It seems like yesterday that the Thunder were just another tanking team with a boatload of picks and a dream. Now, they’re on the cusp of their first championship. Let’s talk about it. ⛈️

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to Enjoyers NAMES and NBA players NAMES! 🎉

Game Recaps

Jalen Williams’ 40-point gem helps Thunder take game five 120-109

This one felt awfully familiar. If you watched Game 1, you probably had some déjà vu. The Thunder came out flying—swarming on defense, forcing turnovers left and right, and looking like the more complete team. But even with all that chaos, they just couldn’t quite create enough separation to feel comfortable.

Then the Pacers made their move. TJ McConnell (18 PTS) had his Finals Moment™, Pascal Siakam (28 PTS) looked exactly like the star who’d been there before, and Indiana clawed their way back within two in the fourth. You could feel it building… a perfect setup for another heroic Tyrese Haliburton takeover.

But this time, it didn’t come. Clearly hampered by a tight calf, Haliburton (4 PTS, 6 AST) just didn’t have the gear he needed. And once it was clear he wasn’t going to save the day, OKC took full control.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30 PTS, 10 AST) was his usual unbothered MVP self. But make no mistake—this was the Jalen Williams game. The first-time All-Star dropped 40 on the biggest stage of his life, playing with poise, energy, and a level of tough shot-making that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.

Now up 3–2, the Thunder head to Indiana with a chance to raise their first-ever banner. 🏆

Around the League

Pacers trade out of 2025 draft in mid-Finals transaction with Pelicans

Indy’s GM Chad Buchanan knows it’s never too early to start cooking, even when your team is in their biggest playoff series this millennium. Yesterday, the Pacers and Pelicans completed an interesting swap of picks, with Indiana getting their 2026 first-rounder back while the Pelicans get the #23 pick in this year’s draft and the rights to 2023’ 2nd round pick, Mojave King (all-time name, by the way).

For the Pacers, this is all about securing future flexibility. They can now trade all their future firsts as part of a larger deal to add to their strong core. And for the Pels, they get some ammunition to use in a possible trade-up, or another late first-round pick in what should be a strong draft.

Hoops History Spotlight

Jalen Williams balling out in the Finals in just his third year had us thinking: what’s the greatest young-gun performance on the biggest stage ever? Well, anyone who knows their hoops history knows there’s only one right answer.

You already know Magic Johnson is a legend. The conductor of Showtime. The no-look maestro. A six-time champ and maybe the most positionless player to ever touch a hardwood floor.

But before all that? He was just a rookie fresh out of Michigan State, trying to figure it out alongside MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And figure it out he did, making the All-Star game and helping lead the Lakers to 60 wins and a date with destiny against Julius Erving’s Sixers in the Finals.

The Lakers were up 3-2 through five on the back of a monstrous series from Kareem, but a brutal ankle sprain ruled the big fella out for Game 6. Instead of going with veteran former starter Jim Chones down low as his replacement, coach Paul Westhead boldly decided to play rookie Magic at center.

What we got was one of the best individual efforts in Finals history. That night at the five, Magic was simply unguardable. He had the deft touch around the rim to finish over Philly’s larger bigs, the motor and physicality to battle for boards down low, and the vision to tear their defense to shreds by finding every backdoor cut.

When the dust settled, the stat line almost makes you rub your eyes in disbelief. 45 points, 15 boards, seven assists, and one NBA championship.

Three in the Key

Signing Off

Thanks for reading, y’all! It’s hard to believe we’ve only got two games max left this season… how the time flies. But hey, at least we have the draft next week to save us.

Talk soon,

-Spencer Poole