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Pacers

With the 2025 NBA Finals shifting back to Oklahoma City for a pivotal Game 5, the Thunder delivered their most complete performance of the series &ndash; blowing past the Indiana Pacers to take a 3-2 series lead. In a game full of defensive highlights, coaching decisions, and unexpected stars, it was Jalen Williams who stole the show and ignited Paycom Center with a breakout performance.
Here are four major takeaways from a statement win by OKC:
OKC&rsquo;s defense smothers Indiana&rsquo;s rhythm
The Thunder&rsquo;s defensive identity was the foundation of their Game 5 victory. They swarmed the ball, clogged passing lanes, and applied relentless pressure on Indiana&rsquo;s guards. OKC forced 17 turnovers, including 10 steals and 6 blocks, dictating the pace from the opening tip and never letting the Pacers find any offensive flow.
Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, and Alex Caruso led the perimeter charge, while Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren walled off the paint. The Thunder&rsquo;s switch-heavy, help-first scheme disrupted Indiana&rsquo;s ball movement and turned defensive stops into transition opportunities.
This wasn&rsquo;t just solid defense &ndash; it was a masterclass in suffocating execution that led to the victory.
The Jalen Williams takeover game
With the Pacers loading up on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all night, Jalen Williams seized his moment &ndash; and then some.
The third-year forward exploded for 40 points on just 24 shots, carving up Indiana&rsquo;s defense with drives, midrange jumpers, and timely three-pointers. Williams didn&rsquo;t just score &ndash; he controlled the game. His poise, pace, and precision punished every defensive coverage the Pacers threw at him.
This was no fluke performance. Williams had been growing into his role all postseason, but this was the official coming-out party &ndash; proof that the Thunder have a legitimate second star capable of taking over an NBA Finals game.
Indiana&rsquo;s puzzling decision to sit TJ McConnell
When the Pacers needed a spark, T.J. McConnell delivered &ndash; at least for a while.
With Tyrese Haliburton clearly hampered by a strained right calf, McConnell took over in the third quarter. He scored 18 points, pushed the pace, and helped trim a 20+ point deficit down to single digits. But in a head-scratching move, head coach Rick Carlisle opted to sit McConnell for the entire fourth quarter in favor of a struggling Haliburton.
Haliburton finished 0-for-4 from the field in 34 minutes and didn&rsquo;t look like himself at any point. Meanwhile, McConnell &ndash; one of the few Pacers with any rhythm &ndash; only saw the floor again near the end of the game. It was a questionable coaching decision that halted Indiana&rsquo;s momentum and left fans wondering what could&rsquo;ve been.
Haliburton&rsquo;s status looms large for Game 6
Indiana&rsquo;s hopes of extending the series hinge on the health of their All-Star guard. Haliburton was clearly limited in Game 5 due to the calf strain. While he tried to gut it out, his effectiveness was minimal, and his mobility looked compromised.
The Pacers will now face an elimination game at home, and Haliburton&rsquo;s availability &ndash; and effectiveness &ndash; could define the outcome. If he&rsquo;s unable to go or continues to play through pain, Carlisle may have to consider leaning more on McConnell or even Andrew Nembhard to stabilize the offense.
OKC, meanwhile, is one win away from capturing the franchise&rsquo;s first NBA championship since moving to Oklahoma. And with Jalen Williams joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a legitimate Finals force, the Thunder look like a team peaking at the perfect time.

We break down OKC’s elite defense and Jalen Williams dropping 40 points on Game 5 takeaways.

Thunder-Pacers Game 5 Takeaways: Jalen Williams rises, OKC clamps down Indiana

SGA takes over late as Thunder tie NBA Finals at 2-2 with tactical switches
The Oklahoma City Thunder are built on poise, patience, and principles. So when they found themselves staring down a 2-1 series deficit against the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals, they didn&rsquo;t panic. They adjusted, and they simplified. And then, they unleashed their superstar.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, already in the midst of a historic postseason run, delivered another defining performance in Game 4 &ndash; one that swung the Finals and cemented his status as the alpha on basketball&rsquo;s biggest stage. Down late in the fourth quarter, SGA scored or created nearly every crucial bucket, finishing the night with 35 points, with one transcendent takeover.
But this wasn&rsquo;t just about a scoring outburst. This was high-level basketball IQ, surgical execution, and coaching precision from Mark Daigneault wrapped into a four-minute flurry that may ultimately define the 2025 NBA Finals.
The adjustment that shifted the game, and possibly the series
With 3:54 left in the fourth quarter and the Thunder trailing by five, head coach Mark Daigneault called a timeout. Up to that point, Indiana&rsquo;s defensive scheme &ndash; centered on Andrew Nembhard defending Gilgeous-Alexander &ndash; had largely held up. Nembhard, who&rsquo;s known SGA since their childhood days playing in Canada, was disciplined and physical without fouling, staying grounded against SGA&rsquo;s deceptive fakes and change-of-pace moves.
But Daigneault didn&rsquo;t overcomplicate things. Out of the timeout, he made one small yet powerful tweak: Oklahoma City began actively hunting switches to get Aaron Nesmith onto Gilgeous-Alexander.
It worked like clockwork. The Thunder ran repeated ball screens involving Jalen Williams, with Nesmith as the on-ball defender. Once the switch occurred, SGA went to work.
What followed was a brilliant stretch of controlled basketball dominance.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">3:35 left &mdash; SGA attacks Nesmith off a switch, draws a foul, and calmly sinks two free throws.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">3:01 left &mdash; With Williams initiating, SGA spaces out on the right wing. Nesmith switches onto him. One dribble pull-up three. Splash. Thunder cut the Pacers&rsquo; lead to one.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">2:23 left &mdash; In transition, SGA motions for an isolation. Williams clears out, Nesmith stays on him. Stepback fade from the left wing. Money. Thunder take the lead.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">1:38 left &mdash; Thunder run the same switch at the midpost. SGA attacks again, drawing Nesmith&rsquo;s sixth foul &ndash; and he&rsquo;s done for the night.</li>
</ul>
This was completely broken down from a video by Steph Noh:
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With 3 min 52 sec remaining, Mark Daigneault called timeout and made the adjustment that won the Thunder Game 4. Nembhard had been guarding SGA extremely well. Thunder used the same action 3x to get Nesmith to switch, Shai kept scoring/getting the foul call. <a href="https://t.co/6g4GnhA0RU">pic.twitter.com/6g4GnhA0RU</a>
&mdash; Steph Noh (@StephNoh) <a href="https://twitter.com/StephNoh/status/1933735227999810014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a>
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These weren&rsquo;t just buckets and free throws &ndash; they were calculated, unhurried, and inevitable. And just like that, the Thunder took control of the game and the momentum of the series.
Daigneault&rsquo;s postgame comments echoed the calmness his team displayed during that decisive run, which has been the Thunder&rsquo;s blueprint all season. The Thunder rarely stray from their core principles. They space the floor, they move the ball, and they trust Gilgeous-Alexander to dissect whatever coverage comes his way. But this time, they leaned into the moment. They fed their MVP the exact looks he needed and let him take it home.
The beauty of OKC&rsquo;s late-game offense was in its simplicity. Instead of running elaborate sets or off-ball actions, they flattened the floor, used one screener to create the mismatch, and let their best player read the floor. No wasted motion and no hesitation, just straight up takeover from their superstar.
SGA's Finals legacy is taking shape
Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored 30+ points in three of the four Finals games, and he&rsquo;s doing it efficiently and under control. He&rsquo;s not just a volume scorer &ndash; he&rsquo;s manipulating defenses, managing pace, and bending the game to his rhythm.
Game 4 wasn&rsquo;t just a highlight reel of clutch plays. It was a masterclass in reading matchups, knowing personnel, and executing a plan. There&rsquo;s a reason why Indiana put Nembhard on him and not Nesmith. The moment the Thunder exploited that switch, it turned the game around, and possibly the series.
And it&rsquo;s worth remembering: this is Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s first trip to the Finals. Yet he plays like he&rsquo;s been here before.
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
With the series now tied 2-2, the pressure swings back to the Pacers. They&rsquo;ve been remarkable all postseason, and Game 4 was no exception &ndash; they executed their game plan for 44 minutes. But when the game slowed down and turned into a star duel, SGA stood tallest.
Game 5 looms large. And if the Thunder keep finding ways to free their MVP, it&rsquo;s hard to bet against them.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over late as the Thunder tied the NBA Finals 2-2, punishing switches to seal Game 4.

