Ruthless Pacers throttle Thunder to push NBA finals to decisive Game 7

Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, right, celebrates a basket during the second quarter of Thursday’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA finals. Photograph: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The Indiana Pacers saved their best for last at home. Obi Toppin scored 20 points, Andrew Nembhard added 17 and the Pacers blew past the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 of the NBA finals on Thursday night, leveling the series at 3-3 and setting up a dramatic Game 7 in Oklahoma City.

Pascal Siakam added 16 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, while Tyrese Haliburton, playing through a strained calf, delivered 14 points to steady the team after a rocky start. TJ McConnell chipped in 12 points, nine boards and six assists off the bench in another energetic showing.

Schedule

Best-of-seven-games series. All times US eastern time (EDT). 

Thu 5 Jun Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110

Sun 8 Jun Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107

Wed 11 Jun Game 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107

Fri 13 Jun Game 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104

Mon 16 Jun Game 5: Thunder 120, Pacers 109

Thu 19 Jun Game 6: Pacers 108, Thunder 91

Sun 22 Jun Game 7: Pacers at Thunder, 8pm

How to watch

In the US, all games will air on ABC. Streaming options include ABC.com or the ABC app (with a participating TV provider login), as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and Sling TV (via ESPN3 for ABC games). NBA League Pass offers replays, but live finals games are subject to blackout restrictions in the US.

In the UK, the games will be available on TNT Sports and Discovery+. As for streaming, NBA League Pass will provide live and on-demand access to all Finals games without blackout restrictions.

In Australia, the games will broadcast live on ESPN Australia. Kayo Sports and Foxtel Now will stream the games live, while NBA League Pass will offer live and on-demand access without blackout restrictions.

Indiana missed their first eight shots and fell behind 10-2, but then went on a 68-32 run across the second and third quarters. The lead ballooned to 31 late in the third – the Thunder’s second-worst deficit of the season – and the Pacers cruised to their first double-digit win of the series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 21 points and Jalen Williams had 16, but the Thunder pulled their starters before the fourth quarter. A half-time lineup switch inserting Alex Caruso failed to spark a comeback, as both teams opened the third quarter with nearly four scoreless minutes and 13 straight missed shots.

Game 7 will mark the first time the NBA finals has gone the distance since 2016. The Thunder have already come back from a 45-point hole in these playoffs and will need one more rally at home.

For Indiana, the moment was about resilience. With Hall of Famer Reggie Miller watching courtside in a Jalen Rose jersey, the Pacers played their most complete game of the series. They controlled the glass, pushed the pace and held Oklahoma City to 37% shooting. Now both teams head to a one-night showdown for the NBA title.

More to follow.

Pacers Tyrese Haliburton will play in Game 6 Thursday, try to extend team's season one more game

INDIANAPOLIS — Tyrese Haliburton will play in a win-or-stay-home Game 6 for Indiana on Thursday night.

"Tyrese will play..." Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "He was strength tested at 5 p.m. and did very well. Went through walkthrough. There's no set minutes limit. We will watch and monitor things very closely from the beginning of the game through the entirety of the game. We'll go from there."

Haliburton suffered a strained calf on a first-quarter drive in Game 5. While he went back to the locker room for a stretch, he came back out and still played 34 minutes on the night, but he scored just four points on 0-of-6 shooting. That is what Carlisle has to monitor: if Haliburton is out on the court but not helping the team — or is actively hurting it because he can't move well enough — Carlisle will have to make a tough decision about how much to play the team's offensive conductor.

Expect the Thunder to test him early on both ends of the court.

"I'll say it again, he's a great player," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Haliburton. "If there's one thing we know, you don't underestimate great players. In this situation, we're expecting his best punch. Indiana is a great team. We're expecting their best punch. I have no doubt he's dealing with stuff, but we're expecting him to come out and play like a great player would play. We have to prepare for that."

Haliburton is averaging 15 points, 7.2 assists and 6.2 rebounds a game through these Finals, but is shooting 29.4% from 3. The Pacers are 12-3 in these playoffs in games Haliburton has scored 20+ points, which includes a Game 3 victory in the Finals in which he scored 22 points.

Pacers force Game 7 with 108-91 rout of Thunder in NBA Finals

Pacers force Game 7 with 108-91 rout of Thunder in NBA Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Indiana has forced the two best words in sports.

With their backs against the wall at home, the Pacers crushed the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals Thursday, facing a winner-takes-all scenario in Game 7.

The game was close after one, but Indiana used a 36-17 differential in the second quarter to pull away, followed by a 26-18 advantage in the third. The Pacers led by as much as 31, but saw the final score get cut into by the Thunder in garbage time.

