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The Indiana Pacers are a massive underdog heading into Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After looking down for the count following a brutal Game 5 loss, the Pacers rallied at home and won Game 6.
The victory wasn't just any win — it was an outright demolition by Indiana from the first whistle to the last one.
Heading into the game, star Tyrese Haliburton was doubtful to play due to a serious calf injury, and many NBA experts wondered if the Pacers had the fight to pull off the win.
As it turns out, the Pacers had more than enough to put away the Thunder in Game 6. Now, there is all to play for in Oklahoma City on Sunday.
According to Polymarket, a gambling hub, the Thunder have a 75% chance of winning the NBA title, while the Pacers have only a 25% chance.
The likeliest outcome is the Thunder winning by at least 11 points, which Polymarket has at 35%.
According to Polymarket, the Thunder are winning tomorrow by more than 10 points.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 21, 2025
Who’s winning Game 7 tomorrow, and by how many?https://t.co/mM0uWCGxqJ
The Pacers are no strangers to being the underdog. They were counted out against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks on the road to the finals.
Indiana entered the finals as underdogs, but the team has kept fighting and is a solid 48 minutes away from total glory.
The Thunder are an incredible team that defends at a high level and can go on dangerous runs, but the same goes for the Pacers.
Led by Haliburton, the Pacers' offense is one of the deadliest units in basketball. They can make shots at a high level and play with an overwhelming amount of energy.
Game 7 is going to be a high-stakes drama, and forward Pascal Siakam is projecting a full-fledged effort from Indiana.
"I think it's just about who wants it more, like just playing hard, and leaving it all out there on the floor and living with the results," Siakam told reporters in the lead-up.
"... It's one game for everything. I think at that point, it's just about hard play and, again, sacrificing everything."
The Pacers have one last chance to prove the doubters wrong once and for all.
More Indiana Pacers news: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Deleted All Social Media
Pacers News: Rick Carlisle Has Simple Message on How Indiana Can Win It All
For more news and notes on the Indiana Pacers, visit Indiana Pacers on SI.
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TODAY'S BEST
Lakers Receive Unfortunate Report on $60 Million NBA Star
The Los Angeles Lakers have tried to address their frontcourt issues this summer. They signed Deandre Ayton following his buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers and then re-signed Jaxson Hayes. However, they apparently are still looking for more help. One player they have their eyes on is Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic. According to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, the Lakers were closely monitoring the situation with Vucevic and the Bulls (h/t Bleacher Report). Vucevic is a two-time All-Star who plays for a team that has done major retooling over the past year. The most favorable way for the Lakers to add Vucevic is via a buyout. Vucevic is owed almost $21.5 million for the 2025-26 season. A buyout would prevent the Lakers from having to trade any valued players on expensive deals to acquire Vucevic. Bulls Won't Buy Out Nikola Vucevic Anytime Soon Despite the Lakers' reported interest in Vucevic, he isn't going anywhere. At least, a buyout is not on the table for the time being. NBA Insider Marc Stein reported via his Substack that the Bulls will not buy out Vucevic between now and when training camp starts. "As we explained in Monday's around-the-league notes, Chicago's Nikola Vucevic should be no means be considered a buyout candidate this summer," Stein wrote. "He will open the season in Chicago unless a trade materializes between now and the start of training camp in late September." So that rules out the possibility of the Lakers adding Vucevic the easy way: signing him outright after a buyout. However, Stein's wording suggests that a trade isn't off the table for Vucevic. The Lakers could offer multiple players on expiring deals to match contracts with Chicago in a deal for Vucevic. That includes Rui Hachimura ($18.2 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million). They could also dangle Jarred Vanderbilt (11.5 million this season), but he has three years left on his current contract, which may not appeal to Chicago. Because the Lakers are below the NBA's second tax apron, they can aggregate contracts. Vucevic may also get bought out during the regular season, but the Lakers can't sign him even if that happens, as they are currently hard-capped at the league's first tax apron. Teams above the NBA's first tax apron cannot sign players who make more than the non-taxpayers' midlevel exception. This coming season, that would be $14.1 million. The only way they could is if they make a trade(s) to get under said apron. Teams above one or both of the NBA's tax aprons can sign any player bought out, no matter what they make during the offseason, but not during the regular season. For Vucevic to become a Laker this season, the most plausible way for that to happen is via trade.
