111-110
FINALIndiana
Pacers
65-40|L10: 5-5
Oklahoma
City Thunder
84-22|L10: 6-4
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Eastern Conference
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IND • Center • #33
9 months ago
Turner finished the Pacers’ win in Game 3 with nine points, two rebounds, one assist and five blocks. His most important block came late in the game on a Chet Holmgren three-point attempt. Despite dealing with an illness and potentially missing practice Thursday, Turner isn’t likely to miss Game 4 on Friday.
Source: James Boyd
OKC • Center and Power Forward • #7
9 months ago
While Holmgren’s box score shows a solid effort with 20 points and 10 rebounds, the 23-year-old power forward certainly struggled against a physical Pacers frontline. This was encapsulated in one of the final Thunder possessions. With two minutes left and down six points, Holmgren passed up an opportunity to drive after getting the ball on a pick and roll. Later in the possession, he appeared open for a three-pointer, but was blocked by Myles Turner. After corralling the miss, Holmgren drove the lane but was denied again by Turner, with help defense from Pascal Siakam, and the possession went to the Pacers. Holmgren will need to bounce back if the Thunder are going to get back into this series with a win in Game 4 on Friday.
OKC • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #2
9 months ago
To say that Gilgeous-Alexander struggled in Game 3 would be an understatement. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle joked earlier this week that the 26-year-old point guard would have 34 points as soon as he got off the bus. Instead, Gilgeous-Alexander finished Game 3 with 24 and a playoff career-high six turnovers against the Pacers’ swarming defense. A better offensive effort from SGA is paramount for the Thunder in Game 4 on Friday.
IND • Power Forward • #43
9 months ago
The Pacers received truly great performances in Game 3 from Bennedict Mathurin, Tyrese Haliburton and Siakam. The 31-year-old power forward has been a rock for the Pacers this postseason bringing with him previous NBA Finals experience from his time in Toronto. Siakam’s excellent Game 3 included 21 points on 14 shots and locking up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensively on a crucial possession with under two minutes remaining. The Eastern Conference finals MVP played as big of a role as anyone in the Pacers taking a 2-1 series lead.
IND • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #0
9 months ago
Haliburton became the fifth player in NBA Finals history to have at least 20 points, at least 10 assists and zero free throw attempts. The 25-year-old point guard also became the first player in NBA history with nine games of at least 10 assists and two made three-pointers in a single playoff run. Haliburton had only six and three points in the first halves of the first two games of this series, but was excellent in the first half of Game 3 with 12 points and seven assists. His play is a big reason the Pacers find themselves just two wins away from winning the NBA Finals.
IND • Small Forward and Shooting Guard • #00
9 months ago
The Pacers’ bench outscored the Thunder’s 30-11 in the first half of Game 3, which Indiana led by four at halftime, and Mathurin was a big part of that. The 22-year-old small forward’s 27 points were the third most off the bench in NBA Finals history. Mathurin joined Jason Terry and Manu Ginobili as the only bench players to have at least 25 points in an NBA Finals game in the last 25 years. Even more impressive was that Mathurin played only 22 minutes and took just 12 shots. His +16 in his time on the court was a game-high. It was an exceptional effort from the Pacers’ No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
IND • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #0
9 months ago
Haliburton sported a notable limp following Sunday’s Game 2 loss, but he should face no restrictions in a pivotal Game 3. He scored 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter of Game 2, and he emphasized his need to be more aggressive on offense early in the game. Expect him to make a concerted effort to score early and often on Wednesday.
Source: Shams Charania
IND • Power Forward • #5
9 months ago
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said ahead of Sunday’s Game 2 that Walker was “not close” to returning, so Tuesday’s update is unsurprising. Obi Toppin has been Pascal Siakam’s primary backup throughout the season, but was ineffective in 19 minutes in Indiana’s Game 2 defeat. He’ll hold onto the role, also seeing a little time at the center position when the Pacers decide to go small.
Source: NBA Injury Report
IND • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #0
9 months ago
Haliburton was seen limping after Game 2, but he downplayed the severity of it. “I’m fine,” Haliburton said. “Really just a lower leg thing. I’ll leave it at that. I feel fine, and I’ll be ready to go for Game 3.” After being the hero in Game 1, Haliburton was solid in Game 2, but it wasn’t enough for the Pacers to steal another game on the road. Still, the series is tied 1-1, and the Pacers have homecourt advantage for the rest of the series. We’ll see if Haliburton has more magic up his sleeve on Wednesday.