SGA TAKES OVER: How the Thunder overcame the Pacers in Game 4 to even the series

Indiana overcomes 15-point deficit behind late-game brilliance to steal series opener
In their playoffs full of improbable comebacks, the Indiana Pacers added their most dramatic one yet &ndash; stealing Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-110.
For the 43 minutes and 59.7 seconds of game time, the Pacers never once led. But as they&rsquo;ve done all playoffs long, they clawed their way back from a daunting double-digit deficit and delivered a perfectly-timed knockout punch when it mattered most.
How did the Pacers do it? The shift began in the third quarter, when Indiana initiated a pair of offensive sets to get Benedict Mathurin involved. First, they ran simultaneous actions: a high pick-and-roll between Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam at the top of the key, while Thomas Bryant set a pindown for Mathurin on the wing. Mathurin caught the pass, drove middle, and dropped it off to Bryant for a thunderous one-handed jam.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Mathurin drop pass to Bryant <a href="https://t.co/mZAm4rIbJn">pic.twitter.com/mZAm4rIbJn</a>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/1931021125523501159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2025</a>
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On the ensuing sideline out-of-bounds play, the Pacers simplified things &ndash; Mathurin ran a high pick-and-roll with Bryant at the top. He got downhill quickly and drew a foul on Isaiah Hartenstein. Though OKC challenged the call, the review was unsuccessful &ndash; costing the Thunder their last challenge and later proving costly. Mathurin knocked down both free throws, trimming the lead to single digits at 70-79 for the first time since the first quarter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Mathurin straight line drive, fouled <a href="https://t.co/zV7a8jB8da">pic.twitter.com/zV7a8jB8da</a>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/1931021129893978546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2025</a>
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After an OKC three, Indiana immediately countered by Indiana as TJ McConnell pushed the ball on the other side right after the make. Using his quickness, McConnell blew past SGA on an empty corner downhill drive and got a paint touch off of it. Hartenstein left his man Bryant on the left corner to challenge the drive, then McConnell delivered a no-look pass to Bryant who then knocked down a three to answer, bringing the lead back to single digits again.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Bryant corner three <a href="https://t.co/nDmbPRjklx">pic.twitter.com/nDmbPRjklx</a>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/1931021133664645510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2025</a>
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Those two Mathurin plays were important as OKC shifted their focus to him. With OKC now devoting more defensive attention, the Pacers continued manipulating matchups. On the final Indiana possession of the quarter, McConnell motioned for Mathurin to set a screen. The Thunder attempted a pre-switch between Caruso and SGA, trying to neutralize the threat. But the slight miscommunication allowed McConnell to zip a pass to Siakam, who was left alone in the right corner. Siakam calmly buried the three, bringing Indiana within six at 76-82. SGA answered with a buzzer-beater triple, but the Pacers had already shifted the tide.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Siakam corner three <a href="https://t.co/HuZStoN4Ps">pic.twitter.com/HuZStoN4Ps</a>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/1931021139733783030?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2025</a>
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Still, that was all Indiana needed &ndash; to cut the lead down to single digits before the start of the 4th quarter to make it a manageable deficit, as they try to conjure their signature end game runs that they have been doing all playoffs long.
OKC even pushed the lead to as high as 15 points, 94-79, after a turnover by the Pacers that led to a Jalen Williams breakaway jam &ndash; but Indiana never panicked.
The Pacers just would not quit and as they have been doing in these playoffs, fought and crawled back into the game.
A series of scores for the Pacers ensued: Mathurin attacked Caruso for a strong layup. Then, Andrew Nembhard blew by Caruso for a tough and-one. Myles Turner hit a corner three. Obi Toppin knocked down his fifth three of the game. In just a matter of minutes, the lead had evaporated to 91-98.
Indiana got even closer with yet another beautiful sideline out of bounds play: Nembhard got the ball to the middle off the screen from Myles Turner, then he turned around to set yet another screen for Haliburton (who inbounded the ball), but instead it turned to a flare screen and Turner popped out. He got Chet Holmgren off his feet and proceeded to drill a tough stepback three off the glass from the left corner to cut the lead to 4, 94-98, marking a 12-2 over the last three minutes for the Pacers.
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Turner stepback three <a href="https://t.co/eMowGKcsju">pic.twitter.com/eMowGKcsju</a>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/1931021144095936685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2025</a>
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Next time down, Indiana went to Turner again as Nembhard found him again off the pick and pop action for a right elbow jumper. 96-100 OKC
Off another OKC miss, Haliburton grabbed the rebound, ran the length of the floor, surveyed it for potential passing options, before doing a hesitation dribble that confused SGA. It allowed Haliburton to blow past him and earn a layup on the break &ndash; something the Pacers had not had much of this game.
Oklahoma City responded with a tough SGA finish and four free throws to stretch the margin back to nine, 105-96. But Indiana came right back, with Aaron Nesmith burying a left-corner three off a broken play to make it 102-108.
Next play down, Indiana survived once again after Jalen Williams missed a wide-open three-point attempt. Nembhard brought the ball the other way and did a series of dribble moves on SGA before drilling the impressive stepback three from the left wing. The Pacers have now come all the way from 15 down to cut the lead to just 3, 105-108 with 2 minutes left in the game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Nembhard stepback three <a href="https://t.co/8WGH4gHHR5">pic.twitter.com/8WGH4gHHR5</a>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/1931021149242364050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2025</a>
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The Thunder briefly steadied themselves with a Lu Dort block and an SGA layup to go up 110-105, but that would be their last field goal of the night.
Nembhard calmly sank two free throws, and Siakam followed a crucial block on SGA with a hustle play on the other end &ndash; putting back a missed three to make it 109-110 with under a minute to play.
After forcing two stops &ndash; one on Williams, another on SGA &ndash; the Pacers got the ball back off a rebound with the game on the line. Rick Carlisle trusted his team to find the right shot. It was when Haliburton delivered: an off-balance 18-foot jumper from the right wing that rattled in to give the Pacers their first &ndash; and only &ndash; lead of the game with 0.3 seconds remaining.
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Haliburton for the win <a href="https://t.co/mWrlgNpFJf">pic.twitter.com/mWrlgNpFJf</a>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/1931021156833984600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2025</a>
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OKC was not able to get a shot off for the final possession of the game and thus completed another wild Pacers comeback.
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;&nbsp;
In the end, OKC missed their shots on offense as they had a hard time protecting the lead, while Indiana got to their offense more with flow and rhythm in the 4th.
The Thunder shot 5-of-17 in the final frame and they were not able to make shots as Indiana chipped away possession by possession. Meanwhile, the Pacers executed with precision and confidence. Whether through elaborate sideline plays or simple two-man actions, they kept creating looks &ndash; and more importantly, they kept converting them.
Game 1 was a microcosm of Indiana&rsquo;s identity in these playoffs: resilient, relentless, and fearless in the face of deficits. With the win, they&rsquo;ve now stolen home court and placed all the pressure on Oklahoma City to respond in Game 2.

Take a deep dive on how the Pacers came back once again this time against the Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