Tyrese Haliburton played through a calf strain that’s typically a multi-week injury and recorded 14 points and five assists in 23 minutes, while shooting 5 of 12 from the field and 3 of 7 from deep. The blowout score provided Haliburton some extra key minutes of rest.

Obi Toppin led Indiana in scoring with 20 points off the bench, mainly helping keep the cushion safe in the fourth quarter. Backup point guard T.J. McConnell played 24 minutes off the bench and added 12 points on 6 of 12 shooting.

Haliburton was aided in the starting lineup by Andrew Nembhard’s 17 points, as the shooting guard maximized his touches on 5 of 7 shooting overall, with a 3 of 5 clip from deep. Pascal Siakam shot 6 of 14 overall for 16 points and 13 rebounds. The only Indiana starter who did not reach double figures was center Myles Turner, who had three points on a 1 of 9 clip from the field.

Oklahoma City’s star duo of league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and possible Finals MVP candidate Jalen Williams were kept in check. Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 21 points on 7 of 15 shooting with 7 of 8 free throws, four rebounds and two assists, while turning the rock over eight times. Williams mustered 16 points on 6 of 13 shooting.

Chet Holmgren, the Thunder’s star big man, had it even worse with just four points on 2 of 9 shooting and six rebounds. Oklahoma City also shot just 8 of 30 from downtown, a clip of 26.7%. Indiana wasn’t explosive at 35.7%, but had the volume edge with 15 of 42 makes.

That’s also before mentioning Indiana’s 68% free-throw rate on 25 attempts, while the Thunder had 80.8% on 26 attempts. The Thunder also turned it over 10 more times than Indiana (21 to 11), with OKC conceding 19 points off mistakes to the Pacers’ 13.

With both teams vying for their first ever NBA championship, everything is on the line in the final game of the season.

Game 7 in Oklahoma City is set for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT.

Pacers force Game 7 with 108-91 rout of Thunder in NBA Finals

Pacers force Game 7 with 108-91 rout of Thunder in NBA Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Indiana has forced the two best words in sports.

With their backs against the wall at home, the Pacers crushed the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals Thursday, facing a winner-takes-all scenario in Game 7.

The game was close after one, but Indiana used a 36-17 differential in the second quarter to pull away, followed by a 26-18 advantage in the third. The Pacers led by as much as 31, but saw the final score get cut into by the Thunder in garbage time.

Tyrese Haliburton played through a calf strain that’s typically a multi-week injury and recorded 14 points and five assists in 23 minutes, while shooting 5 of 12 from the field and 3 of 7 from deep. The blowout score provided Haliburton some extra key minutes of rest.

Obi Toppin led Indiana in scoring with 20 points off the bench, mainly helping keep the cushion safe in the fourth quarter. Backup point guard T.J. McConnell played 24 minutes off the bench and added 12 points on 6 of 12 shooting.

Haliburton was aided in the starting lineup by Andrew Nembhard’s 17 points, as the shooting guard maximized his touches on 5 of 7 shooting overall, with a 3 of 5 clip from deep. Pascal Siakam shot 6 of 14 overall for 16 points and 13 rebounds. The only Indiana starter who did not reach double figures was center Myles Turner, who had three points on a 1 of 9 clip from the field.

Oklahoma City’s star duo of league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and possible Finals MVP candidate Jalen Williams were kept in check. Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 21 points on 7 of 15 shooting with 7 of 8 free throws, four rebounds and two assists, while turning the rock over eight times. Williams mustered 16 points on 6 of 13 shooting.

Chet Holmgren, the Thunder’s star big man, had it even worse with just four points on 2 of 9 shooting and six rebounds. Oklahoma City also shot just 8 of 30 from downtown, a clip of 26.7%. Indiana wasn’t explosive at 35.7%, but had the volume edge with 15 of 42 makes.

That’s also before mentioning Indiana’s 68% free-throw rate on 25 attempts, while the Thunder had 80.8% on 26 attempts. The Thunder also turned it over 10 more times than Indiana (21 to 11), with OKC conceding 19 points off mistakes to the Pacers’ 13.

With both teams vying for their first ever NBA championship, everything is on the line in the final game of the season.

Game 7 in Oklahoma City is set for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT.

Why Doc Rivers believes Steph Curry's brother Seth is ‘perfect' Warriors fit

Why Doc Rivers believes Steph Curry's brother Seth is ‘perfect' Warriors fit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Should the Warriors pair Steph Curry with his younger brother Seth? Longtime NBA coach Doc Rivers certainly believes so.

During an interview on “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Rivers stated that the pending free agent’s most ideal fit would be playing alongside his older brother in the Bay Area.

