On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
A few days ago, it seemed a given that the Oklahoma City Thunder would face the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals. And while that still might be the case, New York has certainly made things interesting.
On Thursday, the Knicks crushed Indiana by 17 points, moving the series to 3-2 in favor of the Pacers. While they still have an uphill battle ahead of them, it’s not out of the realm of possibility they could win two more, especially with each new victory adding pressure to the Pacers.
The Thunder wait patiently on the other side, having disposed of the Timberwolves in Game 5 days ago.
There’s no right or wrong answer on who the Thunder hope to face in the coming weeks. The team itself, of course, has its head down and is focused internally as they always are. But fans are waiting with bated breath for OKC’s future opponent.
The more likely of the two options is Indiana, who have seen a miracle run as the East’s No. 4 seed. Led by star guard Tyrese Halliburton, the always-underrated Pascal Siakam and a host of talented role players, they’ve looked like one of the best teams in the postseason.
The Knicks have also been a success story, having taken down the defending champion Boston Celtics with their elite starting five: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Annoy, Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Both teams present challenges. New York has an exceptionally capable five-man unit that can find a rhythm on both offense and defense. The Pacers style directly conflicts with OKC’s, offering a star that limits turnovers and a team as a whole that cashes in on triples with consistency.
But both teams have exploitable areas, too. The Knicks rarely dive deep into their bench, and when they do it doesn’t always offer hope. The Thunder, sometimes running 11-man units — even in the Playoffs — would likely be a much more fresh team. The Pacers have the capability to play solidly on defense, but don’t hang their hat there. They especially offer little resistance to Thunder superstar and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
For now, both team and fans will wait for the East’s winner. The Pacers and Knicks will face off in Game 6 tonight in Indiana at 7 p.m. CT. The Knicks will look to force a winner-take-all Game 7 in New York as the Pacers look to close out the series.
More must-reads:
- Rockets' Fred VanVleet suffers torn ACL, could miss entire season
- Suns adding franchise icon as senior advisor
- The 'Multiple 30-TD pass NFL seasons' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Russell Westbrook Is Just 506 Points Away From Becoming The Highest-Scoring Point Guard In NBA History
Russell Westbrook hasn't tasted ultimate glory in the NBA, but he has set plenty of records and is close to setting another. Westbrook has scored 26,205 points so far in his 17-year NBA career and just needs another 506 to surpass Oscar Robertson as the highest-scoring point guard in NBA history. Robertson finished his Hall of Fame career with 26,710 points over 14 seasons. Surpassing his tally would be a great feat, and Westbrook has already broken one of his records that had seemed untouchable at one point. Robertson recorded a staggering 181 triple-doubles in his career, and no one had gotten close to that mark for decades. Then came along Westbrook, who surpassed him back in 2021. He now has 203 triple-doubles to his name. Westbrook has faced a lot of criticism over the course of his career, but there's no denying the fact that he is a statistical marvel. To go with his scoring exploits, the 36-year-old has recorded 9,925 assists, which ranks eighth all-time. Dishing out another 75 assists would lead to Westbrook joining LeBron James as the only players in NBA history with at least 25,000 points and 10,000 assists. His ability to score and run an offense at a high level isn't something we have seen from too many over the years. That has led to Westbrook winning two scoring titles and three assists titles in his career. There is only one other player in NBA history who has won both of those titles multiple times, and that's his former teammate, James Harden. While Harden is still going strong in the NBA, Westbrook finds himself on the outside looking in. The nine-time All-Star remains a free agent today, and his former teammate Patrick Beverley thinks that's disrespectful. Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game for the Denver Nuggets in 2024-25. He is no longer the superstar that he once was, but he can still be a viable option off the bench. The Sacramento Kings were predicted to be Westbrook's next destination, but it's all gone quiet on that front lately. We pointed to the Miami Heat as a team that could look into bringing him in, and they have since announced that Tyler Herro is out for eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery. So, will the Heat go this route? Well, only time will tell. Provided Westbrook does get picked up by a team, expect him to surpass Robertson in the 2025-26 campaign and join James in that exclusive club.