Comeback kings strike again: How Indiana stole Game 1 vs OKC

In an NBA era defined by star-chasing, supermax contracts, and eye-watering luxury tax bills, the Indiana Pacers have defied every expectation &ndash; and the associated financial precedent. This isn't just a Cinderella story &ndash; it is a testament to the franchise&rsquo;s strategic planning, belief, and organizational cohesion. The Pacers didn&rsquo;t just sneak into the NBA Finals. They earned their way there, brick by brick, all while keeping their books clean and their identity intact.
When the final buzzer sounded in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, it wasn&rsquo;t just a win for Indiana &ndash; it was a triumph for every small-market franchise searching for hope. In a league that often favors the big spenders, Indiana made it through without ever crossing into luxury tax territory. It&rsquo;s a feat that&rsquo;s not just impressive &ndash; it&rsquo;s unprecedented in today&rsquo;s NBA landscape.
This Finals appearance isn&rsquo;t an overnight success. What they lacked in payroll, they made up for in vision, development, coaching, and complete buy-in from the front office, to the coaching staff, and the players themselves &ndash; making this a culmination of the belief that you can build a winner through cohesion and culture &ndash; and not just cost.
<h4>A vision realized for Indiana</h4>
The foundation of Indiana&rsquo;s Finals run traces back to February 2022. The Pacers shipped All-Star Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento and received a then-rising guard in Tyrese Haliburton.&nbsp;
At the time, the move was seen as a gamble. Few teams part ways with a current All-Star for a young guard still developing. At the time, the move was seen as a gamble. Few teams part ways with a current All-Star for a young guard still developing. Many questioned the move and a few understood the vision.
However, Indiana did. They saw a lead playmaker who could evolve into the face of their franchise. Three years later, Haliburton has done exactly that &ndash; growing into an All-NBA-caliber PG, powering the league&rsquo;s fastest-paced offense and leading the Pacers with maturity beyond his years.
Haliburton was also someone who could not only run their offense but also carry the culture. The result was a floor general with a team-first mentality and elite passing instincts, now one of the NBA's most dynamic point guards, but at the same time has one of the energetic personalities and star vibe in the league. Haliburton&rsquo;s development into a full-fledged star wasn&rsquo;t accidental. It was intentional &ndash; nurtured by head coach Rick Carlisle, empowered by the front office, and amplified by the supporting cast that embraced his leadership.
The vision was clear from the start: make Haliburton the center of everything. Build around his IQ, his unselfishness, and his drive. That clarity allowed the front office to pursue players who complemented his skill set, not cluttered it.
One of those pieces came midseason in the form of Pascal Siakam, acquired from Toronto. Siakam brought championship pedigree, defensive versatility, and a scoring punch that balanced out Indiana&rsquo;s offense. While most teams searched for flash, Indiana sought fit. Siakam wasn&rsquo;t just a name &ndash; he was a need, and he filled it perfectly with all his traits that the team needed.
Pairing Haliburton&rsquo;s creativity with Siakam&rsquo;s downhill force turned Indiana into an offensive juggernaut. They didn&rsquo;t just outscore opponents, they overwhelmed them with pace, precision, and purpose.
<h4>Finding value in &ldquo;rejects and cast-offs&rdquo;</h4>
Indiana&rsquo;s roster isn&rsquo;t built on big names &ndash; it is built on belief.&nbsp;
Obi Toppin, once a lottery pick in New York, never got the role or runway he needed. In Indiana, he found freedom. In Carlisle&rsquo;s system, his athleticism became a weapon, not an afterthought.
Aaron Nesmith was viewed as a spare part in Boston, part of the return in the Malcolm Brogdon deal. Now? He&rsquo;s a defensive stopper, reliable shooter, and starter for a Finals-bound team.
Both were labeled as afterthoughts elsewhere but in Indiana, they were seen as untapped potential, and they have been vital pieces in this run to the Finals. These weren&rsquo;t lottery tickets. These were strategic buys; low-risk, high-reward acquisitions that paid off because the Pacers provided the right ecosystem for growth.
In a system that values spacing, ball movement, and grit, players like Toppin and Nesmith flourished. Their emergence wasn&rsquo;t just a bonus &ndash; it was necessary. The Pacers&rsquo; depth became one of their biggest advantages, and it was built on players most teams had given up on.
<h4>Myles Turner: The loyal soul that stayed after being through it all</h4>
If there&rsquo;s a symbol of Indiana&rsquo;s perseverance, it&rsquo;s Myles Turner. For years, he was in every trade rumor imaginable. Yet he never asked out, never wavered, and just kept working.
Now, the longest-tenured Pacer is finally on the biggest stage. Turner&rsquo;s elite shot-blocking, stretch/spacing ability, and leadership have anchored this team in every sense.&nbsp;
Turner is the defensive anchor and emotional pillar of Indiana&rsquo;s run, and on a team full of new faces, his presence provided continuity which he has embodied from day one.
His loyalty was rewarded and his patience paid off. And in a poetic twist, he&rsquo;ll play for a title in the only uniform he&rsquo;s ever known.
<h4>The right draft picks, the right roles, and the culture setters</h4>
The Pacers didn&rsquo;t just win the draft &ndash; they won the development battle. Andrew Nembhard, taken 31st overall in 2022, has become one of the best value picks in recent years. His poise, defensive tenacity, and timely playmaking have been invaluable throughout the playoffs next to Haliburton.
Then there&rsquo;s Bennedict Mathurin &ndash; flashy, fearless, and unafraid of the moment. He&rsquo;s not a volume scorer yet, but his playoff contributions &ndash; attacking off the bench, hitting momentum-swinging shots &ndash; have added another dimension to Indiana&rsquo;s attack.
Together, they reflect the front office&rsquo;s shrewdness. Indiana didn&rsquo;t just draft talent &ndash; they drafted competitors that can be brought to war.
On the other hand, people like TJ McConnell &ndash; veterans who show up, do the work, and demand accountability &ndash; have helped shape the culture in Indiana. McConnell may not stuff the stat sheet, but he sets the tone. Every loose ball, every second-unit possession, every moment of urgency, he&rsquo;s there &ndash; diving, scrapping, leading.
In the playoffs, when the margin of error shrinks, players like McConnell make the difference. His presence alone changes games &ndash; and reflects the kind of winning culture Indiana has quietly cultivated for years and it has absolutely paid off with this Finals run.
<h4>Brilliant coaching by veteran champion coach Rick Carlisle</h4>
However, none of this happens without Rick Carlisle. Over a decade removed from his legendary 2011 title run with Dallas, Carlisle has once again proven his genius. He reinvented Indiana&rsquo;s offense around Haliburton&rsquo;s strengths, managed egos without sacrificing cohesion, and made the right adjustments at every critical postseason juncture.
His calm demeanor, sharp tactical mind, and belief in player empowerment have given this group the freedom to grow &ndash; and the structure to succeed. He wanted to build something sustainable and something real. He didn&rsquo;t just install a playbook &ndash; he constructed a belief system. One that emphasized player development, ball movement, and defensive grit.
Carlisle has masterfully blended youth with experience, adapting his game plan series after series. He&rsquo;s out-coached more expensive benches and out-thought veteran counterparts. He&rsquo;s now one of the few head coaches to lead multiple franchises to the NBA Finals, and he did it again without a superteam &ndash; but by doing it with one of the most balanced rosters in the NBA.
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
What makes Indiana&rsquo;s improbable NBA Finals run remarkable is the backdrop: a financial arms race across the league. Many are saddled with bloated payrolls and limited flexibility and have spent well into the luxury tax just to chase a title.
Through careful planning, smart contracts, and prudent investments, the Pacers have remained competitive without ever compromising their cap structure.
This is a reminder to the league that culture matters. That coaching still counts. That not every superstar needs to be acquired through chaos.
In many ways, Indiana has done the impossible: they&rsquo;ve built a Finals team without mortgaging their future or blowing up their balance sheet. They&rsquo;ve set a new standard &ndash;&nbsp; a proof that a franchise can win through culture, clarity, and consistency, not just cash.
The Pacers built something lasting. Something meaningful. And in doing so, they&rsquo;ve earned the respect of the basketball world. This is more than just a basketball success story. The Indiana Pacers didn&rsquo;t just get here. They earned it &ndash; methodically, intelligently, and without ever compromising who they are.
And now, the Pacers are four wins away from finishing the story on the sport&rsquo;s biggest stage.

The Pacers reached the NBA Finals without luxury tax, proving a sustainable, cap-smart approach can still build a title contender.

Sustainable Greatness: Indiana’s cap-savvy journey to the NBA Finals

After a recent chatter following a controversial NBA ballot amongst the players, Tyrese Haliburton wanted to shake out a shadow that has been cast over him.
&ldquo;Overrated.&rdquo;
Some people say, Haliburton is too unselfish, too pass-first, not a &ldquo;killer&rdquo;, and not a &ldquo;real&rdquo; No. 1 option.
But on a loud night in Cleveland, with the result all but raining down and the Indiana Pacers securing a second straight trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, Haliburton didn&rsquo;t have to say a word. The scoreboard, the series tally, and the stunned expressions on the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers&rsquo; team and crowd spoke loudly enough.
The Pacers have won in 5 games against a team that was supposed to outclass them. This wasn&rsquo;t just an upset &mdash; it was a dismantling. And it was proof that Haliburton&rsquo;s style, and this Pacers team, are not just good enough. They&rsquo;re built the right way, and they&rsquo;re built to last.
A system that works, a star that believes
Haliburton didn&rsquo;t need 40-point nights to make his impact felt. He orchestrated, he read the floor two steps ahead, and he elevated everyone around him. In the closeout Game 5 win, his stat line &mdash; 31 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 6 threes &mdash; was a masterclass in control. What he did was subtle, surgical, and suffocating for Cleveland.
Indiana picked apart the Cavaliers with relentless pace, smart spacing, and constant movement. Kenny Atkinson&rsquo;s squad, known for its defensive tenacity during the regular season, looked overwhelmed trying to keep up. Evan Mobley was stretched thin. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell were hunted. The Cavaliers had no answers for the tempo.
And it wasn&rsquo;t just Haliburton. Andrew Nembhard&rsquo;s two-way brilliance, Myles Turner&rsquo;s timely rim protection, Pascal Siakam&rsquo;s veteran calm, and Obi Toppin&rsquo;s injection of energy all contributed to a five-game win that felt like a statement. Indiana is not just fun anymore. They are contending.
The blueprint of a contender
This isn&rsquo;t a superteam. This is a team that became great through vision, patience, and precision, led by brilliant veteran head coach Rick Carlisle.
The foundation was built through the draft: Turner, the lone holdover from the Paul George era, grew into a versatile anchor. Nembhard, Sheppard, Mathurin &mdash; all young players with composure beyond their years.
They traded smartly: getting Haliburton in exchange for Domantas Sabonis felt controversial at first, but it&rsquo;s now one of the most lopsided deals in recent memory. Adding Siakam at the deadline was a masterstroke &mdash; he brought championship pedigree without disrupting the flow. He didn't just buy into the system; he elevated it.
And their free agent signings were understated but vital. TJ McConnell remains the heartbeat off the bench. Aaron Nesmith has become a true 3-and-D weapon. Thomas Bryant and Obi Toppin give this team depth and versatility.
There&rsquo;s no ego here, there is just cohesion and belief.
&ldquo;We know what we have,&rdquo; head coach Rick Carlisle said after Game 5. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got guys who care more about the next pass than the last shot. That&rsquo;s special.&rdquo;
Tyrese Haliburton&rsquo;s rise wasn&rsquo;t fueled by noise. It&rsquo;s been built quietly, piece by piece, through reading defenses and manipulating tempo, through making stars out of role players and rhythm out of chaos.
He&rsquo;s not a flamethrower like Steph. He&rsquo;s not a bulldozer like Giannis. He&rsquo;s something rarer: a point guard who makes everyone better without needing to dominate. And for some, that doesn&rsquo;t fit the mold of a superstar.
But to call him overrated? That&rsquo;s lazy.
The Pacers are an elite team this season when Haliburton hits double digits in assists. He led the NBA in transition assists. He&rsquo;s made Nembhard and Mathurin look like seasoned playoff guards. He&rsquo;s allowed Siakam &ndash; a two-time All-NBA forward &ndash; to shine even more.
In Game 4, when Cleveland tried blitzing him high to take the ball out of his hands, Haliburton calmly hit roller after roller. In Game 5, when they sat back in drop, he punished them with floaters and kick-outs. Every adjustment they made, he countered not with bravado but with brilliance.
The overrated label was never about him. It was about people misunderstanding the kind of greatness he brings.
The road back to the Eastern Conference Finals
A year ago, Indiana reached the Eastern Conference Finals and ran headfirst into a Boston Celtics juggernaut. They seemed like they weren&rsquo;t ready after faltering multiple times in the clutch in the series. The moment felt too big, and the lights were too bright.
But this year, it&rsquo;s different.
They&rsquo;re deeper, smarter, and hungrier. And perhaps most importantly, they know exactly who they are.
Back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances might not come with parades, but in a small market like Indianapolis, it&rsquo;s validation. This is a franchise that didn&rsquo;t bottom out or chase shortcuts. They stayed the course, invested in character and chemistry, and trusted a 6-foot-5 guard with a quirky jump shot and a genius-level basketball brain to be their face of the future.
And Haliburton has delivered splendidly, and he continues to strive for more.
In an era where teams try to fast-track success with star pairings and flash, the Indiana Pacers remain the outliers. They&rsquo;ve built a contender by doing the little things right, over the years, not months.
This win over Cleveland &ndash; a team with one of the league&rsquo;s best records, a suffocating defense, and a very good team with three all-stars &ndash; isn&rsquo;t just an upset. It&rsquo;s a coronation of the Pacers&rsquo; philosophy, and it's a resounding reminder that basketball is still a team sport.
Tyrese Haliburton may never be the kind of player who drops 50 on any given night or leads the league in scoring. But he&rsquo;ll control the game, he&rsquo;ll lift his teammates, and he will try to win.
That&rsquo;s his style, and that will be his greatness. Overrated? Maybe to those who only see box scores. But to those watching closely &ndash; the coaches, the peers, the Pacers&rsquo; faithful &ndash; Haliburton is redefining what it means to be a superstar.
And as Indiana marches back to the Eastern Conference Finals, it&rsquo;s clear: You can doubt Tyrese Haliburton if you want. Just don&rsquo;t bet against him.