“I actually think the perfect place for him would be Golden State,” Rivers told Simmons. (h/t ClutchPoints)

Rivers then doubled down on his belief that the pair of sharpshooting brothers would excel playing on the same team together.

“I don’t know if it’s possible or not,” Rivers explained. “I don’t know if either one of them would want it actually, but I do think, forget that, it has nothing to do with that, it’s the way they play, he fits perfect. I’ve said that for two or three years and whenever you bring it up to the family they kind of uh that’s not… But I do think it’d be sensational. It would be great for him.”

While Steph widely is recognized as the greatest shooter of all time, Seth actually led the NBA with a 45.6 3-point percentage during the 2024-25 season.

Seth averaged 6.5 points in 15.6 minutes per game for the Charlotte Hornets in his latest campaign, but was highly efficient beyond the arc, which potentially could provide the Warriors with a huge boost to the perimeter shooting issues that plagued the Warriors for large stretches last season.

Seth is an 11-year NBA veteran who has had stints with the Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trailblazers, Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies as well as his most recent NBA run with the Hornets.

While it remains to be seen if this reunion will come to fruition, it is fun to envision a world where “Splash Brother” takes on an entirely new meaning.

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Pacers force Game 7 with 108-91 rout of Thunder in NBA Finals

Pacers force Game 7 with 108-91 rout of Thunder in NBA Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Indiana has forced the two best words in sports.

With their backs against the wall at home, the Pacers crushed the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals Thursday, facing a winner-takes-all scenario in Game 7.

The game was close after one, but Indiana used a 36-17 differential in the second quarter to pull away, followed by a 26-18 advantage in the third. The Pacers led by as much as 31, but saw the final score get cut into by the Thunder in garbage time.

Tyrese Haliburton played through a calf strain that’s typically a multi-week injury and recorded 14 points and five assists in 23 minutes, while shooting 5 of 12 from the field and 3 of 7 from deep. The blowout score provided Haliburton some extra key minutes of rest.

Obi Toppin led Indiana in scoring with 20 points off the bench, mainly helping keep the cushion safe in the fourth quarter. Backup point guard T.J. McConnell played 24 minutes off the bench and added 12 points on 6 of 12 shooting.

Haliburton was aided in the starting lineup by Andrew Nembhard’s 17 points, as the shooting guard maximized his touches on 5 of 7 shooting overall, with a 3 of 5 clip from deep. Pascal Siakam shot 6 of 14 overall for 16 points and 13 rebounds. The only Indiana starter who did not reach double figures was center Myles Turner, who had three points on a 1 of 9 clip from the field.

Oklahoma City’s star duo of league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and possible Finals MVP candidate Jalen Williams were kept in check. Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 21 points on 7 of 15 shooting with 7 of 8 free throws, four rebounds and two assists, while turning the rock over eight times. Williams mustered 16 points on 6 of 13 shooting.

Chet Holmgren, the Thunder’s star big man, had it even worse with just four points on 2 of 9 shooting and six rebounds. Oklahoma City also shot just 8 of 30 from downtown, a clip of 26.7%. Indiana wasn’t explosive at 35.7%, but had the volume edge with 15 of 42 makes.

That’s also before mentioning Indiana’s 68% free-throw rate on 25 attempts, while the Thunder had 80.8% on 26 attempts. The Thunder also turned it over 10 more times than Indiana (21 to 11), with OKC conceding 19 points off mistakes to the Pacers’ 13.

With both teams vying for their first ever NBA championship, everything is on the line in the final game of the season.

Game 7 in Oklahoma City is set for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT.

In wake of Knicks' interest, Houston Rockets reportedly extend Ime Udoka's contract

As part of their coaching search, the New York Knicks contacted the Houston Rockets and requested permission to speak with Ime Udoka. Houston shot that idea down.

That sparked something with the Rockets, and while Udoka reportedly has two years remaining on his current deal, he has agreed to a contract extension with the team, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by other reports. This makes Udoka one of the highest-paid coaches in the league, Charania added.

Udoka, along with general manager Rafael Stone, helped build the defense-first culture of the Rockets, taking a team that won just 59 games across three seasons before he arrived and transforming them into one of the fastest-rising teams in the West. Last season, the Rockets went 52-30 and finished the two-seed in the West, making the playoffs for the first time in five years behind a young core of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jalen Green. They were bounced in seven games in the first round of the playoffs by a more seasoned Golden State Warriors team. The Rockets thrived this season thanks to a pressuring top-five defense, but in the postseason, they needed another go-to scorer in the half court, which is why they have been linked to Kevin Durant (how interested the Rockets are in the 37-year-old next season Durant is up for debate).

