Sports
Thunder blow out Pacers in Game 7 to win NBA championship
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The Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA championship over the Indiana Pacers, 103-91, running away with Game 7 of the NBA Finals on their home court in exciting fashion.
The last time this franchise won an NBA title was 1979, when they were still known as the Seattle Supersonics. Since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008 and rebranding as the Thunder, they have not won a title until Sunday night.
League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates made sure to change that on Sunday night, as their dominant regular season and NBA Playoffs run was capped in the best way possible in a do-or-die Game 7.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) during the first half of game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)
It was the first Game 7 since the historic Cleveland Cavaliers’ comeback against the Golden State Warriors in 2016 when they were down 3-1 in the series. Unlike that matchup, this series between the Thunder and Pacers has gone back and forth in thrilling fashion.
That’s exactly how this game began, too, with each team trading blows on the offensive end. But the Pacers suffered a devastating blow in the first quarter.
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana’s hero through the postseason, suffered an Achilles injury after pouring in three of his fourth three-point attempts to total nine points early on.
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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) holds the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy as he celebrates with his team after they won the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
It was initially believed to be a reaggravation of his calf injury that was suffered in Game 5, but his father, John, told ESPN’s Lisa Salters that it was an Achilles. While John Haliburton said his son was in good spirits, he was quickly deemed unable to return for the remainder of the game.
The Pacers’ depth, which has been a catalyst for the team throughout the playoffs, had to step up in Haliburton’s absence, and T.J. McConnell was up for the challenge off the bench. He was on fire, going 8-of-13 for 16 points.
However, Gilgeous-Alexander tapped into his MVP level of play when his Thunder needed it the most. He may have struggled from three-point land (2-of-10), but he was a shot creator for himself and others throughout the game, tallying 29 points, 11 of which came from the free throw line, 12 assists, five rebounds and two blocks.
Gilgeous-Alexander was named the Bill Russell Finals MVP, marking the first time in 25 years a player won that award along with the league MVP and NBA scoring title.
Alex Caruso #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
But “SGA” wasn’t alone in his efforts to win it all, as his guard counterpart Jalen Williams poured in 20 points, while Chet Holmgren had the offensive game his team was hoping for after back-to-back underwhelming performances on that end.
Holmgren finished with 18 points as well as five blocks on the defensive end.
Off the bench, Alex Caruso, now a two-time NBA champion, had 10 points, as did Cason Wallace.
The Thunder truly started to pull away in the third quarter after the Pacers went into the locker room at halftime with the slim 48-47 lead. They outscored Indiana 34-20 in the quarter, and while we’ve seen some tremendous Pacers comebacks in these playoffs, they weren’t able to muster one final shocker in the fourth quarter.
On their end, it was Benedict Mathurin leading the way in the points department, dropping 24 off the bench including many in the fourth to try and claw back into the game. Pascal Siakam (5-of-13, 16 points, four rebounds, two assists) couldn’t shoulder the burden of scoring with Haliburton out either.
Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
As a team, the Thunder’s biggest flaw in Game 6 was the vast difference in turnover margin, which Indiana took advantage of. This time, it was flipped as the Pacers had 23 turnovers that resulted in 32 conceded points compared to the Thunder’s eight turnovers and 10 points off them.
In the end, the Thunder turned this magical season into history as the second-youngest group to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
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Sports
Multiple players ejected after brawl breaks out during Eagles-Commanders game
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An intense brawl broke out during the Eagles-Commanders game in the fourth quarter Saturday night, resulting in three ejections.
The fight began after Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley scored on a 2-point conversion to boost his team’s lead to 19 points with less than five minutes left.
Washington’s Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin and Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen were disqualified after being flagged for unnecessary roughness.
There was some pushing and shoving and a lot of jawing, and officials threw six flags as the chaos ensued.
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Tyler Steen (56) of the Philadelphia Eagles and Mike Sainristil (0) of the Washington Commanders fight in the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium Dec. 20, 2025, in Landover, Md. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Eventually, order was restored, and Barkley, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner spoke to each other.
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The Eagles won the game, 29-18, to clinch their second straight division title, becoming the first team to win back-to-back NFC East titles since the 2004 Eagles did it.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
No. 4 UCLA closes nonconference play with a dominant win over Long Beach State
UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close could not have imagined a better way for her team to wrap up nonconference play than Saturday afternoon’s 106-44 trouncing of Long Beach State at Pauley Pavilion.
Coming off Tuesday’s 115-28 triumph over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo — UCLA’s largest margin of victory during the NCAA era — the Bruins picked up where they left off, leading wire-to-wire for their fifth consecutive win since suffering their lone loss to Texas on Nov. 26.
“We’re growing … we had a couple of lapses today and we’re not there yet, but we’re heading in the right direction,” Close said. “I love the selflessness of this team.”