Tyrese Haliburton leads the Pacers past the 64-win Cavaliers in five games to reach their second straight Eastern Conference Finals.

Tyrese Haliburton silences critics as Pacers dominate Cavs to reach ECF again

As the 2025 NBA Playoffs tip off, every team in the Eastern Conference brings with it a burning question. Some are looking to validate their dominance, others are hoping to make noise for the first time, and a few are simply trying to recapture playoff magic from the past. Here&rsquo;s one key question for each East playoff squad heading into this year&rsquo;s postseason.
Cleveland Cavaliers &ndash; Are they for real?
The Cavaliers were expected to take a leap under new head coach Kenny Atkinson, but few predicted it would be this significant. Cleveland posted a 64-18 record, up from 51 wins last season, and ranked eighth in the NBA in defensive rating (111.8) while climbing to the best in the league in offensive rating (121.0). It&rsquo;s a massive leap in two-way consistency, anchored by Evan Mobley&rsquo;s breakout campaign and a more dynamic offense tailored around Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Mobley&rsquo;s development has been a game-changer. The 22-year-old averaged career-highs in points (18.5), rebounds (9.3), and assists (3.2), while maintaining elite rim protection (1.6 blocks per game). Offensively, his confidence as a shot creator and short-roll playmaker opened up space for the rest of the team. The Cavs now run more actions through Mobley, especially from the elbows, and his improved jump shot has made him far more difficult to guard.
But make no mistake &ndash; Mitchell remains the barometer. The All-Star guard battled injuries down the stretch but still averaged 24.0 points, 4.5 assists, and 5.0 rebounds on 44.3% shooting. If he can stay healthy and lead confidently on both ends, Cleveland has the pieces to make a legitimate run to the conference finals.
The Cavs have the metrics, the momentum, and the maturity. Now it&rsquo;s about proving they belong with the league&rsquo;s elite when the lights are the brightest.
Boston Celtics &ndash; Can they go back-to-back?
The reigning champions enter the playoffs with a sense of unfinished business &mdash; not because they failed last year, but because they&rsquo;re now chasing greatness. The Celtics finished 61-21 this season for back to back 60-win seasons. They had the league&rsquo;s second best net rating at +9.4, fueled by elite balance: second in offensive rating (119.5) and fourth in defensive rating (110.1).
Jayson Tatum continues to evolve as one of the NBA&rsquo;s most complete stars. His 26.8 points per game came with improved efficiency (58.2% true shooting) and a career-high 8.7 rebounds. Tatum has learned to pick his spots better, moving the ball when doubled and attacking mismatches when given space. Jaylen Brown, fresh off his Finals MVP last season, has become a more consistent creator as well, averaging 22.2 points.
Add in Kristaps Porzingis&rsquo; floor spacing and rim protection, Jrue Holiday&rsquo;s stability on both ends, and Derrick White&rsquo;s ability to do everything in between, and the Celtics are again the most complete team in basketball. But repeating is never easy. No team has done it since the Warriors in 2018, and even small injuries or matchup issues can derail a title defense.
Boston is built for this moment, but with every other East contender gunning for them, the question looms large: can they close the deal twice in a row?
New York Knicks &ndash; Can they stay healthy?
When fully healthy, the Knicks look like a team that can hang with anyone &mdash; and that includes Boston and Cleveland. But that&rsquo;s been the caveat all season. Jalen Brunson missed 17 games, Karl-Anthony Towns sat for 10, and OG Anunoby dealt with multiple absences due to elbow and hamstring issues. New York&rsquo;s starting five of Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Anunoby, and Towns had time to play with pace and their own style, and they looked formidable.
Brunson has been the Knicks&rsquo; engine, averaging 26.0 points and 7.3 assists while continuing to elevate in crunch time. His pairing with Towns gave New York a new level of offensive versatility, and Mikal Bridges&rsquo; ability to guard top wings allowed them to scheme freely. But concerns about wear and tear remain &mdash; especially under Tom Thibodeau, whose rotations have leaned heavily on his starters. All five starters have averaged in the top 15 of the most minutes played in the league, and that can likely put a strain on their bodies.
Depth is another concern. The Knicks rely on Precious Achiuwa, Cam Payne, Delon Wright, and Landry Shamet to absorb the bench minutes. A deep run hinges on all starters being available and fresh throughout the postseason. If any one piece breaks down, New York could fall short of its championship aspirations.
This is their most talented team in years &mdash; but availability may be just as important as ability.
Indiana Pacers &ndash; Do they have enough to make a deep run once more?
Last year, the Pacers surprised many by reaching the second round, aided in part by injuries to their first-round opponent. This year, expectations are higher &mdash; and the margin for error is thinner. Indiana finished 50-32 and ranked 9th in offensive rating at 115.4. Their identity remains clear: run fast, shoot threes, and trust in Tyrese Haliburton to control the tempo.
Haliburton posted 18.6 points and 9.2 assists per game this season, and despite shooting efficiency dipped slightly as teams began pressuring him more aggressively, he bounced back quite nicely and got back to the high level he was playing at. That&rsquo;s where Pascal Siakam comes in to help him and provide a stabilizing frontcourt presence, while defending opposing bigs.
Depth-wise, the Pacers have the tools. Myles Turner remains one of the league&rsquo;s best shot blockers, Andrew Nembhard has been solid alongside Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin has been a spark off the bench, and Aaron Nesmith&rsquo;s development as a 3-and-D wing adds much-needed versatility. Still, the question remains: can they win when the pace slows and every possession becomes a grind?
Indiana is fun, fast, and fearless. But deep playoff success often requires more grit than style &mdash; and this postseason will test how much of both they truly possess.
Milwaukee Bucks &ndash; How lethal can the Giannis-Dame combo be?
It&rsquo;s been a bumpy road for the Bucks since pairing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, but they enter the playoffs with renewed hope. Injuries limited their time together but when both were on the floor, Milwaukee looked like a top 4 team in the East. The potential for a dominant inside-out attack remains, even as questions swirl around their chemistry and late-game execution.
Giannis put up another MVP-caliber campaign (30.4 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 6.5 APG) on 60.1% shooting, while Lillard added 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game, albeit with a slight dip in efficiency (44.8 FG%, 37.6 3P%). Their pick-and-roll tandem has shown flashes of brilliance, especially with spacing provided by their teammates. But Milwaukee&rsquo;s defense remains a glaring concern, particularly at the point-of-attack.
Much of that responsibility falls on new head coach Doc Rivers, who took over midseason and has spent much of his tenure reshaping the defensive schemes. The team has shown better connectivity lately, but consistency is key. If the Bucks can get solid two-way contributions from Brook Lopez, Taurean Prince, and Kyle Kuzma, their ceiling rises considerably.
This postseason is the first true test of the Giannis-Dame partnership after a failed one last year. Can it deliver in crunch time and carry Milwaukee back to the Finals?
Detroit Pistons &ndash; Can they win a playoff series?
One of the most surprising stories of the season, the Detroit Pistons went from dead last in 2024 to securing the No. 6 seed in 2025 with a 44-38 record. It&rsquo;s a dramatic turnaround fueled by internal growth, better health, and the emergence of Cade Cunningham as a legitimate star. Cunningham averaged 26.1 points, 9.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds, and improved his shooting splits across the board &mdash; including a respectable 35.6% from three.
Head coach J.B Bickerstaff deserves credit for stabilizing the young roster. Jaden Ivey (despite being out for the year to injury), Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren have all taken steps forward in their roles, and the addition of veterans Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Tobias Harris has added much-needed floor spacing and leadership. The Pistons ranked 10th in defensive rating at 112.5 &mdash; a massive leap from their abysmal finish last season
Still, playoff basketball is a different animal. Detroit lacks experience, and their margin for error will be slim. Can Cunningham carry the offense when defenses trap him? Can their shooters hit timely shots? And can Duren hold his own against seasoned playoff bigs?
Winning a series would be monumental for the franchise &mdash; and a sign that Detroit&rsquo;s rebuild is truly behind them.
Orlando Magic &ndash; Can their offense hold up?
There&rsquo;s no questioning the Magic&rsquo;s defensive pedigree. They finished second in defensive rating (109.1) and boast a switch-heavy scheme built around length, versatility, and discipline. But the big question entering the playoffs: can they score enough? Orlando ranked just 27th in offensive rating (108.9), and the loss of Jalen Suggs and Mo Wagner due to injuries further thins their already-limited shot creation.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner carry the bulk of the offense, but both have faced inconsistent stretches. Teams often sag off sub-par shooters like Cory Joseph or Jonathan Isaac, daring Orlando to hit perimeter shots &mdash; something they&rsquo;ve struggled to do all year. Against Boston&rsquo;s elite defense, those issues could be magnified.
Orlando will try to control tempo, force turnovers, and win the possession battle. They&rsquo;ve been excellent in close games, but whether they can consistently generate efficient halfcourt looks remains uncertain.
Defense may win championships, but the Magic need buckets to even stay in the fight.
Miami Heat &ndash; Will they be able to replicate the Heat playoff magic this year?
The Heat have built a reputation as a team you never want to face in the playoffs &mdash; especially as a lower seed. In 2023, they made the Finals as an 8-seed. In 2024, they made the Celtics work despite key injuries. But can they pull off another surprise run this year? The roster remains largely intact, but injuries, aging stars, and inconsistency have clouded their outlook.
Without Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo must step up on offense while anchoring the defense. Tyler Herro&rsquo;s scoring punch is much needed, and the role players should contribute as well. But questions linger around depth and chemistry within their lineups after a shaky year.
The Heat finished just 21st in offensive rating (112.4) and 9th in defensive rating (112.0), a sign that the margins are tighter than ever. Still, if any team knows how to punch above its weight class, it&rsquo;s this one. Erik Spoelstra will maximize every mismatch, he always finds a way to manipulate the opposing team.
Don&rsquo;t count them out just yet but don&rsquo;t expect the same magic to happen each and every time as well.

