The underdog Pacers continue to shock the world, as they took a 1-0 NBA Finals series lead against the Thunder last Thursday. Tyrese Haliburton was Indiana’s hero again, as he hit the game-winning jumper in the 111-110 victory.
Indiana were sloppy in the first half and trailed by double digits in the final period. However, just like in their previous series against the Bucks, Cavaliers, and Knicks, they somehow clawed their way back and stole the win on the road. Still, despite the victory and taking homecourt advantage, the SBOTOP NBA 2025 odds still back Oklahoma City to win it all.
On the other hand, the Knicks and Suns have made headlines in the coaching market for different reasons. New York sacked Tom Thibodeau after five years of service, while the Suns hired a new head coach after appointing a new general manager a few weeks ago.
Continue reading below to learn the latest NBA 2025 updates.
Haliburton’s clutch gene shows up again in Game 1
For the fourth time this postseason, the Pacers rallied from a late, double-digit deficit and left their opponents stunned after a clutch shot by Tyrese Haliburton. The Thunder led the whole way up until the final 0.3 seconds after Haliburton hit the marginal midrange jumper over Cason Wallace.
Indiana trailed by double digits because they came out flat at the start of the game, turning the ball over 19 times (they finished with 24) – the most by any team in a half in the NBA Finals in the past 35 years. They also allowed league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score 38 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals on 14-for-30 shooting from the field.
When the deficit ballooned to 15 early in the fourth period, Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle reshuffled his pack, looking for a spark, and it worked. The Pacers outscored the Thunder 15-4 over the next 3:26, and the lead was cut down to 98-94 on a three-pointer by Myles Turner with less than seven minutes left. Obi Toppin and Andrew Nembhard also hit a couple of clutch threes during their dizzying run.
With the game at 110-109, Gilgeous-Alexander had the chance to put the game away but missed the pull-up jumper. Aaron Nesmith secured the board, and Haliburton took the game over. Haliburton’s shot is the latest game winner in an NBA Finals since Michael Jordan’s buzzer-beater for the Bulls in Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Jazz, per ESPN Research. Game 2 of this best-of-seven series is at Paycom Center this Sunday night.
Knicks commence head coach search after firing Thibodeau
The Knicks recently announced the dismissal of Tom Thibodeau despite coming off their best playoff run in more than two decades. Most fans were shocked since Thibodeau was a beacon of stability for the franchise, leading them to consecutive 50-win seasons for the first time since the mid-1990s.
However, many analysts felt that the firing was inevitable. Thibodeau has been criticized for his heavy-handed approach to playing his starters big minutes, even if the league is geared towards load management and higher bench usage. Moreover, several Knicks were reportedly frustrated with Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive lapses and Rick Brunson’s (Thibodeau’s assistant) bigger-than-usual role within the squad.
And now they’re reportedly eyeing Jason Kidd as his potential replacement. But to hire Kidd, the Knicks must first ask permission from the Mavericks to speak with him. Kidd has two years left on the contract extension he signed during Dallas’ 2024 run to the NBA Finals, where they lost to Boston in five games.
Suns hire fourth head coach under owner Ishbia
The Suns officially unveiled Jordan Ott as their new head coach, starting in the 2025-26 season. Ott has been an NBA assistant since 2012 and has recently worked for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In hiring him, Phoenix will have their fourth different coach in the last four seasons.
Phoenix fired previous head coach Mike Budenholzer after their campaign ended with a 36-46 regular season record. The Suns missed the postseason despite having the highest team payroll in the league.
Devin Booker reportedly played a huge role in Ott’s hiring. According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, Ott’s impressive work ethic and communication skills gave him the edge over fellow candidates Johnnie Bryant, Chris Quinn, Dave Bliss, and Sean Sweeney.
Apart from the coaching charges, the Suns will begin their first season under new general manager Brian Gregory, who was promoted after Budenholzer’s dismissal. Gregory is under enormous pressure to turn the Suns into a legitimate playoff contender while reducing their massive wage bill.
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