NBA Playoffs Articles - Page 2

The Oklahoma City Thunder are facing mounting pressure in the NBA Finals after a 116-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 on Wednesday night dropped them into a 2-1 series deficit. While the team has previously bounced back from adversity this postseason, prominent sports commentator Bill Simmons raised concerns about what a potential […]

The Indiana Pacers took control of the 2025 NBA Finals with a thrilling 116-107 victory in Game 3 over the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by a near triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton and a breakout performance from Bennedict Mathurin. But Haliburton’s post game comment may have hit fans harder than anything that happened on the court. […]

Jay-Z just took a major loss in the world of high-stakes sports betting. The billionaire mogul lost a $1 million NBA Finals bet after the Indiana Pacers pulled off a thrilling 116-107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3, taking a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals. That result officially ended any […]

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams addressed comparisons between the current Thunder squad and the 2011-12 team that reached the NBA Finals, led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. Speaking to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel and other media members on Tuesday ahead of Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Williams acknowledged the narrative […]

The Indiana Pacers were outplayed from the opening tip in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder 123–107. It was a rough night across the board, and while fans processed the loss, Dwight Howard stirred the pot. The former first overall pick tweeted an edited photo of himself wearing a […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder have built their championship-level identity on the defensive end of the court; they forced turnovers at a historically great rate and swallowed up the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves in the previous two rounds to make it all the way to the NBA Finals. One player in particular, Alex Caruso, has […]

Chet Holmgren delivered a solid performance to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 123-107 in Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Sunday night. This prompted praise from head coach Mark Daigneault. In 28 minutes of action, Holmgren finished with 15 points, six rebounds, an assist, and a block. He shot […]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s elite scoring ability allowed him to make NBA Finals history after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 123-107 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 on Sunday night. In 36 minutes of action, Gilgeous-Alexander once again dominated against the Pacers’ defense. He finished with a stat line of 34 points, eight assists, five rebounds, […]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander entered the Paycom Center clearly hellbent on evening the series. The Oklahoma City Thunder rolled to the 123-107 romp of the Indiana Pacers behind SGA’s 34 points. But he joined an exclusive NBA playoffs club featuring Wilt Chamberlain in the process. Per Sports stats expert Greg Harvey, Gilgeous-Alexander joined the basketball legend by […]

Before the Oklahoma City Thunder reached the NBA Finals, their toughest playoff series in the Western Conference was the semifinals against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets pushed the Thunder to seven games before Oklahoma City emerged victorious. One of the Thunder’s adjustments that was credited as being a key turning point in the series was […]

Over the last few weeks, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton has been on arguably the best stretch of clutch play in the history of the NBA, hitting four game-winning or game-tying shots over the course of this epic postseason run. The most recent of those shots occurred at the end of Game 1 of the […]

Tyrese Haliburton earned immense praise from NBA legend Dwyane Wade for his heroics in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 5. The Pacers star caught wind of the Hall of Famer’s reaction. Haliburton scored 14 points in his Finals debut, but his last shot proved to be […]

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams is embracing the moment—and the pressure—as the Thunder prepare for a pivotal Game 2 showdown against the Pacers. After Oklahoma City’s stunning Game 1 collapse, the 24-year-old is leaning into his leadership role, taking accountability and reinforcing the team’s championship-level expectations for their ongoing Thunder playoff performance. Speaking with […]

The Indiana Pacers are in the NBA Finals, but Tyrese Haliburton says the journey has taken more than just skill — it required vulnerability, reflection, and mental fortitude. In a video captured by ClutchPoints reporter Brett Siegel on X, formerly known as Twitter, Haliburton elaborates on just how much pressure weighed on him throughout the […]

Former NBA champion Metta Sandiford-Artest, widely known as Metta World Peace, voiced his disagreement with LeBron James’ assessment of the Indiana Pacers’ leadership, offering a different perspective ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals. On Saturday, Sandiford-Artest took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to respond to a clip from the Mind the Game […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed Chet Holmgren’s struggles in Game 1 of the NBA Finals and delivered a strong defense of the 23-year-old big man while acknowledging the team’s overall underwhelming effort. Ahead of Sunday night’s Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers, Daigneault spoke with ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel and other members of […]

After the Oklahoma City Thunder let a 15-point fourth-quarter lead slip away in a 111-110 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, former NBA forward and ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson offered his take on the collapse, reflecting on what he saw courtside as part of the Game 1 commentary crew. […]

Tyrese Haliburton added another clutch moment to his growing postseason resume on Thursday night — and followed it with a pointed message for those who doubted the Indiana Pacers all season long. Haliburton hit the game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds left to lift the Pacers to a 111-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in […]

Tyrese Haliburton continues to deliver when it matters most, adding another signature moment to his growing collection of clutch performances in the Indiana Pacers’ dramatic 111-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The 25-year-old guard finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and a block on Thursday […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder made history in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but not the kind they had hoped to celebrate at the final buzzer. With a ferocious start, the Thunder racked up 12 steals in the first half alone, the most ever by any team in a single half of the NBA Finals […]