DK Metcalf makes huge claim about Steelers defense
D.K. Metcalf has faced plenty of steep competition through his first six NFL seasons, both during games and practice, but the star wide receiver has noticed something different in his first training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers. During an interview with Ian Rapoport and Steve Smith of NFL Network on Sunday, Metcalf discussed some of his first impressions of the Steelers. He spoke about how challenging it has been to go up against cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay every day. When asked how the practice competition compares to what he saw with the Seattle Seahawks, Metcalf made a bold claim about his new teammates. "You don't want my opinion, because I think they're the best defense I've ever seen," Metcalf said. "There's some dogs everywhere on the field, and I tip my hat to them because they come to work every day and we don't have any choice but to get better." There is no question that the Steelers should have one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL on paper. While they sent five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in the Ramsey trade, their cornerback trio of Ramsey, Porter and Slay is as talented as any in the league. The Steelers allowed 20.4 points per game last year, which ranked eighth in the NFL. Their pass defense surrendered 228 yards per game, which only ranked 25th. If Metcalf's assessment is accurate, Pittsburgh should show great improvement against the pass in 2025.
'Agreement in Place' - Journalist Provides Key Update on Sunderland’s New Striker Transfer
Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie confirmed that Sunderland's deal to sign Chelsea striker Marc Guiu on loan remains on track, despite doubts. Yesterday, the mentioned reporter stated that although the flight Guiu (19) was scheduled to take got postponed, the agreement for his arrival at the Stadium of Light remains valid. It was evident that with no recent updates, the press and fans would start doubting the Catalan's arrival at the club, but apparently everything is in order. The FC Barcelona academy graduate has high chances of becoming Sunderland's ninth signing this summer. Journalist provides key update on Sunderland's new striker transfer On Saturday, Downie had reported the following: "Marc Guiu will fly into the North East this afternoon to complete his move to Sunderland. 19yo striker will undergo a medical in the next 24 hours." "SAFC have agreed a season-long loan with PL counterparts Chelsea," added the journalist via his Twitter (X) account. And yesterday, Sunday, the Sky Sports reporter updated: "Little update on this: Guiu's flight was postponed today, but doesn't mean the deal is dead." "Agreement still in place and an expectation that the striker will finalise his move to Sunderland on loan for the season." Therefore, we can expect more concrete updates about Guiu's signing with the Black Cats in the coming hours. We'll see. What is certain is that Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris is frustrated with the club's transfer activity, according to the same cited journalist. Apparently, the Lads are expected to add three or four more players to their squad, with attack being one of the priority areas to strengthen. In recent hours, Sunderland have been linked with a couple of forwards, such as Galatasaray's Baris Alper Yilmaz (25) or Leverkusen's Amine Adli (25). We'll see how many of them ultimately embark on the adventure of keeping the club in the Premier League. Read More:
Triple H provides statement on Seth Rollins' SummerSlam appearance
Night one of SummerSlam 2026 ended with a bang. Seth Rollins came back from what now appears to have been a fake injury, cashing in his Money In The Bank briefcase against CM Punk. The WWE fanbase had long postulated the idea of Rollins returning at SummerSlam. His return felt like low-hanging fruit. Yet, despite the expectations, both Punk and Rollins played the situation perfectly. Now, as we head into night two of SummerSlam, there is a new World Heavyweight Champion in town. When speaking at the SummerSlam post-show, Paul "Triple H" Levesque admitted, albeit in kayfabe, that he wasn't pleased with Rollins falsifying injury reports to get the upper hand on Punk. "Seth Rollins is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers," Levesque said. "And he comes out, goes through none of it and takes the World Heavyweight Championship. My hats off to Seth Rollins. That’s a smart way to do business. Not thrilled about bogus medical reports, but we’ll deal with that down the line." Not everyone will be happy with Rollins becoming the new champion. They will feel like Punk was robbed. Or that WWE creative took the easiest route possible. And in truth, they're probably right. However, sometimes the best way to progress a story is to go with the most obvious segue. The fact is, everyone came away from the SummerSlam main event with some form of emotion. The story being told worked; it made people feel. And now, the storyline moves on to how Punk and Rollins — two heated rivals — will move forward. A future title match is all but guaranteed, yet it's the story, week after week, month after month, that will captivate people. WWE used SummerSlam as a jumping-off point, and now, we could see the very best of CM Punk, likely culminating in a main-event title match at WrestleMania 42. So, yes, Rollins' win was a deflating moment for many, but what comes from that moment will keep wrestling fans talking for the next six to 12 months, and that was likely the whole point.
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