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The Indiana Pacers are still alive after pummeling the Oklahoma City Thunder, 118-101, in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. That was the Pacers’ final home game of the season.
Now, if they want to win their first NBA title, it will have to come on the road. Game 7 is Sunday night at Oklahoma City.
But hey, it’s not like the Pacers have never won a road game in a championship series. They won three titles in the old ABA, and as Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files pointed out, each of those three championships was won in someone else’s building.
Granted, it was a long time ago. Like, a really long time. And it was in the ABA, which used the 3-point shot long before the NBA — but was viewed as a renegade league. The NBA just recently started acknowledging ABA stats.
Anyway, back to the Pacers. Before the NBA-ABA merger in 1976, Indiana played in five championship series, winning three.
The Pacers beat the Los Angeles Stars for their first title in 1970, then defeated the New York Nets in 1972 and Kentucky Colonels in 1973 for an ABA back-to-back.
They’ve never won an NBA championship. This is their first Finals appearance in 25 years (and second in franchise history). They will need a little basketball magic.
But these Pacers are undoubtedly capable, and if they can tap into their ABA forefathers, they just might be able to get it done.
More must-reads:
- Report: Teams reluctant to discuss key offseason move with Bulls
- Warriors 'unlikely' to pivot from Jonathan Kuminga this summer
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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Veteran center listed as Knicks target for veteran’s minimum
The New York Knicks are likely to add a player in the backcourt with a veteran’s minimum contract. A few names that they have been linked to include Ben Simmons, Russell Westbrook, and Landry Shamet. Knicks could target Thomas Bryant for the last roster spot However, they could pivot towards frontcourt insurance for that last roster spot. SNY’s David Vertsberger listed veteran big man Thomas Bryant as a potential free agent target that the Knicks could pursue. “One position the Knicks may want to heavily consider using this spot for is the center spot. Their current rotation is made up of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, and if they start the double-big lineup, this essentially leaves them one backup five to start the year,” Vertsberger wrote. “They have interesting alternative options at the center like sliding newly-signed Guerschon Yabusele down a position or playing OG Anunoby there, and can always move Robinson back to the bench. However, signing a depth piece at the position like Thomas Bryant gives them more security in case injuries hit.” Bryant was in and out of the Indiana Pacers rotation last season, but he showed a capability to step up in the biggest moments. He played a crucial part in the Pacers’ Game 6 series-clinching win over New York in the Eastern Conference Finals, as he scored 11 points and knocked down three threes. Bryant could be a solid depth addition The 28-year-old started last season with the Miami Heat before being picked up by the Pacers. In 66 total games last season, he averaged 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds. While Bryant likely wouldn’t play many significant minutes on the Knicks, he would be a solid third-string option at the position if an injury takes out one of their main centers. Towns, Robinson, and Hukporti all dealt with injuries last season, and the Knicks don’t want to find themselves in a position where they are without a center. If their backcourt targets end up signing elsewhere, Bryant could be a solid fallback option at a cheap price and still provide an impact should his name get called.
Eagles get big injury scare at practice regarding key starter
The Philadelphia Eagles got a major injury scare during Sunday's open practice at Lincoln Financial Field when Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson went down with a leg injury and had to be carted off to the locker room. Dickerson was reportedly unable to put any weight on his leg. Dickerson, a second-round pick (No. 37 overall) by the team in 2021 has been a starter for the Eagles over the first four years of his career and developed into one of the best offensive linemen in football. He has been named to the Pro Bowl team in each of the past three seasons and is a key cog on the Eagles' line. The Eagles' O-line is one of the team's biggest strengths and a big part of its identity, and Dickerson has taken over as one of the top leaders on that group. The Eagles are already dealing with some depth issues on the interior of their line after backup Kenyon Green had to be carted off the field in their opening preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals. If Dickerson has to miss any significant time that would be a huge blow to the Eagles' offense and their running game. But it's still very early in the process and the Eagles will almost certainly know more by Monday. The Eagles were the second-leading rushing team in the NFL during the 2024 season, averaging 179 yards per game. Running back Saquon Barkley ran for over 2,000 yards as part of their season, with the offensive line playing a huge role in both of those achievements.
Should Broncos be worried about Bo Nix's early preseason struggles?
Denver Broncos second-year quarterback Bo Nix didn't look like the player who shattered expectations as a rookie in his 2025 preseason debut. Nix played just three drives in Saturday's 30-9 road win over the San Francisco 49ers. The 12th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft completed 6-of-11 passes for 31 yards and posted a below-average 60 passer rating. He also had an intentional grounding penalty that resulted in a safety. Keep in mind the 25-year-old QB played against the 49ers second-team defense. Should that raise more concerns about Nix's rocky performance? Not necessarily. The Athletic's Nick Kosmider noted things could've been different for the offense had it made one big play early. "What should be taken from Nix's outing? Not much," Kosmider wrote in a piece published Sunday. "He started the game with a well-placed deep ball down the left sideline to [wide receiver Courtland] Sutton that the veteran receiver couldn't quite haul in. With such a limited sample size, the complexion of the first-team offense's night could have been entirely different had that play been made." Nix acknowledged he wished he and Sutton had connected on the throw during a postgame news conference. While it was frustrating for the young passer, he said plays like that are something that can help the team grow. "The good thing about football is every one of those plays was different today," he said. "You saw a different outcome, so you can talk about it and just add that to your football knowledge and move on and go from there." Broncos head coach Sean Payton lets his starters play in preseason to work out the bugs before the regular season. Nix's comment suggests he's embracing that opportunity. However, he must show signs of progress in Denver's next preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET. The Broncos are banking on Nix taking another step after finishing third in 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels. If he does, that would give Denver a strong chance to win its first playoff game since Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
New Connor McDavid Contract Rumors Circulate in Edmonton as Timeline and Amount Emerge
Edmonton Oilers superstar captain Connor McDavid, who can become a UFA next July 1, reportedly has a new contract extension timeline per a new report from the 2 Mutts Podcast. The Edmonton Oilers still have a major matter of important business to take care of, as superstar captain Connor McDavid can become perhaps the highest-profile UFA in NHL history next July 1. Team Canada's Orientation Camp Could Be the Key to McDavid's Next Oilers Deal McDavid, who didn't exactly sound like he was rushing into a new contract extension with the Oilers following their 2nd straight loss in the SCF to the Florida Panthers earlier this year, will play for Canada in the 2026 Winter Milan Olympics. Per the 2 Mutts Podcast, the Oilers could potentially get McDavid to sign a shorter-term extension during Canada's Orientation Camp in late August in Calgary. We are hearing that the contract extension for Connor McDavid will most likely happen after the Team Canada Orientation Camp which is August 26th to the 28th in Calgary. The plan is to announce the contract extension before the Captain Skates begin Training Camp starts. We believe it could be a 2 year deal or a 4 year deal as the @EdmontonOilers already know McDavid won't be signing an 8 year extension this time around. The conversation on AAV has gone from $16M to around $17.5M from what we've been told. Right now, McDavid makes an AAV (average annual value) of $12 million on the deal he signed in 2017. The Oilers have already re-signed both Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard While they try and work out an extension for McDavid, the Oilers have already re-signed both Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard to massive extensions. Draisaitl makes an AAV of $14 million, while Bouchard recently agreed to a new deal with an AAV of $10.5 million. With McDavid's alleged impending extension, the Oilers could have over $40 million dedicated to just 3 players on the roster.
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