The Indiana Pacers now (2-8) in NBA “semis,” (they were (3-2) in ABA such entities), advanced to their first NBA final in 25 years, where they are huge underdogs vs Oklahoma City (Thunder).
The final round series begins Thursday June 5th, yielding “Indy” and the league 4 days/nights of no games and the Thunder will play for the first time in 8 days.
Pascal Siakam, a big factor in the Pacers’ even number games 2, 4 and 6 wins had 31 points to lead the Pacers (125-108) over the Knicks in game 6.
“Indy” is now (6-3) in ‘offs series vs the Knicks, (6-2) in best of 7’s, and the game 1 winner is (8-1) in such series as last season, ’twas the Pacers, despite losing the road opener.
It was the first “semis” appearance for the Knicks since the Pacers also won in 6 vs them in the above referenced, only other “Indy” semis win.
The Pacers lost the subsequent final, as the Knicks also did after semi-final round victories vs the Pacers in ’94 and ’99.
Finally, it is the first time the Pacers, whose 3 ABA crowns were all clinched on the road, clinched a semis or better, NBA series at home.
Pascal Siakam, pictured above as a Toronto Raptors’ player, was on Toronto’s 2019 NBA title team.
While the Pacers (1-8) in previous semi-final series, and up (3-2) vs the Knicks, play #6 of their semi at home, tonight, (Indiana (Pacers) lost a pair of home #6’s in consecutive years ’94 and ’95 to the Knicks before losing a semi in ’94 and winning a quarter in ’95, each in #7 at New York’s Madison Square Garden), the Oklahoma Thunder having 5’d the Minnesota Timberwolves are in the NBA final and will be sizable series favorites.
“Okl City” eased in all 3 home games vs the Minnesota Timberwolves, who dropped to (0-3) in semis, losing one in 5 games for the second straight season.
The Thunder are in just their second final round (they lost to James and the Miami Heat in 2012) since moving from Seattle, where their final round record was (1-2).
‘Current ‘Sota teams (Minnesota) have a (6-13) semi-final round record and a (2-5) final round such.
The great player, Kirby Puckett, pictured above, who a la Mike Trout and Aaron Judge thus far, defied the “rooting for laundry” trend among so many modern players, and stayed with his team, leading them to the only current teams/Minnesota crowns (The Lakers while there and hence the euphonious nickname as there are no lakes in L.A. won 5) in ’87 and ’91.
UFC# 316
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Both NBA semi-final series (for that matter so do both NHL such) stand at (3-1), with two franchises in their 58th seasons, (’68-2025), the (68-14) Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers leading the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks respectively.
In #4 wins that made the Thunder even more prohibitive and the Pacers now such favorites to reach the final round, “reg” MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander hit for 40 leading “Okl City” while last night Tyrese Haliburton scored 32, as Indy, just (1-8) in previous “semis,” went up (3-1) for a third consecutive series this season.
Jalen Williams, one of three Thunder players with that surname, (alas a tribute to the great Thunder nee SuperSonics player, a member of the franchise’s lone title team as “Sea,” in ’79, Gus Williams) and Pascal Siakam, himself a title winner with 2019 Toronto (Raptors), made big game 4 contributions.
Williams hit for 34 points while Siakam, he who led Indiana’s #2 win, at New York with 37 points, scored 30 last night.
Jalen Williams on the phone after game 4.
Though Carolina (Hurricanes, one more time that area has an NFL team whose nickname is (also) the Panthers) won last night, the defending champion, Florida Panthers still hold a seemingly commanding 3 games to 1 lead in their “semi.”
The “Caro” win snapped an almost incredible 15 games “semis” loss skein, with 7 of those successive defeats, vs the Panthers.
“Fla” was also up (3-0) vs Edmonton (Oilers) (short schrift to “Edm,” which leads Dallas (Stars) (2-1) making a rematch of last year’s final, (it would be the first since Detroit and then Pittsburgh won the respective ’08 and ’09 crowns vs each other) the most likely of the 4 final round matchup possibilities), in last year’s final, before being forced to a #7 at home, (they won it (2-1) to claim their first NHL crown.
If the Oilers do prevail vs the Stars in their semi-final series, a rematch of a previous 7 games Oilers’ final round series loss will manifest, as Carolina with current coach Rod Brind’Amour their captain won their lone title vs “Edm,” in 2006.
There are a paucity of titles won having been achieved by the 4 teams/franchises that are in the NBA semi-final round this time around.
In that round the (68-14) Oklahoma City Thunder, though obliterated last night at Minnesota vs the Timberwolves in game 3 and Indiana Pacers, who are (1-8) in previous “semis,” have respective (2-1) and (2-0) series leads.
Indiana, for a second straight series won the first two games on the road, something I know the 1995 Houston Rockets did on their way to a repeat title, but know of no other NBA team to have done so. (Anyone with the research and knowledge, please write/type in and be cited).
