INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers are ready to put the 2025-26 season behind them. It was a season filled with too many injuries to count, with a bleak 19-63 record.
But the Pacers are healthy again. Tyrese Haliburton is back, Ivica Zubac is healthy again, and the entire starting five has finally had time to gel throughout training camp practices.
Whether they can stay healthy, however, could define their season once again.
Here are two X-factors for the Pacers' 2026-27 season, plus one bold prediction:
CAN THEY AVOID THE INJURY BUG?

#Pacers #indianapolis #tyrese #ivica

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers are ready to put the 2025-26 season behind them. It was a season filled with too many injuries to count, with a bleak 19-63 record.
But the Pacers are healthy again. Tyrese Haliburton is back, Ivica Zubac is healthy again, and the entire starting five has finally had time to gel throughout training camp practices.
Whether they can stay healthy, however, could define their season once again.
Here are two X-factors for the Pacers' 2026-27 season, plus one bold prediction:
CAN THEY AVOID THE INJURY BUG?

#season #haliburton

Heat player who will shock NBA world with breakout 2026-27 season appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's not quite championship-or-bust yet for the Miami Heat, but they're as close to that status as they can get. After all, the expectations for the Heat are through the roof after they brought in two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo via a blockbuster trade. Antetokounmpo has had so much appreciation for the Heat's vaunted culture that landing in Miami was one of the main priorities for him this offseason — with his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks, doing him a service.
But at the end of the day, the Heat paid a heavy price to bring Antetokounmpo in. They parted ways with Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis to go along with three first-round picks (2026, 2031, and 2033), a first-round pick swap (2030), and a second-round pick (2033).
The Heat did a good enough job of replacing the depth they lost, as they added veterans Tim Hardaway Jr. and Klay Thompson to serve as floor-spacers in a Giannis-centric offense. Getting Bobby Portis back in the Giannis trade was also an underrated part of that transaction. Moreover, they came to terms with Andrew Wiggins on a contract extension, securing the services of one of their most important role players through at least the 2027-28 campaign.
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#giannis

The Austin Spurs announced Thursday the hiring of the 12th head coach in franchise history.
Chris Kent will guide the Spurs' G League team in 2026-27 after serving as ******* istant coach and director of player development at Florida State during the 2025-26 season. Kent helped the Seminoles to an 18-15 finish that included a 10-8 showing in ACC play.
Kent also has experience in the G League, most recently spending two seasons from 2023-25 as an ******* istant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers' Rip City Remix, according to an Austin Spurs press release.
Kent began his coaching career as an intern with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the former G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers, from 2013-15 before joining Florida State as a graduate ******* istant. He also served as director of player development at South Florida during the 2017-18 season before joining the Chicago Bulls in 2018 as an intern.
The Bulls promoted Kent to video coordinator in 2019. He spent three seasons in that role before serving as an ******* istant coach with the G League's Windy City Bulls during the 2022-23 season.

#austin

On paper, it could appear as though the league was taking away the 2029 Clippers pick the Sixers had the right to swap. But a league source confirmed a report from PhillyVoice that said the NBA was taking away a first-round pick the Pacers owe the Clippers from the Ivica Zubac trade and was not touching the Clippers' own pick, meaning the Sixers' right to swap that pick remains intact.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: A league source confirmed a report from PhillyVoice …

#clippers #league

The Western Conference has undoubtedly dominated the 21st-century NBA. But after blockbuster trades and free agency moves, the Eastern Conference appears to be historically stacked.
Now, with newly emerged "super teams" like the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, the fully healthy Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics, and true contention from the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and the Detroit Pistons, how can the Cleveland Cavaliers rise to the top?
Once again, Cleveland is coming into the season with a big four of stars. This time, though, Darius Garland is out, and James Harden is in for his first full season as a Cavalier.
Next to Harden are the three veteran Cavs' All-Stars: Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
The core left a lot to be desired in their Eastern Conference Finals run last season, and things have arguably gotten worse for their future.