The Indiana Pacers delivered one of the most electric moments in recent NBA Finals history in Game 1, and fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse felt every second of it. As Tyrese Haliburton’s buzzer-beater sealed a 111-110 comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reaction inside Indiana’s home arena—over 700 miles from the game itself—was unforgettable. […]

The Indiana Pacers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, pulling off a dramatic comeback capped by Tyrese Haliburton’s buzzer-beating dagger. But what made the moment even more remarkable was the preparation behind it—crafted by head coach Rick Carlisle, whose late-game strategy set the stage for the clutch finish. […]

The Indiana Pacers delivered a stunning blow to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, rallying from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to steal a 111-110 win on the road. The Pacers comeback not only shocked the home crowd at Paycom Center but also took NBA analysts by surprise—including Hall of […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder had complete control for most of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Behind a dominant first half and elite defense, they looked poised to take a 1-0 series lead over the Indiana Pacers. But a stunning late-game turnaround by Indiana left Oklahoma City stunned in a 111-110 loss — capped by […]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander channeled Allen Iverson in his NBA Finals debut during Game 1 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. In 40 minutes of action, Gilgeous-Alexander was dominant to begin his time on the biggest NBA stage. He finished with 38 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. He shot […]

Shaquille O’Neal stole the spotlight before Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals with a surprise appearance on ESPN’s NBA Countdown set, adding his signature humor ahead of the highly anticipated matchup between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The unexpected moment comes just months before the full Inside the NBA ESPN move, where […]

Mikal Bridges may have noticed the criticism that went his way following the New York Knicks’ exit from the Eastern Conference Finals. Bridges served as a consistent two-way player throughout the course of the 2024-25 season. He had strong plays as a perimeter shooter and defender as he benefitted the Knicks on both sides of […]

The New York Knicks delivered their first Eastern Conference Finals run since 2000. And pulled it off without needing a megastar like Kevin Durant. However, the Phoenix Suns star came close to joining the Knicks per a new bombshell report Thursday. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania dropped some stunning league intel before Game 1 of […]

MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are at the center of the NBA world’s attention, which has ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson realigning his hierarchy regarding Golden State Warriors All-Star Stephen Curry. As Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP campaign enters the NBA Finals, it’s the difference between Jefferson taking Shai over Curry. Jefferson explained his Gilgeous-Alexander over […]

ESPN analyst Doris Burke addressed recent backlash from Oklahoma City Thunder fans regarding comments made during the Western Conference Finals, revealing that her references to the “free-throw merchant” storyline drew criticism from the fan base. In an interview with ESPN’s Alex Feuz ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Burke explained the context behind […]

With the Oklahoma City Thunder entering the 2025 NBA Finals as favorites over the Indiana Pacers, could Thunder GM Sam Presti be on the verge of wrapping his 18-year tenure with an NBA title? As the Executive of the Year, it wouldn’t be an awful way to close out this chapter of his career. Four […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — In a regular season where the Oklahoma City Thunder finished with a 24-58 record, head coach Mark Daigneault saw glimmers of hope. All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and All-Defensive guard Lu Dort are the only remaining starters from the 2021-22 squad, and Kenrich Williams and Aaron Wiggins, a rookie at the time, still come […]

Pascal Siakam is back on basketball’s biggest stage, and this time, he arrives as the veteran centerpiece of an Indiana Pacers team making its first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years. The Pacers will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. ET at the […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren missed 50 regular-season games due to a rare hip injury. His fractured pelvis was a significant setback, but his teammates eased his road to recovery, and so did winning. After making his return in February, the Thunder finished the regular season 18-4. Then, Oklahoma City went […]

Nearly the entire sports world was shocked to see the New York Knicks firing Tom Thibodeau. However, Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle might’ve been more shocked than anyone else. When discussing New York’s decision to move on from Thibodeau, Carlisle revealed how he initially thought it wasn’t real. The 65-year-old head coach claimed that […]

Oklahoma City Thunder star and newly crowned league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spoke candidly about his relationship with general manager Sam Presti during NBA Finals media day on Wednesday. “He’s always been honest and up front with me from Day 1,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You don’t get that very often, especially that early. Seemed like a guy […]

The New York Knicks parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau. The firing came despite the fact that he led New York to its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years, as well as Thibodeau having three years remaining on his contract. But the Knicks were obviously displeased with Thibodeau and his inflexibility with […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault knows his team will have its hands full in trying to contain Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton in the NBA Finals. Daigneault knows Rick Carlisle leads a confident squad, shocking the league with its unanticipated run through the Eastern Conference to face the Thunder. The alpha star has […]

Before facing off in the 2025 NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault paid his respects to Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. After Daigneault discussed Sam Presti’s relationship influencing the Thunder, he addressed Carlisle guiding his Pacers to beating the New York Knicks 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Mark has a […]