Thunder storm past Timberwolves in WCF, punch ticket to NBA Finals
The Oklahoma City Thunder looked as dominant as ever after closing out the Timberwolves 4-1 in the Western Conference Finals, trip to NBA Finals awaits.
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It’s do or die for the New York Knicks.
The Knicks trail the Indiana Pacers 3-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals as the series shifts back to New York’s Madison Square Garden for Game 5 on Thursday. Expect ‘Celebrity Row’ to turn out in droves.
Longtime Knicks fan Spike Lee made his first appearance of the series during the Pacers’ Game 4 win over the Knicks, and its safe to say he got an icy reception from Indiana fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. ESPN personality and former Indiana Colts punter Pat McAfee gave Lee, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet a WWE style lashing during the fourth quarter: “Lets send these sons of (expletives) back to New York.”
GAME 5 LIVE UPDATES: Knicks host Pacers in must-win game
SPIKE LEE: Why is Academy Award-winning director a New York Knicks fan?
Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and Indiana native John Mellencamp was not a fan of McAfee’s rant.
“I was embarrassed when somebody, under whose direction I don’t know, called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team — and in turn, support our team,” Mellencamp wrote on X. “The audience booed these people. I’d say that was not Hoosier Hospitality. One could only say it’s poor, poor sportsmanship. I was not proud to be a Hoosier, and I’ve lived here my entire life.”
Will Lee, Stiller and Chalamet be courtside in New York? Will McAfee dare show his face in the Big Apple? We got you covered. USA TODAY Sports is tracking all the stars that make an appearance during Game 5:
Spike Lee is back in the Garden. The Academy Award-winning director, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a superfan in October 2024, donned a blue and orange pinstripe suit to Game 5, paired with a blue fedora and his signature glasses. He stopped by the “Inside the NBA” pregame show to chat with host Ernie Johnson ahead of the game
Lee’s commitment to the Knicks is unwavering, as he has been a season-ticket holder since 1985. His fandom, however, dates back to his childhood in Brooklyn. Lee has often shared that one of his most memorable moments as a Knicks fan was attending Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals when New York won its first championship.
— Elizabeth Flores
What time is Pacers vs. Knicks?
The New York Knicks will host the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
How to watch Indiana Pacers vs. New York KnicksTime: 8 p.m. ETLocation: Madison Square Garden (New York)TV: TNT, truTVStream: Sling TV, Fubo, Max
Watch Knicks vs. Pacers Game 5 on Sling
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