Source: Rylan Stiles
OKC • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #9
9 months ago
Caruso has been Oklahoma City’s most productive reserve in the NBA Finals, which makes some sense due to him being the lone player on the roster with a championship ring. After recording 11 points and a complete stat line in Game 1, Caruso was more lethal as a scorer in Game 2. A double-digit score in three of his last four appearances, the 20 points are the most Caruso has tallied in a game since Game 1 of the Thunder’s second-round series against Denver. Given the matchup, he should continue to hit the high-20s in minutes, which raises Caruso’s ceiling on both ends of the floor. Game 3 is on Wednesday in Indianapolis.
OKC • Shooting Guard • #21
9 months ago
After only scoring 28 points in Game 1, Oklahoma City’s reserves were more impactful in Game 2, finishing with 48. Wiggins helped lead the way, as the 18 points were the most he’s scored in a game since the Thunder’s Game 1 win over the Grizzlies in the first round. Expecting production of this caliber from Wiggins consistently would be a bit much. Still, he’ll need to be a factor, especially if Oklahoma City continues to start Cason Wallace (4/3/1/2/1 in 24 minutes). Sunday’s rout was a reminder of what Wiggins is capable of offensively.
OKC • Shooting Guard and Power Forward • #8
9 months ago
After shooting 6-of-19 from the field in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Williams was better in Sunday’s victory. While the percentage still has room for growth, J-Dub attempted nine free throws after getting just four on Thursday. Add in the rebounds and assists, and Williams managed to bring more to the table following his disappointing Finals debut. Oklahoma City outscored Indiana by a 33-21 margin in the second quarter, and Williams was a factor, shooting 3-of-6 from the field and scoring nine points. That’s the level of offensive aggression the Thunder will need J-Dub to bring to the table consistently if they’re to win the series. Game 3 is on Wednesday in Indianapolis.
OKC • Center and Power Forward • #7
9 months ago
While Holmgren’s point total wasn’t much to write home about in Game 2, it represented a marked improvement over what he brought to the table in Game 1. Having scored six points in the opening game of the NBA Finals, Holmgren exceeded that number in the first quarter of Game 2 by putting up nine points. He was held in check for the rest of the night, but other Thunder players stepped up to help Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoulder the offensive workload. If the Holmgren who showed up to begin Game 2 is the norm, Oklahoma City’s chances of winning the franchise’s first NBA title increase substantially.
OKC • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #2
9 months ago
While Gilgeous-Alexander did score 38 points in Oklahoma City’s Game 1 defeat, he shot below 50 percent from the field. The NBA’s Most Valuable Player was more forceful in Game 2, and the approach led to SGA attempting 12 free throws while also shooting over 50 percent from the field. Gilgeous-Alexander made some history during the victory, becoming the 12th player in league history to score at least 3,000 points in a season — that counts the regular season and playoffs. Putting up high point totals should not be an issue in this series, even with the Pacers’ ability to use multiple defenders on SGA. The key will be how he gets those points, and how often the Thunder point guard can get to the foul line. Game 3 is on Wednesday in Indianapolis.
Source: NBA History
IND • Power Forward • #43
9 months ago
The Pacers finished Game 2 with seven double-digit scorers, but none scored more than Tyrese Haliburton’s 17 points. As for Siakam, his point total was salvaged by an 8-of-9 night at the foul line. Spicy P only scored 19 points in Game 1 but was far more efficient, and he also finished that game with a double-double. Oklahoma City boasts an elite defense, and they were far better across the board on Sunday. Siakam and the Pacers will look to regain the series lead when they host Game 3 on Wednesday.
IND • Center • #33
9 months ago
Offensively, Turner has gotten off to a solid start in the NBA Finals. After scoring 15 points on 50 percent shooting in Game 1, he put up one more point on a similar percentage Sunday evening. However, Turner only grabbed four rebounds after recording nine in the series opener. Sunday’s defeat does not rest on Turner’s shoulders, but Indiana will need him to be more forceful as a rebounder and defender moving forward. The Pacers host Game 3 on Wednesday night.