Udoka was never leaving this team on the rise in Houston for New York, but it opened the door to an extension that locks him in as the Rockets' coach for the foreseeable future. It's a smart move by the Rockets.

Houston has locked up center Steven Adams with an extension and is expected to do the same with Fred VanVleet this summer. The Rockets will be in the midst of numerous trade rumors this summer, as they are seen as one piece away from true title contention. The Rockets also love and trust their young core, they are not going to blow it up. That's going to make for one interesting summer in Houston.

Ace Bailey cancels pre-draft workout with 76ers. Teams are talking, could he slide down draft boards?

The news on Wednesday that Airious "Ace" Bailey, cancelled his workout with the Philadelphia 76ers has brought an issue simmering on the back burner to the front burner and a full boil:

Bailey's predraft choices — not working out for any team, seemingly not having any agency in his predraft process being run by his agent, Omar Cooper, and some rather bold/outlandish quotes — have made several teams at the top of the draft hesitate, league sources told NBC Sports. Enough that he is seen by many as sliding down draft boards. Check out what Jonathan Givony and Shams Charania of ESPN wrote in their story breaking the news about Bailey's 76ers cancellation.

Bailey's predraft strategy has perplexed NBA teams over the past month, as he is currently the only U.S.-based prospect yet to visit any clubs. He has declined invitations from multiple teams in his draft range, which is considered to be anywhere from No. 3 to No. 8...

Sources say Bailey's camp has informed interested teams that it believes he is a top-three player in the draft, but also seeks a clear path to stardom, hoping to find a situation with ample minutes and usage to maximize his full potential.

Long-time basketball insider Jeff Goodman of Field of 68 threw Cooper's name into the fire after the 76ers' cancellation, echoing what many people in the basketball world have been saying quietly.

Bailey is brash. That's not a bad thing — Anthony Edwards was and is brash, but he also shows an understanding of the game and desire to learn that can bring some humility. Most importantly, Edwards backs it all up. Right now, Bailey's version of brash is just rubbing teams the wrong way.

On paper, Bailey checks all the boxes of a prototypical modern NBA wing: He's 6'8", a freak athlete, high motor, can create his own shot, can shoot the 3 (36.7% this season), and is a tough shot maker, averaging 18.4 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. The ceiling for Bailey has always been high, and moments at Rutgers last season showed that potential. However, he's polarizing because some scouts question how much of that potential he will live up to.

At one point, Bailey was considered almost a lock for the No. 3 pick (after Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper), but now he is sliding down draft boards. For example, ESPN's plugged-in Givoney has Bailey going No. 6 to the Wizards.

The 76ers (assuming they keep the No. 3 pick, no sure thing) would ask Bailey to play a role in the guard rotation with Tyrese Maxey, along with stars Joel Embiid and Paul George, on a team with title aspirations next season. This report suggests Bailey is looking for a team that will turn over the keys to the offense to him next season. That's a much shorter list., but it also may not matter to teams who would just draft him anyway.

Charlotte, at No. 4, features LaMelo Ball running the offense, along with Brandon Miller on the wing. Would they rather have a shooter like Duke's Kon Knueppel? Utah at No. 5 is trying to build a style and culture in the mold of Oklahoma City and Indiana. Would they want to bring Baley into that, or pass? The Wizards at No. 6 or the Pelicans at No. 7 may be the kind of fit Bailey is looking for, but how strong is their interest in him? Brooklyn would be another team that would take him and give him the keys to the offense, if he falls that far.

Time will tell how Bailey's predraft decisions play out — if he plays well on the court next season, all this will be forgotten (and some GMs could be in trouble for passing on him). However, if he doesn't fulfil his potential, it's the GM who drafted him who could face trouble. That mix is what has teams high on the draft board having lengthy discussions about Bailey.

Who are the most expensive sports teams in history?

The Los Angeles Lakers' proposed $10billion (£7.45bn) sale to the TWG Global CEO Mark Walter would make them the most expensive sports team in the world.

Should the sale of the Lakers - who have been owned by the Buss family since 1979, be completed - it will be the most expensive takeover in sports history.

Forbes named Dallas Cowboys ahead of the Lakers' estimated sale value with a valuation of $10.1bn (£7.5bn). However, they were last sold in 1989 to owner Jerry Jones.

The previous record sale for a sports team is one of the Lakers' NBA rivals in the Boston Celtics, who were sold for $6.1bn (£4.5bn) in March this year.

Of the 10 highest-recorded sports team sales, nine of them are from American franchises across American football, basketball and baseball.

What about English football teams?