#season

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 23: Sandro Mamukelashvili of San Antonio Spurs slam dunks in the NBA game between San Antonio Spurs and the Indiana Pacers at The Accor Arena on January 25, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
The Indiana Pacers currently sit somewhere that they are rarely found: over the luxury tax.
In fact, the Pacers haven't been a tax paying team since the 2004-05 season. In the two decades since, the franchise has always finished with a team salary below the luxury tax line and received a distribution of money from the league's taxpaying teams.
Since 2005, the only NBA teams to never cross the luxury tax threshold are the Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, and Sacramento Kings. Reporting suggested that the Pacers may have been willing to do so in the 2025-26 season after their run to the NBA Finals, but Tyrese Haliburton's injury changed everything before Myles Turner left in free agency.
Since 2001-02, the Pacers have finished a season above the luxury tax barrier three times. Yet right now, they are in a position where if no money saving moves are made between now and the last day of the league year, that streak would end at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.

#Pacers #since #season

BENGALURU: In 118 minutes and 81 ******* , Vaibhav Sooryavanshi offered a glimpse of the raw talent that has made him one of Indian cricket's most sought-after prospects. The southpaw backs his big-hitting ability irrespective of the format and his fearless approach was on full display as the East Zone opener smashed 92 (7x4, 7x6) against Central Zone on Day 2 of their Duleep Trophy semifinal at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here on Monday.

At 15 years and 157 days, Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to score a 50 in the tournament, breaking Central Zone's Laxman Singh's record of 16 years and 23 days, set in January 1969.

The innings was more than just a record. Since his Ranji Trophy debut in 2024, the teenager had managed 215 runs from nine first-class matches. While he has built strong credentials in white-ball cricket, the longer format remains a stern test. Sooryavanshi was in no mood to let a red-ball challenge pass without making a statement.

The first session was all about his attacking display. After getting off the mark with a risky single, the left-hander struck his first boundary with a stylish square drive. That was merely an appetiser, as he repeatedly looked to score in the V against the pacers, including Yash Thakur, whom he deposited over the bowler's head for his first six. His 18 singles were as much a sign of maturity as his seven sixes were of his power.

His domination helped East Zone race to 64 in the first 10 overs. On 40, Sooryavanshi was handed a reprieve when Yash Rathod dropped a straightforward catch off Saransh Jain. The batter made the most of it, bringing up his half-century off 42 ******* with a six over long-on.

What stood out was not just the power, but the range. One particular ******* ault on pacer Aryan Pandey was striking. Charging down the track, Sooryavanshi smashed the ball straight back over the bowler's head for his fourth six.

Such was his command that it seemed to matter little who was bowling. Off-spinner Saransh Jain, who recently made his India Test debut, was dealt with equal confidence, conceding a four and a six as Sooryavanshi raced towards the nervous nineties in the 25th over.

However, he was left distraught when another attempt at a maximum landed in Arshad Khan's hands at deep mid-wicket off Harsh Dubey, leaving him eight runs short of his maiden first-class hundred.

Along with Abhimanyu Easwaran's 69, Sooryavanshi's 92 formed the backbone of a 161-run opening stand that helped East Zone reach 266, exactly matching Central Zone's first-innings total. Central were 45/3 at stumps.
Brief scores: Central Zone 266 & 45/3 in 20 overs (Mukesh ******* ar 2-14) vs East Zone 266 all out in 57 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 69, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 92; Aryan Pandey 3-43, Yash Thakur 3-66, Harsh Dubey 4-66).

#central

The Golden State Warriors filled out their 15-man roster earlier this week by signing two new free agents, former Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang and Brandon Williams, a former Dallas Mavericks point guard. Following their arrival to the Bay Area, both of them have selected their jersey numbers ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Beginning with Niang, he'll wear No. 32, a number he hasn't worn since his rookie season (2016-17) with the Indiana Pacers. Since then, Niang wore 31 for the Utah Jazz and No. 20 for three different franchises. The last Warriors player to wear No. 32 was Trayce Jackson-Davis, who wore the jersey for the past two and a half seasons before being traded to the Toronto Raptors.
Despite playing for just two teams in his career, Williams has worn four different numbers. In his first year with Golden State, Williams will switch numbers again, wearing the No. 12 for the first time in his career. The No. 12 was last worn for the Warriors in the 2024-25 season by Braxton Key, who played just three games for the franchise.
For more NBA content, check out the BasketBaltes podcast:
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#utah