IND • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #0
9 months ago
While Haliburton shot over 50 percent from the field, Game 2 was far from his best effort. The Pacers’ star point guard finished with five turnovers, the most in a game for him since Game 4 of Indiana’s first-round series against Milwaukee. High-turnover nights have not been the norm for Haliburton, so there should not be much to worry about for Wednesday’s Game 3 in Indianapolis. Given how well he’s played throughout the postseason, it would be unsurprising if Haliburton rebounded in style Wednesday night.
IND • Power Forward • #5
9 months ago
Walker injured his right ankle during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals and was already ruled out for the first two games of the NBA Finals. Based on Carlisle’s comments during his availability ahead of Sunday’s Game 2, the Pacers will be without their forward for the foreseeable future. Walker is still using one crutch to move around, but he may be able to ditch the apparatus in the “next day or so.” Walker’s continued absence does not significantly impact Indiana’s rotation, even with Carlisle’s willingness to go deep into his bench. Obi Toppin will continue to play most of the backup power forward minutes.
Source: Dan Devine
IND • Power Forward • #1
9 months ago
Toppin has been solid throughout this postseason, but he hasn’t had many big scoring nights. However, after he had 18 points in the Game 6 clincher over the Knicks, he added 17 more to kick off the Finals, with 15 of those points coming from beyond the arc. If Toppin is able to continue to make an impact off the bench like he did in this game, there should be more wins coming for the Pacers.
IND • Small Forward • #23
9 months ago
Indiana dominated on the glass in this game, but it wasn’t just because of the bigs. Nesmith was the leading rebounder in this game and was one of three Pacers to grab at least 10 rebounds. However, they lost the turnover battle 24-6, and Nesmith contributed five of those. The only player with more was Myles Turner, who coughed it up six times. Indiana won this game and still has things to clean up, which is an encouraging sign for them moving forward in this series.
IND • Power Forward • #43
9 months ago
It was a balanced attack for Indiana as they stole Game 1 on the road, but Siakam was the one that ended up as the leading scorer. He was one of six players to score in double figures, with nobody reaching 20 points. The MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals will continue to play an important role for Indiana for the remainder of the series as they now sit three wins away from a championship.
OKC • Shooting Guard and Power Forward • #8
9 months ago
A lot of things went right for the Thunder in this game. They won the turnover matchup by a lot. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a big night. Luguentz Dort and Alex Caruso were productive on both ends of the floor. However, one thing that sticks out is that Williams and Chet Holmgren (six points, six rebounds and one block in 24 minutes) didn’t step up as SGA’s co-stars. OKC has played well when Williams has it going and has struggled when he isn’t playing well. He’ll need to be better in Game 2 on Sunday to avoid going down 0-2.
OKC • Small Forward and Shooting Guard • #5
9 months ago
Dort is one of the best defensive players in the league, and he made his presence felt in Game 1 of this series. He collected six defensive stats and knocked down a team-high five triples to provide Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with some help on the offensive end. Dort’s offensive output will likely be inconsistent moving forward, but he’s capable of knocking down shots when he needs to. However, he’ll continue to dominate on the defensive end every night.
OKC • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #9
9 months ago
Unsurprisingly, Caruso had his hands all over this game. This is why they traded for him. He was able to make an impact on both ends of the floor, and his 28 minutes were the most of any bench player and more than Chet Holmgren. Clearly, Caruso is going to be a big factor in this series for OKC. He’ll continue to make plays on both offense and defense for the remainder of the series, just as he has throughout the playoffs thus far.
OKC • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #2
9 months ago
In his Finals debut, SGA played like a superstar. He played like an MVP. However, he had two opportunities late in the game to get to 40 points and give OKC a win. He ended up passing to Jalen Williams on the first play, then he missed the shot on the second, which led to the Pacers going down the court and winning the game. It could have been a signature moment, but now it’s just a great performance that will be forgotten about because of the result. Expect SGA to continue to put up big numbers for the rest of this series, especially in Game 2 on Sunday to avoid going down 0-2.
IND • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #0
9 months ago
Somehow, some way, the Pacers completed yet another comeback to steal Game 1 of the Finals on the road. Haliburton nailed a mid-range jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining to give the Pacers the lead in the game and in the series. It wasn’t a spectacular game for him, and the entire team struggled offensively. However, they dominated the glass, and Haliburton was one of three Pacers to grab at least 10 rebounds as they outrebounded OKC 56-39. That helped make up for the Thunder winning the turnover matchup 24-6. It wasn’t a great game for either team, but Indiana came out on top. Game 2 will be on Sunday.