Breaking down the biggest question facing each team in the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs.

2025 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs: Each team’s biggest question in the playoffs

The Indiana Pacers have recently embarked on an impressive six-game winning streak, elevating their season record to 22-18 and securing the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference. This resurgence is particularly noteworthy given their slow start to the season. A standout moment during this streak was their 108-93 victory over the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, which snapped Cleveland's 12-game winning streak.&nbsp;
Several factors have contributed to the Pacers' recent success, with significant improvements on both ends of the court.
Enhanced defensive strategies
The Pacers have placed a renewed emphasis on defense, incorporating zone defenses into their repertoire. According to Sports Illustrated, the Pacers worked on zone strategies during training camp, aiming to disrupt opponents' rhythms and force them into uncomfortable positions. This tactical adjustment has been effective; in preseason games, opponents averaged just 0.33 points per possession against the Pacers' zone defense, shooting a mere 1-for-14 from the field.&nbsp;
This strategic shift has carried over into the regular season. Over the past eight games, the Pacers have allowed 113.4 points per 100 possessions, a notable improvement from earlier in the season. Their defensive rebound rate has also increased, limiting opponents' second-chance opportunities.&nbsp;
Key defensive contributions from players
Individual performances have been pivotal in the Pacers' defensive resurgence. Andrew Nembhard, returning from injury, has been instrumental as one of the team's best on-ball defenders, capable of guarding multiple positions. His presence has contributed to the team's improved defensive metrics, with the Pacers' defense being over 11 points per 100 possessions better when he's on the court, according to Forbes.
Additionally, rookie Ben Sheppard's energy and team defense have been valuable. His return has coincided with the Pacers' defensive improvements, as the team allows a lower three-point percentage with him on the floor.&nbsp;
Offensive efficiency and ball security
Offensively, the Pacers have demonstrated increased efficiency, particularly in transition. By reducing turnovers, they've limited opponents' fast-break opportunities while creating more scoring chances for themselves. This focus on ball security has been evident during their winning streak, where they've maintained a positive turnover differential.&nbsp;
In their victory over the Cavaliers, the Pacers outscored Cleveland 68-40 in the second half, showcasing their offensive prowess. Despite losing star guard Tyrese Haliburton to hamstring tightness at halftime, the team maintained composure and executed their game plan effectively and efficiently.
Balanced scoring and bench contribution
The Pacers' offense has benefited from balanced scoring, with multiple players stepping up when needed. In the game against Cleveland, Andrew Nembhard led with 19 points, while Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner added 18 and 15 points, respectively. The bench has also been productive; Obi Toppin contributed significantly during the Cavaliers game, scoring 10 points in a crucial five-minute span.&nbsp;
This depth has allowed the Pacers to maintain offensive pressure throughout games, preventing opponents from focusing their defensive efforts on a single player. The team's ability to share the scoring load makes them a more versatile and unpredictable opponent.
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
The Indiana Pacers' recent ascent in the Eastern Conference is just the beginning of a long season. As they continue to build on these strengths, the Pacers are positioning themselves as a formidable contender once again in the East after an Eastern Conference Finals appearance just a season ago.

The Indiana Pacers have recently embarked on an impressive six-game winning streak, elevating their season record to 22-18.

How the Pacers quietly rallied back in the middle of action in the East

Three teams have booked their quarterfinal spots in the Paris 2024 Olympics basketball tournament after winning each other&rsquo;s crucial matches. Here&rsquo;s how the games went:
Brazil 102, Japan 84
Brazil needed more than 10 points to win coming into the game to qualify for the quarterfinals and they did just that. Behind Bruno Caboclo who played the game of his life, the Brazilians ran Japan off the court to win by 18 points. Caboclo for himself had 33 points and 18 rebounds en route to making history. Vitor Benite and Marcelo Huertas added 19 and 13 points respectively as Brazil now moves on to face undisputed favorites Team USA in the knockout rounds.&nbsp;
Greece 77, Australia 71
Greece upset Australia in this one after losing their first two games to Canada and Spain. After virtually carrying his team for the past two games, Giannis Antetokounmpo had ample help this time as Greece finally claimed a win. Thomas Walkup had 18 points with 4 threes while Dinos Mitoglou had 13 points and 7 rebounds to help the &lsquo;Greek Freak&rsquo; who himself had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. This win by Greece complicated Group A&rsquo;s standings, as Australia, Greece, and Spain all have identical 1-2 records. However, due to superior quotient, Australia and Greece will finish 2nd and 3rd respectively to kick Spain out of the competition. Both teams will now move on to the quarterfinals facing Germany and Serbia respectively.&nbsp;
Canada 88, Spain 85
Canada edged Spain in a close match and ended up taking their opponent&rsquo;s chance to make the quarterfinals. Spain needed to win by 3 points or more coming to the game to qualify, however, it was Canada who ended up having the margin and taking the win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was once again brilliant for Canada as he tallied 20 points while Andrew Nembhard provided the necessary support after Jamal Murray struggled once again, scoring 18 points off the bench. Canada will face hosts France in the knockout rounds in a pivotal matchup that may likely decide a medal winner.&nbsp;

Three teams have booked their quarterfinal spots in the Paris 2024 Olympics basketball tournament after winning.

Paris 2024 Olympics Day 3: Brazil, Greece, and Canada book QF slots with huge wins

The 2024 NBA Free Agency underway. Here's everything you need to know about the makings and the moves around the NBA.

