Thunder Collapse in Game 6 as Pacers Force Game 7

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 Gilgeous-Alexander Admits: "We Sucked Tonight"

The Oklahoma City Thunder missed their chance to secure the NBA Championship in Game 6, falling to the Indiana Pacers 108-91. Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't hold back:

"The way I see it is we sucked tonight... We have one game for everything we worked for, and so do they."

Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 21 points, also committed eight turnovers, tying a record for most turnovers in an NBA Finals game in the past 40 years. He admitted many of the mistakes were due to "carelessness and not being focused."

Thunder's Worst Performance Yet

The Thunder looked unrecognizable, shooting just 38.2% from the field and hitting only 3 of 20 three-pointers through three quarters. Head coach Mark Daigneault called the game “uncharacteristic” and “disappointing,” emphasizing that the team was not prepared mentally or physically.

Thunder forward Jalen Williams also pointed to a lack of ball movement and defensive energy:

“It just got sticky… we didn’t trust each other like we did in Game 5.”

Williams ended the night with a -40 plus-minus, the worst by any player in a Finals game since 1997-98.

Looking Ahead to Game 7

Despite the Game 6 collapse, the Thunder still have a shot at the title. The series will be decided in Game 7, set for Sunday in Oklahoma City. Both teams now have everything on the line, and Gilgeous-Alexander made it clear:

“We got exactly what we deserved. We have to own that.”

Ime Udoka Signs Major Extension with Houston Rockets

One of the NBA’s Highest-Paid Coaches

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has agreed to a long-term contract extension worth eight figures annually, making him one of the NBA's top-paid coaches.

The extension comes after a successful second season where Udoka led the Rockets to a 52-30 record and their first playoff appearance since 2019-20. Despite an early exit in the first round, Rockets ownership praised his leadership and vision.

Impressive Turnaround in Two Seasons

Since Udoka’s arrival in 2023, the Rockets have seen a massive improvement, winning 93 games over two seasons after just 59 combined wins in the previous three years. The team also moved from the bottom five in defensive efficiency to 5th overall in the league.

Udoka had previously been linked to the New York Knicks’ head coaching vacancy, but Houston denied their request to interview him.

Busy Month for Houston

This extension is part of a busy June for the Rockets, who recently re-signed Steven Adams and are weighing a major decision on Fred VanVleet’s $44.9M team option. According to reports, Houston is also one of Kevin Durant’s preferred trade destinations.