OKC • Shooting Guard • #22
9 months ago
So far, the Thunder have used the same starting five for the entire postseason despite changing things up regularly throughout the regular season. However, Wallace will replace Isaiah Hartenstein in the starting unit to give OKC another strong perimeter defender and to match up better with Indiana’s frontcourt. Expect Hartenstein to still play a significant role off the bench.
Source: Brandon Rahbar
IND • Center • #
9 months ago
Bradley and Thomas Bryant have taken turns filling out the backup center minutes in the postseason, and with Bradley available for Game 1 of the Finals, he could see a few minutes off the bench. However, he has only reached 10 minutes twice during Indiana’s playoff run. His presence won’t have a significant impact on the game.
Source: Indiana Pacers
IND • Center • #
9 months ago
Bradley suffered a strained left hip flexor during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. While he was made available for Game 6 on Saturday, the Pacers’ backup center did not see any time, with Rick Carlisle deciding to go with Thomas Bryant as Myles Turner’s backup instead. Even if Bradley is available for Thursday’s series opener in Oklahoma City, that does not guarantee he’ll get on the court.
Source: NBA Injury Report
IND • Power Forward • #5
9 months ago
At the earliest, Walker could return for Game 3 on June 11. Though Walker has had some solid minutes, he hasn’t played a significant role for the Pacers in the playoffs to this point. Obi Toppin will continue to fill out the majority of the backup power forward minutes.
Source: Alex Golden
IND • Power Forward • #5
9 months ago
The Pacers sealed their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000 on Saturday, defeating the Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to win the series. The lone negative was the right ankle injury suffered by Walker, who landed awkwardly during the fourth quarter. The second-year forward required assistance back to the locker room and did not return. During his postgame availability, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said he was unsure what Walker’s status for the NBA Finals would be. Indiana has the depth to withstand Walker’s absence if he cannot play, but this would leave Carlisle with one less potential option to call on.
Source: ESPN
IND • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #0
9 months ago
Haliburton followed up an unexpected Game 5 clunker with an excellent performance in Game 6 to send the Knicks packing. Haliburton put the Pacers up 20 points with under a minute left in the fourth quarter with deep three-pointer. The 25-year-old point averaged 21.0 points per game, 10.5 assists per fame and 6.0 rebounds per game in the series. The Pacers will have a few days off before the NBA Finals tips off on Thursday with Game 1 against the Thunder.
IND • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #0
9 months ago
Haliburton followed up an unexpected Game 5 clunker with an excellent performance in Game 6 to send the Knicks packing. Haliburton put the Pacers up 20 points with under a minute left in the fourth quarter with deep three-pointer. The 25-year-old point averaged 21.0 points per game, 10.5 assists per fame and 6.0 rebounds per game in the series. The Pacers will have a few days off before the NBA Finals tips off on Thursday with Game 1 against the Thunder.
IND • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #0
9 months ago
Haliburton followed up a clunker of a game in Game 5 with an excellent performance in Game 6. Haliburton put the Pacers up 20 points with under a minute left in the fourth quarter with deep three-pointer. The 25-year-old point averaged 21.0 points per game, 10.5 assists per fame and 6.0 rebounds per game in the series. The Pacers will have a few days off before NBA Finals Game 1 against the Thunder on Thursday June 5.
IND • Power Forward • #43
9 months ago
Siakam set the tone for the Pacers once again in Game 6, scoring early and often. The 31-year-old power forward averaged 24.8 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and 3.5 assists per game in the series with 52.4 percent shooting and 50 percent from behind the three-point line. The Pacers use a deep rotation that plays a fast pace of basketball, but Siakam was the clear difference-maker in the series.
IND • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #2
9 months ago
Nembhard did a little bit of everything in Game 6. He certainly bothered Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, who had just 19 points. Nembhard’s six steals were the most ever by a player in a closeout game in NBA history. Towards the end of the game, he had bothered Brunson enough that he head-butted Nembhard. The 25-year-old point guard was +25 in 37 minutes as the Pacers advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.