Chelsea celebrate winning the 2024-2025 Conference League trophy
Chelsea's sale in 2022 is among the most expensive ever recorded for a sports team [Getty Images]

Chelsea's sale to Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly for $5.4bn (£4bn) is the fourth highest in sports history.

No other football team enters the top 10 in terms of highest recorded sports team sales.

Manchester United, with a valuation of $6.55bn (£4.9bn) are viewed as the most valuable English football team, ranking 14th in Forbes' list. Although they did trail neighbours Manchester City in Deloitte's Football Money League for 2025.

Liverpool (27th) and Manchester City (32nd) also feature in Forbes' most valuable sports teams list.

Top 10 highest sports team sales

  1. Los Angeles Lakers (Basketball) $10bn
  2. Boston Celtics (Basketball) $6.1bn
  3. Washington Commanders (American football) $6.05bn
  4. Chelsea (Football) $5.4bn
  5. Denver Broncos (American football) $4.65bn
  6. Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury (Basketball) $4bn
  7. Dallas Mavericks (Basketball) $3.5bn
  8. Charlotte Hornets (Basketball) $3bn
  9. New York Mets (Baseball) $2.4bn
  10. Carolina Panthers (American football) $2.275bn

*Figures are based on highest sports team sales and at the Los Angeles Lakers' expected sale price

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Celtics draft fits: Is Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis worth trading up for?

Celtics draft fits: Is Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis worth trading up for? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Should the Boston Celtics trade up in the 2025 NBA Draft to select a player who could make a meaningful impact as a rookie?

The C’s are one of only three teams in the second apron of the luxury tax, which limits their ability to add players via trade and free agency. Therefore, the upcoming draft is likely the best avenue for the Celtics to add young, cost-controlled young players.

More Celtics Draft Fits:

But the Celtics own the No. 28 pick near the end of Round 1. There are usually a couple good players near the end of the first round and early second round in each draft, but finding them is difficult.

If the Celtics packaged the No. 28 pick, the No. 32 pick (second pick in Round 2) and maybe a future pick, perhaps they’d be able to move up into the late lottery or early 20s.

And if they were able to swing that kind of move, one player worth considering in that range is Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis. He is projected to land between the No. 10 and No. 17 picks in a lot of mock drafts.

Learn more about Jakucionis and his potential fit with the C’s below:

Kasparas Jakucionis’ bio

  • Position: Guard
  • Height: 6-foot-6
  • Weight: 200 pounds
  • Birthdate: May 29, 2006
  • Birthplace: Vilnius, Lithuania
  • College: Illinois

Kasparas Jakucionis’ collegiate stats

  • 2024-25: 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 44.0 field goal percentage, 31.8 3-point percentage (33 games)

Kasparas Jakucionis’ college accolades

  • 2025 Big Ten All-Freshman Team
  • 2025 All-B1G Second Team (AP)

Kasparas Jakucionis’ highlights

Why Kasparas Jakucionis fits with Celtics

Jakucionis hit just 31.8 percent of his 3-pointers for the Fighting Illini, but an arm injury during the season might have been the reason for those struggles. He does have a nice offensive game driving to the basket. He boasts an impressive repertoire of moves near the rim, including fantastic footwork. Jakucionis is a three-level scorer and is effective on pick-and-roll scenarios.

The Lithuanian guard also is a very good playmaker, but he did turn the ball over a little too much at Illinois — 3.7 turnovers per game, tied for the fourth-most of any player last season — so he’ll have to clean that up a bit in the pros.

Should the Celtics target Jakucionis in Round 1, especially if they have to trade up to get him?

Here’s what our insider Chris Forsberg thinks:

“The one-and-done Illinois combo guard is known for his creative passing and the way he sees the floor. He gets to the free throw line a lot, too, and as we’ve seen with Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the foul-merchant business is a good one to be in.

“Before suffering a midseason arm injury, Jakucionis was shooting 41 percent from 3-point range. His numbers dipped afterward. If that dip can be attributed to his injury, his game fills out a bit more. If the Celtics can get higher in the draft through some wheeling and dealing, Jakucionis could be the target.”

Warriors' 2025 NBA offseason has to start with shooting, scoring firepower

Warriors' 2025 NBA offseason has to start with shooting, scoring firepower originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

If the Oklahoma City Thunder end the Indiana Pacers’ season Thursday night, or simply win one of the next two games in the 2025 NBA Finals, the age-old adage of “defense wins championships” can take a victory lap. 

The Thunder had the best defense all regular season, and that continued in the playoffs. Their league-best 106.6 defensive rating has dropped to 105.9 in the playoffs, with one or two games remaining. They averaged 10.3 steals per game in the regular season, and that number has jumped to 10.9 in the playoffs. OKC’s defense circles its prey, swarms, and in thunderous unison releases the Kraken to send a dagger through their opponents. 