2024 NBA Free Agency Tracker: All the signings and deals in the offseason

The Boston Celtics came back from the dead after trailing all game long to steal one on the road against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Day 35 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
The Celtics outscored the Pacers 33-21 in the 4th quarter including Jrue Holiday&rsquo;s clutch and one bucket with less than a minute to go.
Holiday came up clutch yet again on the next possession on the defensive end after stealing the ball from Andrew Nembhard to essentially seal the win.
The Pacers had a chance to tie the game with 3 seconds to go but Aaron Nesmith missed a three in the corner off a superb out-of-bounds play call by Indiana coach Rick Carlisle.
Indiana played without star PG Tyrese Haliburton who was out due to left hamstring soreness. He is expected to still be out in Game 4 as Boston goes for the sweep.
Check out our recap here:

After trailing all game long, the Celtics stole one on the road against the Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday.

2024 NBA Playoffs Day 35 Recap: Boston survives, takes commanding lead

The Boston Celtics overcame a late-game scare to beat the visiting Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Day 31 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
The Celtics trailed by five late in the 4th after the Pacers&rsquo; furious run in the 4th quarter with some clutch baskets led by 2019 NBA champ Pascal Siakam and young Andrew Nembhard. The Celtics scored on a huge Jrue Holiday basket and got lucky on an Indiana turnover to get the ball back.
It then set up a crazy sequence for Jaylen Brown who hit a contested three-pointer deep in the corner with Siakam all over him to knot the score at 117-117. Tyrese Haliburton had one last shot to try and win the game for the Pacers but could not get a clean look off, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Jayson Tatum took on the scoring cudgels and put the team on his back, pouring in 11 points including a huge three from the top of the key to put the Celtics&rsquo; up by five and essentially win the game.
Game 2 will be on Thursday night still at the TD Garden in Boston.
Check out our recap here:

The Celtics overcame a late-game scare to beat the visiting Pacers on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

2024 NBA Playoffs Day 31 Recap: Boston overcome Indiana scare

Day 21 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on Friday night saw the Indiana Pacers and the Denver Nuggets both inching closer in their respective series after winning in Game 3 and now only trail, 1-2.
The Pacers finally earned a hard-fought win in Game 3 at home following Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard&rsquo;s heroics. The Nuggets leaned on their star duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray to finally stain the Timberwolves&rsquo; playoff run this season.
Check out our recap here:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
FINAL SCORE THREAD 🧵<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> - Round 2 | Game 3 🏀 IND 111 &mdash; 106 NYK | Knicks lead series 2-1 T. Haliburton 📊 35 PTS | 14-28 FG | 7 AST | 4 REB | 2 STL P. Siakam 📊 26 PTS | 9-14 FG | 7-9 FT | 7 REB M. Turner 📊 21 PTS | 7-13 FG | 5-6 FT | 10 REB | 3 BLK<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoomBaby?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoomBaby</a> <a href="https://t.co/Gaput2ZItK">pic.twitter.com/Gaput2ZItK</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1789123781098938480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2024</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> - Round 2 | Game 3 🏀 DEN 117 &mdash; 90 MIN | Timberwolves lead series 2-1 Nikola Jokic 📊 24 PTS | 10-18 FG | 14 REB | 9 AST | 3 STL | 3 BLK Jamal Murray 📊 24 PTS | 11-21 FG | 5 AST | 4 REB | 3 STL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MileHighBasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MileHighBasketball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Road2Gold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Road2Gold</a> <a href="https://t.co/IwYb876EPg">pic.twitter.com/IwYb876EPg</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1789154340617548133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2024</a></blockquote>

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Day 21 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on Friday night saw the Indiana Pacers and the Denver Nuggets both inching closer in their respective series after winning in Game 3 and now only trail, 1-2.

2024 NBA Playoffs Day 21 Recap: Pacers, Nuggets inch closer

Blake Stern previews the NBA's Central Division, breaking down each team's projected lineup and burning question entering the year.

NBA Central Division Preview: Burning questions, rotation projections

The NBA announced the All-Rookie teams on Monday afternoon.
The All-Rookie First Team consists of Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler, Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray and Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin.
Banchero, who won the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year award, was the lone unanimous First-Team selection.
The All-Rookie Second Team features Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason, Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey, Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. and San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan.
The following players also received votes: Andrew Nembhard (Pacers), Shaedon Sharpe (Blazers), AJ Griffin (Hawks), Christian Braun (Nuggets), Jaylin Willams (Thunder), Jaden Hardy (Mavericks), Malaki Branham (Spurs), Dyson Daniels (Pelicans), Mark Williams (Hornets) and MarJon Beauchamp (Bucks).
Here are the complete results:
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/rook1.png" alt="" width="648" height="667" />
On Tuesday, the NBA will announce the All-Defensive Teams. On Wednesday, the league will announce the All-NBA Teams. And on Thursday, they'll announce the Teammate of the Year award.

The NBA announced the All-Rookie teams on Monday afternoon.

Paolo Banchero, Jalen Williams headline NBA All-Rookie Teams

After monitoring the NBA awards races all season, Nekias Duncan shares his final selections for DPOY, ROY, MIP, 6MOY and more.

Nekias Duncan's 2022-23 NBA award selections: DPOY, 6MOY, MIP, more

Oklahoma City Thunder guard-forward Jalen Williams and Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero have been named the NBA's Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in March and April.
Williams averaged 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists over that span, while helping the Thunder make the Play-In Tournament.
Banchero averaged 20.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists over that span, while strengthening his case for the Rookie of the Year award.
Other nominees for this award were Jaden Hardy (DAL), Keegan Murray (SAC), Shaedon Sharpe (POR), Jabari Smith Jr (HOU), Jaden Ivey (DET), Bennedict Mathurin (IND) and Andrew Nembhard (IND).

Jalen Williams and Paolo Banchero have been named the NBA's Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month.