Neither the Pacers, now in their 49th NBA season or Timberwolves (36 previous seasons) have ever won an NBA title while the Thunder in 24 previous “Okl City” seasons also have not won a crown. (In 57 previous cities, the franchise’s lone crown was in ’79 when the team was located in Seattle).
The New York Knicks, the other semi-finalist, playing the Pacers for the 9th time in the ‘offs all since ’93, have 2 titles, none since ’73 and just the two in 78 previous seasons.
Left to right the great Hakeem Olajuwon and 3 time NBA champion and a vital contributor to both Rockets titles, Sam Cassell are pictured above.
Each player was a member of the above cited ’95 Houston Rockets.
Today marks the 45th anniversary of an eventual great and largely forgotten, certainly underpublicized team, the New York Islanders winning the first of 4 consecutive NHL titles in what were 5 straight final round appearances, (titles ’80-’83 and a loss to Edmonton, one note from 2025–“Edm” won (3-0) at Dallas last night to get even (1-1) in their “semi”), a feat few teams in any major this continent sports league has ever managed.
‘Twas a goal by Bob Nystrom at 7:11 of overtime that lifted the Islanders (5-4) over the Philadelphia Flyers and into a 6 game triumph giving the just 8 year old franchise what turned out to be the first of four straight titles.
Only the (’59-’66) Boston Celtics with 8, the (’56-’60) Montreal Canadiens and (’49-’53) New York Yankees, each with 5 have ever attained more consecutive major North American sports league titles than those (’80-’83) Isles. (Another period of greatness and 4 straight titles manifested for both the Yankees (’36-’39) with among others Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig among the players and Canadiens (’76-’79) who were coached by the great Scotty Bowman.
I think the great broadcaster, Dan Kelly makes the call on the historic goal.
The defending Stanley Cup champion (also decent sized, plurality “faves” to repeat as such), Florida Panthers, again eased on the road (4 straight dominant road wins) handing the Carolina Hurricanes an incredible 14th straight semi-final round game loss, winning (5-0) in game 2 last night.
A week ago tonight, the Panthers lost game 6 at home to Toronto (Maple Leafs) but since won easily in the decisive 7th game of the “quarters,” at Toronto and by (5-2) and (5-0) scores in the first two tilts at Carolina in the “semis.”
Florida is now a big favorite to advance to a third straight NHL final, which would make it 6 straight final round appearances for the two Florida NHL teams, the other being the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Once it was hockey in Florida?!! — however thanks to people like the great player, Phil Esposito and his constant promoting the sport, with Tampa Bay, (look at the success and for the record the incredibly subjective Lightning commentator “Espo,” ended the Lightning’s past season broadcasts, wishing Florida well, saying he hopes the Cup/NHL Title stays in Florida.
While hockey in Carolina, Raleigh specifically, has been a success, highlighted by a title in ’06 and continued good play (once the Hurricanes nee Hartford Whalers were (1-10) in ‘offs series and they entered this semi (19-18)– but their record in semi-final round play is alarmingly bad.
They have lost an above referenced 14 straight such tilts, 6 to Florida. In ’23 when Florida swept “Caro,” before being 5’d by Las Vegas (Golden Knights) in the final round, Carolina played well, losing 4 straight but each one by one goal (I believe 2 in overtime and another in the last minute of regulation time play).
That is not the situation so far this season, however, I predict unlike ’09 when the Pittsburgh Penguins swept Carolina in the “semis,” before 7 ing defending champion Detroit (Red Wings) to title and ’19 when Boston (Bruins) (4-0’d) them before St. Louis (Blues) 7’d them for their lone crown, that Carolina will not be swept, as they will win at least, probably only one game at Florida, likely if it happens, the next one.
However, it is very likely the Panthers will again be NHL finalists and do not look now, but it could very well be great friends, coaches Paul Maurice of Florida and Peter DeBoer of Dallas (they, the Stars doubled Edmonton (Oilers) (6-3) in a home semis opener) meeting in the final round.
Phil Esposito, pictured above.
“Everybody” loses at home and I believe there was that reminder here before the 31st and last NHL or NBA team did so as that manifested after the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers eased (5-2) at Carolina vs the Hurricanes in their “semis” opener. (The St. Louis Blues lost an all home first round series to the Winnipeg Jets, the latter scoring in the last second to tie #7 before winning, otherwise almost surely the Blues also would have lost at home in these ‘offs.)
A Florida NHL team has reached that league’s final round in each of the last 5 seasons and now “Fla,” the series opening slight “fave” is now an over 2 and a fraction such to make it 6. (The Tampa Bay Lightning made the final and won it in ’20 and ’21 before losing in 6 to the ‘Lanche (Colorado Avalanche) in ’22 while Fla 7’d Edmonton (Oilers) last year to win their first crown after being 5’d by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in ’23).
However, this series is far from over, though I strongly suggest “Caro,” in this series far from any bright, bright lights, however, being contested between 2 fine teams, win game 2 at home and end a 5 game semis loss streak (0-5 all-time as well) vs Florida.
Paul Maurice, the excellent coach of the current champion Florida Panthers, is pictured above.
Andy B Sports 