Chiefs' Andy Reid addresses latest sideline incident involving Travis Kelce
A familiar scene played out at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night when Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had a heated sideline exchange with head coach Andy Reid in the second quarter of the club's 22-9 win over the New York Giants that improved the Chiefs to 1-2 on the season. Following the victory, Reid suggested his relationship with Kelce is just fine. Andy Reid downplays latest Travis Kelce incident "Don’t make too much of it," Reid said, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "He’s a passionate guy, and I love that part. I’ve been through a lot of things with him, so that’s all part of it. I love that he loves to play the game. That’s what I love. It’s an emotional game, so I’ll take it." Kelce went viral during the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVIII win in February 2024 when he angrily confronted and bumped Reid after the future Hall of Famer was not on the field for a red-zone play that resulted in a Kansas City turnover. Kelce later revealed that he and Reid "kind of chuckled about" that particular moment, and the 35-year-old then vowed last September that he would avoid such in-game outbursts. Kelce had a rather unspectacular performance against the Giants, as he recorded four receptions for just 26 yards. Andy Reid OK with Travis Kelce's passion "I love Travis' passion, so I’m OK with that," Reid added. "We didn’t have enough of it in the second quarter. We weren’t where we needed to be. He knows when to back off the pedal, and he knows when to push it too. That’s part of what I love about him. The guy’s all-in. Just sometimes, I have to be the policeman. He was all-in. He was all-in. Listen, he’s an emotional guy." Kelce may be in the early stages of his final season as an active player after he and entertainment superstar Taylor Swift announced their engagement in August. Thus far, he has tallied 10 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown for the ongoing campaign. Perhaps Sunday night's events will prove to be a positive for a Chiefs team that looked more like pretenders than contenders over the bulk of the season's first three weeks. Kansas City next hosts the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 28. 1-1 Baltimore welcomes the 1-1 Detroit Lions to M T Bank Stadium for a prime-time showdown on Monday night.
Why did the Orioles activate star player during last week of season?
Ahead of the final six games of the season (all against American League East foes), the Baltimore Orioles have activated catcher Adley Rutschman. The move may have little to do with this season and everything about what the Orioles may do with Rutschman in the offseason. Sidelined with a right oblique strain since Aug. 21 (retroactive to Aug. 18), Rutschman has struggled this season, slashing just .227/.310/.373 with nine homers and 29 RBI. His OPS+ of 92 is the lowest in the four years he has been behind the plate in Baltimore. While the Orioles certainly would like to get the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft back behind the plate to finish out the season, this short six-game stint against the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees may also serve as an audition for Rutschman should the Orioles decide to move him in the offseason. Why would the Orioles move on from Rutschman? After playing in just four games, Baltimore signed 21-year-old catcher Samuel Basallo to an eight-year extension worth $67M and could jump up to $88.5M with incentives. The deal means Basallo will be with Baltimore through the 2033 season and has an option to extend that to 2034 as well. With the Orioles investing so much in Basallo, could the 27-year-old Rutschman be on his way out of Charm City? Baltimore could well keep the younger and cost-controlled Basallo behind the plate and use Rutschman as a trade piece this offseason, helping the Orioles rebuild quickly from a season where they will likely finish in the division cellar. With Rutschman coming back, he has the chance to put a positive spin on what has been a disappointing season. If he can show well in the final six games, it could be a great selling point for the Orioles this offseason in any kind of trade talks surrounding him. Orioles are faced with one of two options with Basallo and Rutschman Baltimore interim manager Tony Mansolino has already hinted that Basallo and Rutschman could be in the same lineup together in 2026, emphasizing that Basallo could play first base (a position that could likely be his in 2026 if the Orioles decide to not push Coby Mayo there). Mansolino also added that between first base, catcher and designated hitter, there may be enough at-bats for both Basallo and Rutschman. If that's the case, Baltimore is believing that not only can Basallo play first base at an MLB-level (he has played there in one game so far this season) and Rutschman can bounce back from a down 2025. Baltimore could likely land a nice return package (perhaps centered around pitching) if it decides to trade Rutschman in the offseason, something that MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today believes will happen, writing, "There will be no bigger position player on the trade block this winter than Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman." These next six games may not determine much in the standings for the Orioles, but could give a hint about Rutschman's future and what is to come at catcher in 2026.
Rangers forward in a fight for his future amid new competition
The New York Rangers are preparing to start a transitional season, following the arrival of new head coach Mike Sullivan and some important adjustments to the squad. Among the players facing a decisive season is Brennan Othmann, a left winger who was selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL draft. Othmann, 22, is entering his third and final year of his contract with the Rangers, but his expiring deal is not the only reason why he will have to prove himself this season. The Canadian has had difficulties meeting the high expectations around him and although he may no longer have time to establish himself as a top-six forward, this is the best time to establish himself in a lower role. Othmann's clock is ticking as competition for roster spot grows Last season, he only recorded two assists in 22 games with the Rangers, but tallied 12 goals and eight assists in 27 games with the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack. In any case, now Othmann is facing heavier competition within the squad. Both Gabe Perreault and Carey Terrance have left good impressions during preseason camps, and with both having multiple years left on their contracts, the possibility that Othmann's days on the team are numbered increases. That said, the New York team needs depth, especially in the bottom-six, and Othmann must react and respond. He has the necessary grit and physicality, and if he manages to establish himself there, he could become a solid player within the bottom lineups.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