Having a 26-year-old MVP who’s a modernized throwback scoring machine that averaged 32.7 points per game to lead the NBA this season certainly helps. So does having a No. 2 who can score all over the floor. Jalen Williams has increased his scoring output in each of the first five games of the Finals, putting 40 on the Indiana Pacers to take a three-games-to-two series lead in Game 5. 

Wherever the Warriors have been watching the Finals, they could be shaking their heads and sweating at the mere thought of going against the Thunder’s defense for a playoff series in the alternate universe that a healthy Steph Curry led them past the Minnesota Timberwolves and into the Western Conference Finals. In the real world of how the Warriors’ season unfolded with an injured Curry watching from the sidelines, however, the front office should have seen that more shooting and scoring firepower will be needed to get past the Thunder and anybody else if they want to climb the mountain once more in the next two years of Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond’s Green contracts. 

“When Steph went out, the lack of shooting was an issue, and that impacted Draymond, it impacted Jimmy, impacted [Jonathan Kuminga],” Steve Kerr said after the season. “So those are things that we have to figure out for sure.”

In the four games of the conference semifinals that Curry missed because of his strained hamstring, the Warriors only made 38 threes and shot 31.9 percent. As the Timberwolves kept missing, the Warriors made 18 threes in their Game 1 win when Curry had 13 points and three 3-pointers in just 13 minutes. They made 11 threes in that win after his exit, but five came from Buddy Hield. 

The other six were from a combination of Green, Butler, Kuminga and Gary Payton II, four players considered “non-shooters” from deep. The Warriors in Game 2 through 5 averaged 9.5 threes per game, five fewer than the Timberwolves’ average of 14.5. 

Plenty of question marks surround the Warriors going into the offseason. There’s one certainty: If healthy, Curry, Butler and Green will all be in the starting five as the trio that makes everything go. When those three are on the floor together, the Warriors like their chances against anyone. It also complicates a couple of things. 

“Obviously with Steph, he’s such a unique player and creates so much gravity, but Jimmy and Draymond are unique in their own rights,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said last month. “Jimmy’s ability to get to the line, it’s a highly efficient way to score and get to the basket and those things.

“We’ve got ways to be a really good offense, but it’s just maybe not as traditional in 2025 as some of these other clubs.” 

Simply said, the Warriors can’t be a five-out team with both Butler and Green in the lineup. Can they even be a four-out team? On a list that could be long, shooting and scoring have to be the Warriors’ main priority entering the NBA draft, free agency and possibly conducting their next trade. 

That can come through multiple avenues, including internally. It’s no surprise that the best offensive rating of a three-man unit for the Warriors that included Butler and Green was inserting Curry (117.8 offensive rating). But Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski were the two players who spent the most regular-season minutes next to Butler and Green. 

Moody in the final 28 games of the regular season when he became an everyday starter shot 36.8 percent from three with 1.3 steals per game as a steady two-way player. From Jan. 1 to the end of the regular season, a 48-game span, Moody was a 37.6 percent 3-point shooter on five attempts per game. He then shot 33.3 percent in the playoffs, went four consecutive games without a made three, and was a shell of himself offensively. 

The Warriors then announced Moody underwent surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right shooting thumb less than a week after the season ended. Like Moody, health surely played a part in Podziemski’s playoff shooting struggles. 

Podziemski played 26 regular-season games after the Butler trade and shot 41.7 percent from three on six attempts per game. He averaged 15 points per game in that span, and then 11.3 points per game in the playoffs on 32.8 percent beyond the arc. Forty percent of his points in the playoffs came from two games. 

And then the Warriors announced Podziemski has gone through left wrist surgery and surgery to repair a core muscle injury this offseason. The healthy sample sizes of Podziemski and Moody, especially with how they fit their roles once Butler was aboard, has to make the Warriors feel confident moving forward. 

Hield was brought in to pick up the 3-point slack from Klay Thompson’s departure, and he fulfilled that need by making at least 200 threes for a seventh straight season. He also averaged 9.3 points and shot 31 percent from three for a two-month stretch. Hield is hot and cold, rarely finding a middle ground. 

The reality of a possible Kuminga return as a restricted free agent only intensifies the need for more shooting. Curry has played at least 70 games the last two seasons, and that number should be expected to drop next season and the season after. A scorer like Kuminga can help ease that burden, but only if the proper shooting is around him, spacing the floor for driving room to the basket. 