IND • Center • #3
9 months ago
While Tony Bradley (hip) dressed for Game 6, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle opted to replace him in the rotation with Thomas Bryant. It was one of those coaching decisions that die-hard Pacers fans will remember for years to come. Bryant only played 13 minutes in Game 6, but he caught fire hitting three three-pointers and blocking a shot in the second half. Bryant’s contributions gave the Pacers a lift in closing out the Knicks in the second half of Game 6.
IND • Power Forward • #43
9 months ago
Siakam set the tone for the Pacers once again in Game 6, scoring early and often. The 31-year-old power forward averaged 24.8 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and 3.5 assists per game in the series with 52.4 percent shooting and 50 percent from behind the three-point line. The Pacers use a deep rotation that plays a fast pace of basketball, but Siakam was the difference-maker in the series and earned the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals.
IND • Center • #
9 months ago
Bradley injured his hip in Thursday’s Game 5 and didn’t return. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told reporters that while the 27-year-old center will dress, it’ll be an in-game decision as to whether he plays or not. Thomas Bryant could play rotation minutes if Bradley ultimately isn’t used. While Bradley hasn’t had much of an impact on the stat sheet, his size would be useful against the Knicks’ frontline.
Source: James Boyd
IND • Center • #
9 months ago
While Bradley has not been statistically impactful in the Eastern Conference Finals, his strength has been helpful in the Pacers’ matchup with Knicks center and elite offensive rebounder Mitchell Robinson. He strained his left hip flexor during Thursday’s Game 5 defeat and did not return, resulting in Thomas Bryant re-entering the rotation. If Bradley cannot play on Saturday, Bryant should play rotation minutes, but he was not effective in prior matchups with Robinson.
Source: NBA Injury Report
IND • Small Forward and Shooting Guard • #00
10 months ago
Mathurin led the Pacers in scoring as Indiana lost Game 5 by 17 points to the Knicks. The 22-year-old played 25 minutes off the bench, by far the most he’s played in these playoffs. Mathurin has scored 43 points in 37 minutes over the last two games. He figures to be involved once again as the Pacers will look to close out the series at home in Game 6 on Saturday.
IND • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #0
10 months ago
Haliburton followed up his brilliant Game 4 performance that brought the Pacers one win away from an NBA Finals appearance with a dud in Game 5. The 25-year-old point guard perhaps suffered more than anyone from the slowed-down pace of Game 5 compared to the rest of the series. Haliburton managed just eight points on seven shots as he was largely taken out of the game by the Knicks defense. The Pacers will have two more chances to close out the series, starting with Game 6 in Indiana on Saturday.
OKC • Small Forward and Shooting Guard • #5
10 months ago
A pest defensively throughout the Western Conference Finals, Dort picked a good time to hit double figures for the first time in this series. He dropped four high-arcing three-pointers on Wednesday, and the 12 points are the most he’s scored since Game 5 of Oklahoma City’s second-round series against the Nuggets. Regardless of who the Thunder play in the NBA Finals, Dort will be the first line of defense against the opposing team’s best perimeter player. That will either be Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton or New York’s Jalen Brunson.
OKC • Shooting Guard and Power Forward • #8
10 months ago
Williams was not as dominant as he was in Game 4, but there was no need for him to be. Minnesota only scored nine points in the first quarter, and the only question at that point was what the final margin would be. Williams recorded a complete stat line in the series decider and shot 50 percent from the field. He and the Thunder will now get some time off, as Game 1 of the NBA Finals is not until Thursday, June 5.
OKC • Center and Power Forward • #7
10 months ago
Holmgren closed out the Western Conference Finals with a flourish, surpassing 20 points in Games 4 and 5. He finished Wednesday’s clincher one blocked shot shy of a complete stat line, decisively winning the frontcourt matchups with Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert. He’ll face another challenge in the NBA Finals against either Indiana or New York, but the second-year forward/center has proven capable of meeting the moment thus far.
OKC • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #2
10 months ago
For the first time since 2012, the Thunder are headed to the NBA Finals. As expected, Gilgeous-Alexander led the way, surpassing the 30-point mark for the second consecutive game. However, unlike Game 4, in which he shot 13-of-30 from the field, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player was incredibly efficient on Wednesday. He shot 56 percent from the field and committed just two turnovers in the Game 5 rout. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will not play again until June 5 when they host Game 1 of the NBA Finals against either Indiana or New York.