BASKETTBALL

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Powered by young star talent and deep rosters, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers open the NBA Finals on Thursday, each trying to bring their city a first-ever crown. Oklahoma City, fancied by oddsmakers after an NBA-high 68 regular-season wins, will host game one in the best-of-seven championship series.

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Oklahoma City, sparked by 34 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 by routing Minnesota 124-94 on Wednesday. Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA Most Valuable Player, added eight assists and seven rebounds as the Thunder captured the best-of-seven Western Conference finals series 4-1 and will host game one of the NBA Finals on June 5. "This is a step in the right direction, but we have a lot more work to do, and we know that and that's what we're focused on, so let's buckle up and get ready," said Gilgeous-Alexander. "We've got a lot of work to do to get to our ultimate goal, and this is not it. That's all that I'm focused on."

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After falling in the Eastern Conference finals, the New York Knicks are turning over a new leaf and parting company with head coach Tom Thibodeau. In the summer of 2020, Tom Thibodeau took over as head coach of the New York Knicks, the third NBA side he led after the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Tyrese Haliburton (25) delivered his second career playoff triple-double to power Indiana over New York on Tuesday, lifting the Pacers one win from the NBA Finals. Haliburton scored 32 points, passed off 15 assists and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds while making no turnovers over 38 minutes - becoming the first player in NBA playoff history with 30-15-10 and no turnovers in Indiana's big 130-121 win over the Knicks.

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The Indiana Pacers, fueled by 31 points from Pascal Siakam (31) and a 21-point double-double from Tyrese Haliburton (25), beat the New York Knicks 125-108 on Saturday to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.

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NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a masterpiece performance to power Oklahoma City over Minnesota 128-126 on Monday, lifting the Thunder to the brink of the NBA Finals.

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Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 56 points as the New York Knicks kept their NBA playoff campaign alive with a 111-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. Trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks roared back to life in front of a star-studded Madison Square Garden crowd with a wire-to-wire win that sets up a game six in Indianapolis on Saturday.