Jalen Williams, Paolo Banchero named NBA's Rookies of the Month

Some moments from the 2022-23 NBA regular season:
Oct. 18: Boston defeats Philadelphia and Golden State beats the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night. <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-state-warriors-nba-sports-stephen-curry-e246e86804a28295efea3e00d33dc510" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Warriors received their championship rings</a> from last season in a ceremony preceding their game.
Oct. 20: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-lakers-san-antonio-spurs-miami-heat-nba-sports-8e45a1092f25e28f0672a83d317a9a68" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA referee Tony Brown, 55, dies of pancreatic cancer.</a> He worked more than 1,100 games in a two-decade career.
Nov. 4: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-nba-sports-kyrie-irving-racial-injustice-972e41eed3debbd9a548433c78227f05" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nike suspends its relationship with Kyrie Irving</a> and canceled plans to release his next signature shoe, part of the massive fallout caused by the Brooklyn Nets&rsquo; guard tweeting a link to a film containing antisemitic material. Nike and Irving eventually part ways; Irving eventually apologizes and returns to the Nets.
Nov. 5: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1589042762686795777?s=20&amp;t=nk9Tw0T3tQEq6Mw4vOqrsg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sacramento&rsquo;s De&rsquo;Aaron Fox</a> hits from just inside the midcourt stripe at the buzzer of overtime, giving the Kings a 126-123 win in Orlando.
Nov. 8: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/miami-heat-nba-sports-breonna-taylor-fc0f38a2c59da07f90833ae479e66cc0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">To commemorate Election Day,</a> the NBA plays no games. The league encourages its teams and fans to spend the day participating in civic engagement.
Nov. 11: The arena where the Miami Heat play starts the process of getting a new name, after the <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/ftx-miami-heat-arena-name-change-b3f47e4fb5bb0f102560fa6956997bdb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cryptocurrency exchange FTX collapses.</a> FTX was in the early stages of a 19-year, $135 million naming rights deal with Miami-Dade County.
Nov. 13: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-76ers-utah-jazz-nba-sports-joel-embiid-bef34587365fd8e8668f6024ab73d05a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philadelphia&rsquo;s Joel Embiid scores a career-best 59</a> points in a win over Utah. He adds 11 rebounds, eight assists and seven blocked shots.
Nov. 28: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-lakers-indiana-pacers-nba-sports-b6e1415dd4d8fa0fac2a10c8477da348" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andrew Nembhard hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer</a> and Indiana stuns the Los Angeles Lakers 116-115. The Pacers trailed by 17 with 9:27 remaining; it was the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in the NBA this season.
Dec. 13: The NBA announces a rebranding of its MVP award, revealing a new trophy and a new name &mdash; <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-bulls-charlotte-hornets-nba-sports-david-stern-de67e49f0255ef10f140365636110ae4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Michael Jordan Trophy.</a>
Dec. 17: In Mexico City, <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/san-antonio-spurs-miami-heat-nba-sports-duncan-robinson-074cecb1060491994c22a42efa8670a6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miami defeated San Antonio 111-101.</a> It was the NBA&rsquo;s first game in Mexico City since 2019.
Dec. 20: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/cleveland-cavaliers-phoenix-suns-college-football-nba-sports-f455a8e3b437a07aa4684c7dd3adb16b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mortgage billionaire Mat Ishbia</a> strikes a deal to purchase embattled Robert Sarver&rsquo;s share of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury in a deal that values the franchise at $4 billion.
Dec. 25: Philadelphia tops New York, Dallas beats the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston beats Milwaukee, Golden State tops Memphis and Denver edges Phoenix in the NBA&rsquo;s Christmas quintupleheader.
Dec. 27: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-knicks-dallas-mavericks-sports-basketball-luka-doncic-ed7d9ce55160d04e2c206f6a8b742cdd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dallas&rsquo; Luka Doncic has a 60-point triple-double</a> in the Mavericks&rsquo; 126-121 win over New York. He added 21 rebounds and 10 assists in the first 60-20-10 game in NBA history.
Jan. 2: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/kobe-bryant-chicago-bulls-los-angeles-lakers-cleveland-cavaliers-utah-jazz-ef2ccddb44dd42fa14ebed5f8344c5a2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleveland&rsquo;s Donovan Mitchell scores 71 points</a> in the Cavaliers&rsquo; 145-134 overtime win over Chicago. Mitchell was 22 of 34 from the field, 7 of 15 on 3-pointers and 20 for 25 from the foul line. He also had 11 assists, marking the first time anyone had more than 70 points and 10 assists in an NBA game.
Jan. 10: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/miami-heat-oklahoma-city-thunder-nba-sports-basketball-18113c7918466a8d6a41714b963403cb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miami goes 40 for 40 from the foul line</a> in a one-point win over Oklahoma City. The 40-for-40 breaks the previous NBA record of 39-for-39 by Utah in 1982.
Jan. 13: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-bulls-atlanta-hawks-san-antonio-spurs-nba-sports-e05988d6e1537c605aad5ea8a14d4887" target="_blank" rel="noopener">At the Alamodome in San Antonio,</a> the Spurs sell an NBA-record 68,323 tickets for a game against Golden State.
Jan. 19: With presumed 2023 No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama sitting courtside, Zach LaVine scores 30 points and the <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-bulls-nba-sports-jaden-ivey-hamidou-diallo-3770db44edb9a08e1ad116ecad45109f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chicago Bulls ease past the Detroit Pistons 126-108</a> in Paris. France was the seventh different country to host an NBA practice or game this season.
Feb. 6: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-lakers-new-york-knicks-dallas-mavericks-clippers-nba-ea90e45174274a917654448db9554dfc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brooklyn trades Kyrie Irving to Dallas,</a> ending his up-and-down stint with the Nets that was more memorable for off-the-court challenges than actual play.
Feb. 7: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/lebron-james-nba-scoring-record-cd0df2a355eaf80c6d534cbb16d44ca9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James makes a 14-foot jumper late in the third quarter to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar&rsquo;s career NBA scoring record.</a> Abdul-Jabbar held the mark since 1984 and was in Los Angeles to watch James&rsquo; record-breaker.
Feb. 9: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-phoenix-suns-nba-sports-basketball-3932b34f477549895cce131490bec86d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brooklyn trades Kevin Durant to Phoenix,</a> a blockbuster on NBA trade-deadline day.
Feb. 16: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/boston-celtics-nba-sports-basketball-ime-udoka-151efe3c319c986b770437cd25794339" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boston removes the interim title from 34-year-old coach Joe Mazzulla,</a> the former assistant who took over the Celtics in September after now-former coach Ime Udoka was suspended by the team for having an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the organization.
Feb. 18: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-bucks-sports-nba-all-star-game-walker-kessler-collin-sexton-6a2ea26147bafb0f80ea77620cacf2e9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philadelphia&rsquo;s Mac McClung puts on a scintillating show</a> to win the dunk contest at All-Star weekend. Portland&rsquo;s Damian Lillard wins the 3-point contest and Utah players Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton combined to win the Skills Challenge.
Feb. 19: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-sports-lebron-james-kyrie-irving-giannis-antetokounmpo-2cf83e2e57350687e68ba89a6deb2707" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boston&rsquo;s Jayson Tatum scores a record 55 points</a> and Team Giannis tops Team LeBron 184-175 to win the All-Star Game in Salt Lake City.
Feb. 24: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-clippers-sacramento-kings-nba-sports-malik-monk-4047cea9a226d5fd135de97c65d0d054" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sacramento defeats the Los Angeles Clippers 176-175.</a> The 351 combined points are the second-most in NBA history, behind only Detroit&rsquo;s 186-184 win over Denver on Dec. 13, 1983.
Feb. 26: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-rockets-portland-trail-blazers-nba-sports-damian-lillard-1e1a83642e942d51d91ee014b5b7947c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Portland&rsquo;s Damian Lillard scores 71 points</a> in the Trail Blazers&rsquo; 131-114 win over Houston. Lillard made 22 of 38 shots from the field, 13 of 22 from 3-point range and all 14 of his free throws. He also led Portland in assists, with six.
Feb. 27: <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-jazz-atlanta-hawks-nba-sports-playoffs-264bcc009ce664a640b5c903e35f1656" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atlanta introduces Quin Snyder</a> as its new coach, after firing Nate McMillan about a week earlier.
March 4: Memphis guard Ja Morant live-streams himself holding a gun while inside a Denver-area strip club. He quickly announces he was taking &ldquo;some time away to get help&rdquo; and ultimately was <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/ja-morant-suspended-nba-gun-video-8cc82061f6465f96d6c5d0806d92d7d0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended for eight games by the NBA</a> for his personal conduct.
March 17 and 19: A tale of two comebacks. San Antonio blew a 29-point lead on March 17 and lost to Memphis 126-120; two nights later, the Spurs rallied from a 24-point second-half deficit and beat Atlanta 126-118. It was the biggest second-half comeback for the Spurs under coach Gregg Popovich.
March 29: Jrue Holiday has 51 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, while Giannis Antetokounmpo adds 38 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists, and Milwaukee tops Indiana 149-136. <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1641271779380559872?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">It&rsquo;s the first time in NBA history two teammates</a> have had at least 38 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in the same game.
April 1: In the early morning hours, <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-labor-players-0cf524b13e459eeb5853dad9a455e0e0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association strike a handshake deal</a> on what, if approved by owners and players, will be a seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement that will take effect in July and ensure labor peace in the league until at least 2029.
April 7: Dallas sits several regulars, including Kyrie Irving, and plays Luka Doncic for only about a quarter in a loss to Chicago. The loss eliminated the Mavericks from postseason contention and the team&rsquo;s motivation for losing catches the eye of the NBA, <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/mavericks-playoffs-nba-investigation-tanking-7ac5f76590adafd9df1c7c590a78d346" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which opens an investigation the next day.</a>
April 9: Udonis Haslem scores 24 points in his final regular season game, as his 20-year career with the Miami Heat draws to an end. <a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/magic-heat-haslem-finale-f8e560c77aa5c36a20dbb12ebb58fca5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">At 42, he&rsquo;s nearly two years older</a> than anyone else to have scored at least 24 points in an NBA game.

Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press revisits the notable moments from the 2022-23 NBA season.

Season of NBA moments: LeBron, Lillard, Mitchell and more

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) &mdash; Jrue Holiday scored a career-high 51 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 38 points in a triple-double and the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers 149-136 on Wednesday night.
Antetokounmpo added 17 rebounds and 12 assists to help the Bucks improve to 55-21. The two-time NBA MVP was an assist shy of a triple-double at halftime with 20 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. He returned after sitting out Monday night in a victory at Detroit because of a sore knee.
Holiday had 18 points in the third quarter, when the Bucks scored a season-high 46 points to build a 12-point lead. He was 20 of 30 from the field with three 3-pointers and hit 8 of 10 free throws. His previous best was 40 points in an overtime victory over visiting Boston on Feb. 14.
Brook Lopez added 21 points for the Bucks.
Rookie Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana &mdash; playing without its top three scorers &mdash; with 29 points. Aaron Nesmith had 22 and Jordan Nwora 18. Jalen Smith fouled out early in the fourth with 17. Rookie Andrew Nembhard had 15 points and 15 rebounds.

Jrue Holiday scored a career-high 51 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a 38-point triple-double and the Bucks beat the Pacers 149-136.

