NBA's Finals Contender Emerges: Second German Champion Following Nowitzki?
👉 Could the Oklahoma City Thunder and Isaiah Hartenstein snag the NBA title this year? Let's find out!
🔥 Indiana Pacers are headed to the NBA Finals for the second time in history, after a gripping 125-108 victory over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Top performers in this high-stakes match were Pascal Siakam (31 points) and Tyrese Haliburton (21 points and 13 assists).
🏆 Having lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000, the Pacers are eager to make a comeback, and Hartenstein has the chance to follow successful footsteps – he could be the second German, after Dirk Nowitzki, to grab the title. The best-of-seven final series starts on Thursday in Oklahoma City.
🏀 In a hard-fought Game 6, the team coached by Rick Carlisle clinched victory in the third quarter (34-23). Nowitzki won the championship with Carlisle 14 years ago. "We've been grinding our butts off as a team to get to this point," shared an elated Haliburton, who missed out on the title in 2024, when they lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
💣 "We're not about to crack open the champagne just yet," warned Carlisle: "This is the showdown between two teams, each aiming for the same goal – it's win or quit." The tactician is fully aware of the scale of the challenge that awaits them.
👀 You might want to catch up on German's journey to the NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder for more on how our fellow countryman, Hartenstein, is shaping up for the big game.
Did you know?
- Indiana Pacers last featured in the NBA Finals 25 years ago in 2000.
- Siakam tied Reggie Miller's record with three 30-point games in the conference finals.
- Haliburton recorded a 21-point and 13-assist game in the final game against the Knicks.
Despite the Oklahoma City Thunder and Isaiah Hartenstein not reaching the NBA Finals yet, they are determined to seize the title this year, following in the footsteps of Dirk Nowitzki who was the second German to win the NBA championship. Fans are eager to watch Hartenstein's journey in basketball, specifically his performance with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
