indiana Basketball Legends at Thrilling NBA Finals Showdown

June 12, 2025NBA News

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark made sure to witness the NBA Finals firsthand, taking a spot along the baseline to support the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday evening. The WNBA sensation sported a yellow shirt featuring the iconic phrase “In 49 other states it’s just basketball. But this is Indiana,” paired with a finals logo. She watched the game alongside her …

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Headline: Historic Bench Heroics Propel Pacers to NBA Finals Lead in Game 3

June 12, 2025NBA News

The Indiana Pacers are now one step closer to claiming their first NBA championship, thanks to remarkable performances from their bench in Wednesday’s 116-107 victory against the Thunder in Game 3. Bennedict Mathurin dazzled the Oklahoma City defense, finishing with a game-high 27 points in only 22 minutes on 12 attempts. He has become the youngest player to score 25 …

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Pacers Take Command in NBA Finals with Game 3 Win, Haliburton Shines Again

June 12, 2025NBA News

As the series shifted to Indianapolis, the Pacers embraced the backing of their fans during their first NBA Finals appearance in a quarter of a century, securing a 116-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. They now lead the series 2-1. Tyrese Haliburton came close to achieving a triple-double once more, finishing the game with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and …

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Headline: Pacers Giants Rise to the Occasion: Turner and Toppin Dominate the Fourth Quarter for Crucial Game 3 Win

June 12, 2025NBA News

INDIANAPOLIS— The game began poorly for the Indiana Pacers, and the second half followed suit with an equally lackluster start. A weak finish to the third quarter compounded their troubles. Overall, the Oklahoma City Thunder greatly outperformed the Pacers in those critical stretches—approximately six and a half minutes—outscoring them 27-6. Fortunately for Indiana, there were still 41 minutes remaining in …

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