With Jonathan ****** inga, a player the Los Angeles Lakers had been pursuing all summer, off the board and heading to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers are almost out of options as far as two-way wings or forwards.
However, there is one intriguing two-way wing who is still available in free agency: Bruce Brown. Brown, an eight-year NBA veteran, remains unsigned after a strong year with the Denver Nuggets.
During a recent livestream for Bleacher Report, NBA insider Jake Fischer said that Brown is a possibility for Los Angeles.
"I think he's in the mix for the Lakers, a team that has had some interest in him for several years now," Fischer said.
Last season, Brown averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 ****** ists in 24.4 minutes a game while shooting 47.5% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point range. He returned to the Nuggets after spending the previous two years with the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans.

#angeles #year #years #kuminga

The India-Sri Lanka series shifts venues for its decider, moving from Galle's spin-friendly track to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which is a ground known for offering a very different kind of contest.
Batting first has historically paid off at this venue, with teams regularly posting big totals early in matches, which makes Wednesday's toss potentially decisive.
Rain looms as a genuine concern too, with forecasts suggesting interruptions across all five days, while Colombo's heat is expected to sap energy from the bowling attacks. Spin has still had the upper hand recently, as spinners have picked up 45 wickets across the last three Tests here, compared to 35 for the pacers.
India arrive full of confidence following their commanding 165-run win in the series opener. Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, and Manav Suthar were the standout contributors in Galle. They will fancy their chances of completing a 2-0 sweep, a result that would also strengthen their push toward the 2027 World Test Championship final.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#across #lanka #sports

Braden Smith said he was never worried that there would be room for him on the Pacers' roster. It took nearly two months for ***** e to open up so that the Purdue All-American point guard could sign the two-way contract he was told on draft night was coming, but he never believed they would pull the offer. "Though the whole process, I knew it was going to end up like it did," Smith said Monday before the Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic at Victory Field. "I already had an idea. Plus, the contract doesn't really need to be signed until November-ish, so I was just like, 'Stay with it. Get in. Get better.' That's the main focus."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "I already had an idea. Plus, the contract doesn't …

#Pacers #already #idea #braden

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Free agent forward Georges Niang has signed a one-year contract with the Golden State Warriors.
The team announced the addition of the 33-year-old veteran Tuesday. He was sidelined last season with both Utah and Memphis recovering from a left foot injury. Niang appeared in 79 games with three starts during 2024-25 for Atlanta and Cleveland, averaging 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 ****** ists over 21.5 minutes.
He has played nine NBA seasons, mostly as a reserve with the Hawks, Cavaliers, 76ers, Jazz and Pacers. He owns career averages of 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 ****** ists.
The Warriors have made few additions but are bringing back familiar faces such as center Al Horford on a two-year, $14 million contract and center Kristaps Porzingis on a two-year contract for $40 million after the Warriors acquired him from Atlanta at the February trade deadline and sent Buddy Hield and Jonathan ****** inga to the Hawks.
___