Senior guard Gabriela Jaquez led the way with 17 points and made five of six three-point shots. Angela Dugalic added 13 points while Gianna Kneepkens had 10 points and 10 rebounds. All 11 Bruins who played scored at least one basket.
UCLA forward Sienna Betts, top, and Long Beach State forward Kennan Ka dive for the ball during the Bruins’ win Saturday.
(Jessie Alcheh / Associated Press)
Playing their last game in Westwood until Jan. 3, when they will host crosstown rival USC, the Bruins (11-1 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten) looked every bit like the No. 4 team in the country, improving to 6-0 at home. They are ranked fourth in both the Associated Press and coaches polls behind Connecticut, Texas and South Carolina.
“I’m really proud of our nonconference schedule. Not many local teams are willing to play us, so I want to compliment Long Beach State,” Close said. “Our starting guards [Charlisse Leger-Walker and Kiki Rice] combined for 17 assists and one turnover. We have depth and balance and that’s a great luxury to have.”
Jaquez scored nine of the Bruins’ first 12 points. She opened the scoring with a three-pointer from the top of the key and added triples on back-to-back possessions to increase the margin to eight points. Her fourth three-pointer, from the right corner, extended the lead to 21-5.
Sienna Betts’ jumper in the lane put UCLA up by 19 at the end of the first quarter. The sophomore finished with 14 points and senior Lauren Betts added 17. The sisters’ parents, Michelle and Andy, played volleyball and basketball, respectively, for Long Beach State. Sienna wears her mom’s No. 16 while Lauren dons her dad’s No. 51.
Rice’s steal and layup made it 46-18 with 3:28 left in the first half and Leger-Walker’s tip-in at the buzzer gave the Bruins a 34-point advantage at halftime. Rice had a complete game, contributing 15 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, four steals and one block.
The result continued the Bruins’ recent dominance against the Beach. UCLA has won six straight head-to-head meetings, including a 51-point blowout in the schools’ previous matchup last December, when Close became the all-time winningest coach in program history by earning her 297th victory to surpass Billie Moore (296-181). Long Beach State has not beaten the Bruins since 1987 under Joan Bonvicini, who posted a 16-1 record versus UCLA in her 12 seasons at the Beach from 1979 to 1991.
The Bruins’ primary focus on defense was slowing down sophomore guard JaQuoia Jones-Brown, who entered Saturday averaging 17.2 points per game. She scored 10 of the Beach’s 11 points in the first quarter but was held scoreless the rest of the way. She has scored in double figures in nine of 10 games. Guard Christy Reynoso added six points for Beach (0-10 overall, 0-2 in Big West).
The Bruins travel to Columbus on Dec. 28 to face No. 21 Ohio State (9-1).
Sports
Nick Saban questions Texas A&M crowd noise before Aggies face Miami in playoff
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Despite dropping their regular-season finale to in-state rival Texas, the Texas A&M Aggies qualified for the College Football Playoff and earned the right to host a first-round game at Kyle Field.
Nick Saban, who won seven national championships during his storied coaching career, experienced his fair share of hostile environments on road trips.
But the former Alabama coach and current ESPN college football analyst floated a surprising theory about how Texas A&M turns up the volume to try to keep opposing teams off balance.
A view of the midfield logo before the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the LSU Tigers at Kyle Field on Oct. 26, 2024 in College Station, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
While Saban did describe Kyle Field as one of the sport’s “noisiest” atmospheres, he also claimed the stadium’s operators have leaned on artificial crowd noise to pump up the volume during games.
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“I did more complaining to the SEC office—it was more than complaining that I don’t really want to say on this show—about this is the noisiest place. Plus, they pipe in noise… You can’t hear yourself think when you’re playing out there,” he told Pat McAfee on Thursday afternoon.
Adding crowd noise during games does not explicitly violate NCAA rules. However, the policy does mandate a certain level of consistency.
A general view of Kyle Field before the start of the game between Texas A&M Aggies and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Kyle Field on Oct. 12, 2019 in College Station, Texas. (John Glaser/USA TODAY Sports)
According to the governing body’s rulebook: “Artificial crowd noise, by conference policy or mutual consent of the institutions, is allowed. The noise level must be consistent throughout the game for both teams. However, all current rules remain in effect dealing with bands, music and other sounds. When the snap is imminent, the band/music must stop playing. As with all administrative rules, the referee may stop the game and direct game management to adjust.”
General view of fans watch the play in the first half between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Ball State Cardinals at Kyle Field on Sept. 12, 2015 in College Station, Texas. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Regardless of the possible presence of artificial noise, the Miami Hurricanes will likely face a raucous crowd when Saturday’s first-round CFP game kicks off at 12 p.m. ET.
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