Size is undoubtedly part of the priority list. Height might not matter much if the player can’t stretch the floor like we’re seeing by the last two teams standing from players like Chet Holmgren and Myles Turner. The Pacers have a true five-out starting lineup, and the Thunder led the NBA in 3-point percentage once the calendar moved to 2025. 

The NBA offseason began before the season even ended when the Orlando Magic traded for Desmond Bane on Sunday. Why did the Magic send Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four first-round picks and a future pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies for someone who’s yet to make an All-Star team in his first five seasons? Because Bane’s scoring ability as someone who has averaged more than 20 points twice, and shooting 41 percent behind the 3-point line for his career, is exactly what the Magic have been missing.

Making it further than a second-round exit is the expectation after understanding who the Warriors are in the Butler era. The only way that will happen is if the main investment the next few weeks and throughout the summer is circling players who can put points on the scoreboard and make the nets drip once again inside Chase Center, and beyond.

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Thunder vs. Pacers Game 6: Four things to watch as Indiana tries to extend season

INDIANAPOLIS — Do the Indiana Pacers have another improbable comeback in them? Or will we see an NBA champion crowned on Thursday night?

The way the Thunder have won the last two games and taken control of the series makes it seem like Game 6 could be the final game of the 2024-25 NBA season — but underestimate these Pacers at your own risk. Especially on their home court.

Here are four things to watch in Game 6 Thursday night:

Tyrese Haliburton

Everything Game 6 starts — and the Pacers' season could end — here.

Haliburton has a left calf strain, one that slowed him considerably in Game 5 when he scored four points on 0-of-6 shooting. He is the orchestrator of Indiana's high-paced offense, and if he's not playing at his All-NBA best, it's a massive advantage for the Thunder in a series where games have swung on the thinnest of margins.

Haliburton, for his part, was clear that he planned to be on the court Thursday.

"I'm a competitor; I want to play. I'm going to do everything in my power to play," Haliburton said.

He has been undergoing around-the-clock treatment to make sure he is on the court.

"Massage, needles, hyperbaric, H waves. Everything you can do to get as comfortable as you can going into it," Haliburton said, adding he is just following the instructions of the team's medical staff. "The right tape and stuff while I am performing."

Haliburton went through the Pacers' light practice on Wednesday, got up some shots, and was walking without a limp. However, Pacers' coach Rick Carlisle was more cautious about Haliburton's status.

"He participated in all our walk-through stuff. But it's a walk-through, so there was no real running," Carlisle said. "We'll see. We'll see where we are tomorrow... We will not really know for sure until late tomorrow afternoon or early evening."

Expect more Pascal Siakam initiating the offense, more T.J. McConnell, and Carlisle is ready to lean into whatever role player gets hot at home. It's still not the same without Haliburton. The Pacers are 12-3 this postseason when Haliburton scores at least 20 points. Does he have that kind of night in him? The Pacers need him to.

Did OKC learn from Denver Game 6?

Oklahoma City has been here before. They were up 3-2 on the Denver Nuggets and, with the chance to put the Nuggets away in the Mile High City, the Thunder didn't come close. Jamal Murray scored 25 points, Christian Braun added 23 points and 12 rebounds, but this will mostly be remembered as the Julian Strawther game, he scored 15 second-half points off the bench to spark Denver and force a Game 7.

What can Oklahoma City take away from that Game 6 and bring to Indianapolis?

"Don't get complacent. Don't look too far ahead," Cason Wallace said. "We gotta take it one game at a time. I feel like we were, we're a little relaxed in that game, so just knowing that we can't, we can't make that same mistake again."

"I feel like we didn't control the controllables," Alex Caruso said of the Game 6 loss in Denver. "That's what we do. It's what we have to do in this game."

To a man at practices on Wednesday, the Thunder players discussed not getting ahead of themselves, staying in the moment, and coming out like the series is 0-0.

"We just got to come out with desperation again.." Isaiah Hartenstein said, referencing how the team played in Game 5. "So we're not going to come in acting like everything's sealed, everything's done. They're going to come out with desperation. They're a great team, and we're and we're going to come out with the same and probably, maybe even more desperation."

Can Indiana take care of the ball?

Haliburton's injury was part of what stalled out the Pacers' comeback dream in Game 5. The other thing was turnovers. Indiana had 23 turnovers that led to 32 Oklahoma City points. The Thunder had 13 more scoring opportunities on the night and won the possession battle, primarily because of the turnovers.

"That's the game. We've got to do a heck of a lot better there," Carlisle said.

The Thunder ball pressure will be back. Can the Pacers handle it?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on cusp of history

LeBron James in 2013 in Miami.

