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The NBA Finals tipped off on Thursday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently hosting the Indiana Pacers in Game 1.
Oklahoma City got off to a hot start in the game as they led Indiana 29-20 at the end of the first quarter.
The Thunder then extended their lead to 12 points at halftime as they carried a 57-45 lead into the break.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the way for the Thunder thus far as he currently has 23 points, three rebounds, one assists and three steals.
Lu Dort has also came up big as he has added nine points, four rebounds and four steals of his own.
Turnovers were a growing theme in the first half of Game 1 on Thursday night as the Thunder forced the Pacers to turn the ball over 19 times in the first half.
Oklahoma City also made NBA Finals history in the first half as their 12 first-half steals are the most in any NBA Finals half in the play-by-play era, which is since 1998.
12 FIRST-HALF STEALS FOR THE THUNDER
— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025
The MOST in ANY Finals half in the play-by-play era (1998) pic.twitter.com/IBgCT9xLny
Of course, the Thunder led the NBA in steals this season and with them averaging the least amount of turnovers as a team, it has been a main reason for their success this season, which has came mostly on the defensive side.
If the Thunder can continue to force turnovers in the second half, the Pacers may be in trouble in Game 1, along with the rest of the series due to Oklahoma City’s stingy defense.
Despite this, expect the Pacers to make some changes at halftime as they try to claw back and steal Game 1 on the road while the Thunder will look to cap off their dominant first half by doing the same thing in the second half.
More must-reads:
- Bulls sign HC Billy Donovan to multiyear extension
- Nikola Jokic’s agent sparks LeBron James to Denver speculation with Instagram post
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Nikola Jokic’s agent causes stir with post about LeBron James
Nikola Jokic’s agent certainly knows how to stir the pot. Misko Raznatovic, the Serbian sports agent who represents the Denver Nuggets star Jokic, sparked a frenzy over social media this week with a post about Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. Raznatovic posted a picture to Instagram of himself on a boat along with both James and James’ longtime business partner Maverick Carter. Tagging both James and Carter in the post, Raznatovic had the location as Saint Tropez, France. He also included the caption, “The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026!” As for Jokic, he is still under contract with the Nuggets through at least 2027 (with a player option for 2027-28 as well). There also no indications that Jokic is unhappy in Denver, particularly with the Nuggets making some big win-now moves this summer. Despite their playoff battles in years past, James and Jokic share a strong relationship of mutual respect. Now it appears that Jokic’s agent is toying with the possibility of recruiting James to Denver for the 2026-27 season (assuming that James would still like to continue his NBA career by that point).
Shedeur Sanders gets new chance after Browns QB injury
Shedeur Sanders has been working with the Cleveland Browns' equipment staff as the No. 4 quarterback this summer. He'll have a new opportunity following the troubling injury news for Kenny Pickett. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Pickett suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday's practice and will not receive reps until his issue is re-evaluated. "Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday’s practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources," Schefter posted on X. "Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps for Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Pickett's injury will shake up the quarterback race in Cleveland. Through OTAs and early in training camp, Sanders has been the odd man out as the only signal caller on the roster not to receive reps with the first-team offense. It's unclear if the Browns coaching staff intends to give Sanders reps with the first-team offense now that Pickett is sidelined, but the fifth-round pick will have more chances this week to prove that he deserves an opportunity to stay in Cleveland. The Browns are in a unique situation with their rookie quarterbacks. Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel was selected before Sanders, but the son of Deion Sanders fell to Day 3 of the draft for reasons other than talent. The majority of draft analysts had Sanders as a better-graded quarterback than Gabriel, and many thought the Colorado product would be taken in the first round. The Browns can use the injury as an excuse to give Sanders reps with the first team, and it's a task they need to take advantage of before the team names a starter. Sanders has the potential to be a starter in the league, and this week is pivotal for his rookie season in Cleveland.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
New report suggests Christian Wilkins release related to 'incident' with teammate
There may be more to Christian Wilkins’ recent surprise release from the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL reporter Josina Anderson reported Saturday that "some sources believe an incident involving a teammate may have factored in-part into the Raiders' fatigue and release" of Wilkins. The nature of the incident is not clear. However, many believe the Raiders had a very good reason to move on from Wilkins considering the money they had invested in him. It also suggests the Raiders saw no alternative if they went straight to a release. Wilkins was dumped by the Raiders just one year into a four-year, $110 million deal. The Raiders suggested Wilkins failed to take rehab seriously as he tries to work his way back from a foot injury. Other teams do not appear to have the same concerns about Wilkins as the Raiders did, and he should find a new landing spot fairly easily. That is one of the reasons some suspect there is more to the Raiders’ decision than they are publicly saying.
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