#year #contract #hawks #assists

The clock is ticking on a massive shift in the NBA landscape. The Los Angeles Lakers are back in the hunt for Jonathan **** inga after a recent trade move cleared the path. This is not a rumor floating in the dark anymore. It is a concrete plan that could change the Atlanta Hawks' season instantly. According to reports, the Lakers have found a new way to make a sign-and-trade deal work for the young forward. The window to act is open right now, and Atlanta cannot sit on the sidelines while Los Angeles builds a contender.
The narrative has changed fast in just the last few days. Sports Illustrated reported that the Lakers' pursuit of **** inga has gotten fresh life after a specific trade shift occurred elsewhere. This new life means the financial and **** et hurdles are lower than they were yesterday. The Golden State Warriors are still watching, but the Lakers are now the team to beat. A report from Lakers Nation suggests **** inga appears to prefer one suitor over the other. That preference matters more than the cap **** e because the player holds the leverage. If the young star wants to go to Los Angeles, the Hawks must get paid big or lose the **** et for nothing.
The Hawks sit in the driver's seat, but they need to know the price. Crafting a deal involves three teams, and the Pacers and Wizards are already in the mix according to reports. This complex structure shows how much value **** inga brings to the table. The Lakers cannot just send cash; they need to move other players to clear the salary. The Minnesota Timberwolves are also showing interest, which adds a third suitor to the fray. This competition drives up the price for Atlanta. The team needs to demand high draft picks or proven starters in return. A three-team sign-and-trade involving the Hawks, Pacers, and Wizards is the most likely path forward. The Hawks must steer **** inga away from the Lakers if they want to build a roster that wins now.
Time is the one **** et Atlanta cannot get back. The trade window will close, and the Lakers might find a way to pay the price. Yahoo Sports highlighted the pros and cons of signing **** inga, noting the risk of losing him for cheap. The risk is real. If the Hawks wait too long, the Lakers will make their final offer. The team needs to decide if they want to rebuild around a new core or cash in on a star. The answer is simple. Take the best offer possible and move on. The Lakers are ready to pay. The Hawks must be ready to sell. A deal with the Lakers could bring immediate help, but only if the terms are right. The next 48 hours will define the team's direction for years.

#trade #cannot

Some stories you know will take off, generating so much reader response that my text message group here with IndyStar readers will overheat. History – 12 years on this job – tells me that. Any time I write about the Indiana Fever, for example. Or about Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson. Just one of those things you know will happen, before it happens.
Other stories, you know will take off – not from the topic's ubiquity, but its uniqueness. A column on Warren Central two-sport athlete-turned-broadcast journalist Michael Grady, who scraped and hustled his way to the top of this media market and is now doing the same nationally with the WNBA, NBA and NFL? That column is going to take off. People love reading about a local who's made it big.
And then there are stories like the Indiana Pacers coming to terms with DAZN on a deal that guarantees Pacers fans access to games on local TV and guarantees the streaming experience – a problem for Pacers games since 2021 – will be of the highest quality.
That column? You write it, because it's important, but you figure it won't generate a huge response. The column is obvious and happy, and readers would rather complain about Fever trolls or Colts QB's or whatever. Some things, you just know.
But sometimes you're wrong.

#stories

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton opened up about his relationship with Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones.
Haliburton tore his Achilles in June 2025 during Game 7 of the NBA Finals, while Jones tore his Achilles during Week 14 in December 2025.
Both Indiana-based stars are returning to the court this season after their long absences, and Haliburton opened up on how the pair connected over this time.
At the Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic, Haliburton spoke to the media and was asked about Jones, revealing the pair have been talking about their respective recoveries from their Achilles tears.
"Yeah, we talked a good amount. We have the same surgeon. He got hurt much closer to now, and he's coming back earlier. I am excited to see how everything pans out for him."

#indiana #tore #indianapolis

The India-Sri Lanka series shifts venues for its decider, moving from Galle's spin-friendly track to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which is a ground known for offering a very different kind of contest.
Batting first has historically paid off at this venue, with teams regularly posting big totals early in matches, which makes Wednesday's toss potentially decisive.
Rain looms as a genuine concern too, with forecasts suggesting interruptions across all five days, while Colombo's heat is expected to sap energy from the bowling attacks. Spin has still had the upper hand recently, as spinners have picked up 45 wickets across the last three Tests here, compared to 35 for the pacers.
India arrive full of confidence following their commanding 165-run win in the series opener. Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, and Manav Suthar were the standout contributors in Galle. They will fancy their chances of completing a 2-0 sweep, a result that would also strengthen their push toward the 2027 World Test Championship final.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#spin #series

76ers' Tyrese Maxey spotted working out with Pacers' star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tyrese Maxey went into the offseason off of what has been one of the more impressive seasons in his career, putting up career-highs with 28.3 points per game, as well as 6.6 ***** ists, showing that he still has a lot left in his bag to use on the court. There's a case to be made that the 25-year-old's incredulous work ethic has made these improvements possible, and all of that really kicks into high gear during the offseason.
The last few months have been an example of Maxey's work rate despite not taking place during the season, as he's been in the gym constantly, working with some new teammates, including Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, or more recently, taking some time with the younger members of the Philadelphia 76ers, VJ Edgecombe and Labaron Philon Jr.
Yet a gym session didn't include a teammate, but rather a conference rival: Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Both of the former all-stars were seen in the gym together, having been working out with skills trainer Drew Hanlen, with one of the shots of the two seeing them face off, with the Sixers' star taking the lead with the rock.