Jrue Holiday scores career-high 51 points, Bucks beat Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) &mdash; Luka Doncic finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists just hours after his most recent technical foul and one-game suspension were rescinded Monday by the NBA and led the Dallas Mavericks past the Indiana Pacers 127-104.
The Mavericks snapped a four-game losing streak and remained in contention in the race for one of the final two play-in spots in the Western Conference. Kyrie Irving added 16 points and six assists for Dallas.
Indiana was led by Bennedict Mathurin, who scored 22 points, and Andrew Nembhard, who had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists on a night the Pacers were missing three starters and a key backup. The Pacers have lost three straight and six of eight as they move closer to locking up a lottery pick.
Doncic had picked up his 16th technical that was rescinded on Sunday in the team&rsquo;s second loss to Charlotte. The technical came with 7:51 remaining in the third quarter of a 110-104 loss when Doncic argued a no-call after missing a shot on a drive to the basket. Crew chief Kevin Scott said in a pool report after the game that Doncic used &ldquo;a profanity directed at the officials in protest to a no-call that was correctly judged in postgame video review.&rdquo;
TIMBERWOLVES 119, KINGS 115
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) &mdash; Jaden McDaniels scored 20 points and Minnesota spoiled Sacramento&rsquo;s bid to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2006, the longest playoff drought in NBA history.
The Timberwolves won their fourth straight and completed a sweep of a back-to-back set at Golden State and Sacramento to tie the Warriors for sixth place in the Western Conference playoff race.
Naz Reid scored 18 points, Anthony Edwards had 17 and Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 16 rebounds in the win.
De&rsquo;Aaron Fox scored 29 points and Domantas Sabonis added 24 points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento, which shot 5 of 26 from 3-point distance.
The Kings will look to clinch a playoff berth when they travel to Portland for two games, starting Wednesday.
CLIPPERS 124, BULLS 112
LOS ANGELES (AP) &mdash; Nicolas Batum got all of his season-high 24 points on eight 3-pointers, and Eric Gordon added 22 points as Los Angeles beat Chicago.
Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points as the Clippers rebounded from an embarrassing loss to New Orleans with 20 3-pointers in an impressive outside shooting display led by Batum.
Russell Westbrook had 12 points, 10 assists and five rebounds as Los Angeles (40-36) kept hold of fifth place in the Western Conference standings and moved a half-game behind fourth-place Phoenix.
Zach LaVine scored 23 points and Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who followed up their impressive win over the Lakers on Sunday with a dud.
NUGGETS 116, 76ERS 111
DENVER (AP) &mdash; Nikola Jokic recorded his 29th triple double of the season and Denver beat short-handed Philadelphia in a game Joel Embiid sat out with a sore right calf.
That scuttled the highly anticipated showdown between MVP front-runners that many felt could have decided whether Embiid, the runner-up the last two years, denies Jokic a third consecutive award. With Embiid in the locker room, Jokic scored 25 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and dished out 12 assists.
Tyrese Maxey scored 23 of his 29 points in the first half as the Sixers dropped their third straight.
PELICANS 124, TRAIL BLAZERS 90
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) &mdash; Brandon Ingram scored 29 points and New Orleans routed short-handed Portland.
CJ McCollum, who played nine seasons with the Blazers before he was traded to the Pelicans last season, added 17 points. Jonas Valanciunas finished with 10 points and 21 rebounds, and New Orleans led by as many as 36.
Keon Johnson had 20 points off the bench for the Blazers, who have lost nine of 10 and will, in all likelihood, miss the playoffs for the second straight season &mdash; although they have not been mathematically eliminated. Most of their regular starters were out with injuries, including top scorer Damian Lillard (right calf), Jerami Grant (bruised left quad), Jusuf Nurkic (right knee) and Anfernee Simons (right foot).
SUNS 117, JAZZ 103
SAT LAKE CITY (AP) &mdash; Devin Booker scored 24 points and Phoenix reserves sparked the decisive run in a win over Utah.
Deandre Ayton had 14 points after missing four games with a bruised hip. But a trio off the bench was pivotal for Phoenix: Terrence Ross had 13 points, Cameron Payne added 12 and Bismack Biyombo scored 11.
The Suns (40-35) had lost four in a row on the road. But with this victory they sit more securely in the fourth spot in the Western Conference playoff race &mdash; which would give them home-court advantage in the first round.
Lauri Markkanen scored 25 points for Utah, but shot 6 for 22. Walker Kessler had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz (35-40), who have lost four straight. Kessler also matched a career high with seven blocks.
KNICKS 137, ROCKETS 115
NEW YORK (AP) &mdash; Immanuel Quickley scored a career-high 40 points and Julius Randle had 26 as New York snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over Houston.
RJ Barrett added 19 points, Obi Toppin had 15 and Quinten Grimes scored 14 for the Knicks.
Quickley connected on 14 of 18 shots from the field and added nine assists. He started in place of Jalen Brunson, who missed his second straight game with a bruised right hand.
Kevin Porter Jr. led the Rockets with 26 points. Jalen Green had 19 and Kenyon Martin Jr. added 18 as Houston dropped its sixth straight game.
BUCKS 126, PISTONS 117
DETROIT (AP) &mdash; Khris Middleton scored 34 points against the team that drafted him and Milwaukee beat Detroit without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee improved to an NBA-best 54-21 despite the absences of Antetokounmpo (knee) and Jae Crowder (calf). Goran Dragic made his Bucks debut after signing with the team on March 4, but didn&rsquo;t score in nine minutes.
Brook Lopez had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Bobby Portis added 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Jevon Carter scored 22.
The Pistons got 32 points, eight rebounds and eight assists from Jaden Ivey, but lost their sixth straight game and 17th of 18. They are 1-13 against Central Division opponents.

A recap of Monday's slate of NBA games includes Doncic keeping the Mavs playoff hopes alive and a fourth straight Wolves win.

Luka Doncic powers Mavericks to 127-104 win over Pacers

TORONTO (AP) &mdash; Rookie guard Andrew Nembhard had 25 points and 10 assists in his first NBA game back home in Canada, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Toronto Raptors 118-114 on Wednesday night to snap their home winning streak at seven.
Myles Turner scored 16 points, Bennedict Mathurin added 15 and Buddy Hield had 13 for the Pacers, who swept the three-game season series between the teams.
Canadian-born players Mathurin, Nembhard and Oshae Brissett all started for Indiana as the Raptors celebrated Canada Basketball Night. It was the first time since the NBA began tracking starters in 1970-71 that three Canadians started for the same team.
&ldquo;For it to happen in Toronto, it&rsquo;s pretty cool,&rdquo; Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. &ldquo;All three of those guys played well. Nembhard had a great game. Mathurin was terrific. I thought Brissett did what he does. He gave us energy, rebounded, he scored the first five points of the game. That was great.&rdquo;
Pascal Siakam scored 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter but the Raptors lost their second straight. Siakam also had 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Fred VanVleet had 28 points and 11 assists for Toronto, and Jakob Poeltl scored 23.
Poeltl missed two free throws with 1:24 left when Toronto could have cut the deficit to two. After a missed 3 by VanVleet, Nembhard connected from long range to give the Pacers a 114-107 lead with 33 seconds to play.
&ldquo;That was the shot that put the game away,&rdquo; Carlisle said. &ldquo;Just an amazing night for him and his family.&rdquo;
Nembhard shot 11 for 17, going 3 of 5 from long range.
&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t really feel too much pressure to play out of character tonight,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I just wanted to be aggressive.&rdquo;
Fellow rookie Mathurin made three of his five shots and earned praise from Carlisle for his defensive effort on VanVleet.
&ldquo;It was really fun just to play in Toronto my first time,&rdquo; Mathurin said. &ldquo;The fact that we got the win makes it even more exciting.&rdquo;
The short-handed Raptors were without forward Scottie Barnes, who exited Sunday&rsquo;s loss at Milwaukee because of a sore left wrist. Toronto was also without forward Precious Achiuwa (right hamstring) and guard Gary Trent Jr. (right elbow).
Toronto lost at home for the first time since Feb. 10 against Utah, when the Jazz overcame a 12-point deficit in the final five minutes to beat the Raptors 122-116.
&ldquo;Didn&rsquo;t feel super organized at either end at the start or for a while,&rdquo; Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. &ldquo;I thought that we let a lot of chances go.&rdquo;
The Raptors shot 7 for 34 from 3-point range. Chris Boucher&rsquo;s buzzer-beating shot helped Toronto avoid matching a season low for makes and setting a new low for shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
Nembhard scored 14 points in the first, the most he&rsquo;s ever had in a single quarter, as the Pacers led 36-26 after one.
&ldquo;Nembhard obviously at the start was big,&rdquo; Nurse said.
Indiana led 58-52 at halftime and took an 83-78 lead into the fourth.
TIP-INS
Pacers: T.J. McConnell scored 14 points and Jordan Nwora had 10. &hellip; G Tyrese Haliburton (right ankle), G Chris Duarte (left ankle) and G/F Kendall Brown (right leg) all sat for Indiana. &hellip; The Pacers committed 18 turnovers, leading to 21 points for Toronto. &hellip; Indiana outscored the Raptors 40-21 in bench points. ... The Pacers are 3-1 when Nembhard scores 20 or more.
Raptors: Barnes sat for the fourth time this season and first since Nov. 26. &hellip; Actor Mike Myers sat opposite the Toronto bench. Actor Nicholas Braun also attended the game, sitting in a baseline seat.
HIELD FINED
Hield was fined $25,000 for making an obscene gesture while sitting on the bench during the second quarter of Monday&rsquo;s loss at Charlotte. TV cameras caught him raising his middle finger to someone on the court.
UP NEXT
Pacers: Visit Boston on Friday.
Raptors: Host Detroit on Friday.

Andrew Nembhard had 25 points and 10 assists in his first NBA game back home in Canada, and Indiana beat Toronto 118-114.