Jeff Zillgitt

3 days ago | usatoday.com | Jeff Zillgitt

Carter Bryant’s mom, Sabrina, has video from when he was about 9 years old, saying he was going to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. Bryant kept dreaming, and just as important, worked hard, and while he might not be the No. 1 pick this month, he is a projected first-round pick and possibly a lottery pick. “For me to have the opportunity to even be selected in the draft is just actually crazy to me,” Bryant said.

4 days ago | usatoday.com | Jeff Zillgitt

For the seventh consecutive season, the NBA will have a different champion than the previous season. A team hasn’t repeated since Golden State won in 2017 and 2018. For the sixth consecutive season, the NBA has does not even have a repeat finalist from the Eastern or Western conferences. It’s the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, and the series starts with Game 1 on Thursday in Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

5 days ago | usatoday.com | Jeff Zillgitt

Probably a bit of both for the Indiana Pacers, and the percentage of relief vs. joy depends on the person. No matter how one dissects the emotion, the Pacers did what they needed to do and eliminated the New York Knicks wth a 125-108 victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night. Indiana avoided a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden and bypassed the prospect of blowing a 3-1 series lead in advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.

5 days ago | yahoo.com | Jeff Zillgitt

Sigh of relief. Exhale of joy. Probably a bit of both for the Indiana Pacers, and the percentage of relief vs. joy depends on the person. No matter how one dissects the emotion, the Pacers did what they needed to do and eliminated the New York Knicks wth a 125-108 victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night. Indiana avoided a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden and bypassed the prospect of blowing a 3-1 series lead in advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.

5 days ago | postcrescent.com | James Williams |Jeff Zillgitt |Lorenzo Reyes |Cydney Henderson

James H. Williams Jeff Zillgitt Lorenzo Reyes Cydney HendersonUSA TODAYFor the first time in 25 years, the Indiana Pacers are back in the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks put up a fight late in the Eastern Conference finals, winning Game 5 two nights ago, but Indiana closed out New York on Saturday night in Game 6, 125-108.