OKC and Pacers eye first NBA titles
Bangkok Post
|June 05, 2025
Haliburton aiming to shock Shai, Thunder
-
Powered by young star talent and deep rosters, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers open the NBA Finals tomorrow morning (Thai time), each trying to bring their city a first-ever crown.
Oklahoma City, fancied by odds-makers after an NBA-high 68 regular-season wins, will host game one in the best-of-seven championship series.
Both teams are fast-paced squads with young star point guards, 26-year-old NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the Thunder and Indiana's 25-year-old Tyrese Haliburton.
The Pacers seek the first NBA crown in their 58-year history while the Thunder, who moved from Seattle in 2008, took the franchise’s only title as the SuperSonics in 1979.
“It’s a new blueprint for the league,” Pacers centre Myles Turner said. “The years of the superteams and stacking, it's not as effective as it once was.
“The new trend now is kind of what we're doing. OKC does the same thing. Young guys, get out and run, defend and use the power of friendship.”
Oklahoma City’s only prior NBA Finals appearance was in 2012, when Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook lost to LeBron James-led Miami.
This story is from the June 05, 2025 edition of Bangkok Post.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
Taking a turn for the better?
Despite the latest popularity survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) Poll showing voter uncertainty, the tide may be turning in
3 mins
December 20, 2025
Bangkok Post
Judge 'guilty' of obstructing arrest
Dugan 'helped' migrant evade ICE
2 mins
December 20, 2025
Bangkok Post
Alonso dreams of white Xmas
Under-fire Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso will be hoping to remain in charge of Los Blancos over the Christmas break but must first oversee a Liga victory against Sevilla to sate the club's hierarchy.
1 mins
December 20, 2025
Bangkok Post
Briton who fought for Ukraine gets 13 years
A British man who fought for Ukraine against the Russian army has been sentenced to 13 years in a maximum security prison camp after being convicted of being a paid mercenary, Russian prosecutors said on Thursday.
1 mins
December 20, 2025
Bangkok Post
Agricultural economy to grow despite headwinds
The country's agricultural economy is expected to see slightly slower but still robust growth of 2-3% next year as landowners and farmers have secured more water resources and benefit from higher demand in the global market, as well as accelerated domestic economic growth.
1 min
December 20, 2025
Bangkok Post
Thai forces press on at Hill 350
Cambodian artillery fire kills two soldiers
2 mins
December 20, 2025
Bangkok Post
Interest rate cut and slower inflation offer Britons a break
The British economy ended the year with a moment of respite.
3 mins
December 20, 2025
Bangkok Post
City eye another Etihad stroll
Injury-hit Arsenal face pressure, Toffees
1 min
December 20, 2025
Bangkok Post
Beijing not taking sides in border row
China has reiterated that its longstanding defence cooperation, including arms sales to both Cambodia and Thailand, fully complies with international law and bears no relation to the countries' ongoing border clashes.
1 min
December 20, 2025
Bangkok Post
Juve host Roma knowing loss could end title dreams
Juventus have another chance to drag themselves back into the Serie A title discussion today when rivals Roma come to Turin with the other main contenders in Riyadh for the Italian Super Cup.
2 mins
December 20, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size