That was the last time a player won the NBA MVP, the Finals MVP, and an NBA championship in the same season. It's happened just 15 times since 1970 (stats via Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one win away from that. Not that he was going to discuss the idea.

"The cusp of winning is not winning," he said. "The way I see it, winning is all that matters. It hasn't been fulfilled. We haven't done anything, the way I see it."

Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder do need one more win, and if Jalen Williams has another massive night in Game 6, he could be voted Finals MVP. Still, SGA is on the cusp of history, as are the Thunder as a team, and it's something to watch.

Chelsea co-owner buys Los Angeles Lakers in world’s most expensive sports takeover

Mark Walter looks on
Mark Walter (left) has investments in Chelsea, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cadillac F1 team, who make their debut in 2026 - Getty Images/Craig Mercer

The Los Angeles Lakers will become the most expensive sports team in history with a valuation of $10 billion (£7.45 billion) after an agreement was reached to sell a controlling stake to TWG Global CEO Mark Walter.

The Buss family, which has owned the team since 1979, has made a deal to sell to Walter, who also has a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and is part of the group that owns Chelsea.

Walter has been a stakeholder in the Lakers since 2021, when he took a 20 per cent holding in the franchise. He has overseen a period of success with the Dodgers, who won the World Series last year and in 2020.

The valuation of the Lakers comfortably eclipses that of their rivals, the Boston Celtics, who were sold for $6.1 billion (£4.5 billion) earlier this year, then a record-high price for an American sports team.

The Lakers are one of the most prominent teams in basketball and home to 40-year-old LeBron James, who won his fourth career championship with the team in 2020.

They made a blockbuster trade earlier this year for Slovenian Luka Doncic with the Dallas Mavericks, sending Anthony Davis in the other direction, one of the most unexpected moves in NBA history.

Why are the Lakers being sold?

Jerry Buss, who bought the team for $67.5 million 46 years ago, died in 2013 and passed ownership of the Lakers to his six children in a trust. The family were in control of 66 per cent of the team but the terms of the trust reportedly required all six of the children to agree on any potential sale.

That appears to have happened, although Jeanie Buss, who has worked as the Lakers governor, is expected to keep her title under the new ownership structure. When Walter initially invested in 2021 it is understood he was given the option to become majority owner if the situation arose.

Jerry Buss and his son Jim Buss look on during a media conference
Jerry Buss (right) bought the Lakers for $67.5 million 46 years ago - Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

What does it mean?

Fans and analysts are optimistic about Walter leading the Lakers to the sort of success he has enjoyed with the Dodgers. “Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand,” said their hall-of-famer Magic Johnson. “He is driven by winning, excellence and doing everything the right way. AND he will put in the resources needed to win.”

The Lakers have qualified for the play-offs in four of the past five seasons, but other than their Championship win in 2020 they have been knocked out in the first round. James remains a remarkably potent force given his age, but Doncic is the player the new Lakers era will be built around.

Who is Mark Walter and how has he made his money?

A 65-year-old businessman and CEO of the investment and financial services company Guggenheim Partners, which manages more than $330 billion (£246 billion) of assets. Highly private, his estimated net worth is disputed with one calculation guessing at $6 billion (£4.45 billion), another at $12 billion (£8.9 billion). A long career in insurance, investment and financial services has been extremely lucrative.

Mark Walter and Irvin "Magic" Johnson look on
Walter (left) is also a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Todd Boehly (right), his fellow Chelsea co-owner - Shutterstock/Jayne Kamin-Oncea

What other teams does he own?

The Dodgers are his best-known other interest, only behind the New York Yankees in baseball in estimated value and cultural heft. Last year they recruited the sport’s biggest name Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers general manager, Dave Roberts, has already mock-warned Walter not to move Ohtani over to basketball, saying, “Hands off of Shohei. They got enough superstars wearing the purple and gold. Leave him alone.”

With his frequent investment partner Todd Boehly, Walter is part of BlueCo, the holding company which controls Chelsea and RC Strasbourg. Walter also has stakes in the Los Angeles Sparks women’s basketball team, owns the top league of women’s ice hockey in the USA and several motorsport teams, including Cadillac, which will compete in Formula One next year.

Why are the Lakers worth $10bn?

They are arguably the best-known and certainly the most popular team in a sport which is in rude health. Their brand has worldwide reach, guaranteeing lucrative earnings from merchandise and licensing around the globe. This is aided by their starry reputation as the team which frequently has the face of the league within its ranks: James currently but Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar before him.

TV rights are negotiated locally for games not shown nationally in basketball and Los Angeles is one of the biggest markets in the country. Thanks to the closed-shop nature of American sport, operating without relegation, there are few reasons to believe the money will ever stop rolling in.