#made

The India-Sri Lanka series shifts venues for its decider, moving from Galle's spin-friendly track to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which is a ground known for offering a very different kind of contest.
Batting first has historically paid off at this venue, with teams regularly posting big totals early in matches, which makes Wednesday's toss potentially decisive.
Rain looms as a genuine concern too, with forecasts suggesting interruptions across all five days, while Colombo's heat is expected to sap energy from the bowling attacks. Spin has still had the upper hand recently, as spinners have picked up 45 wickets across the last three Tests here, compared to 35 for the pacers.
India arrive full of confidence following their commanding 165-run win in the series opener. Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, and Manav Suthar were the standout contributors in Galle. They will fancy their chances of completing a 2-0 sweep, a result that would also strengthen their push toward the 2027 World Test Championship final.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#series #club

The India-Sri Lanka series shifts venues for its decider, moving from Galle's spin-friendly track to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which is a ground known for offering a very different kind of contest.
Batting first has historically paid off at this venue, with teams regularly posting big totals early in matches, which makes Wednesday's toss potentially decisive.
Rain looms as a genuine concern too, with forecasts suggesting interruptions across all five days, while Colombo's heat is expected to sap energy from the bowling attacks. Spin has still had the upper hand recently, as spinners have picked up 45 wickets across the last three Tests here, compared to 35 for the pacers.
India arrive full of confidence following their commanding 165-run win in the series opener. Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, and Manav Suthar were the standout contributors in Galle. They will fancy their chances of completing a 2-0 sweep, a result that would also strengthen their push toward the 2027 World Test Championship final.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#spin #lanka

Today in Boston Celtics history, Hall of Fame Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller declined the offer from Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge to join the 2007-08 team, as Ainge aimed to ***** emble a competitive roster that summer. Miller, a prominent star known for his exceptional shooting from beyond the arc, had been retired for two seasons following an 18-year career with the Pacers. Even so, he seriously contemplated the offer on getting Ainge's call.
"I'm always flattered when my name is mentioned as someone who can still help an NBA team win a championship," offered the then-NBA ***** yst for TNT via ESPN's JA Adande. "(I have) contacted Reggie and he is contemplating a comeback with us," shared Ainge on the prospect of adding Miller to the juggernaut he ***** embled. Ringless despite nearly two decades in the NBA, the offer was appealing to Miller even after the long break as a player and his relatively advanced age.
In the end, the prospect of life on the road was too much for the former Pacer to endure, or so he said at the time.
"I can still shoot with the best of them," offered the then-reigning all-time 3-point shooter (Ray Allen was still some time away from passing him in total 3-pointers made) via Adande.
"Mentally, I don't know if I can do eight months," he explained. "February, March, I would have been dead."

#ainge #celtics #reggie

The India-Sri Lanka series shifts venues for its decider, moving from Galle's spin-friendly track to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which is a ground known for offering a very different kind of contest.
Batting first has historically paid off at this venue, with teams regularly posting big totals early in matches, which makes Wednesday's toss potentially decisive.
Rain looms as a genuine concern too, with forecasts suggesting interruptions across all five days, while Colombo's heat is expected to sap energy from the bowling attacks. Spin has still had the upper hand recently, as spinners have picked up 45 wickets across the last three Tests here, compared to 35 for the pacers.
India arrive full of confidence following their commanding 165-run win in the series opener. Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, and Manav Suthar were the standout contributors in Galle. They will fancy their chances of completing a 2-0 sweep, a result that would also strengthen their push toward the 2027 World Test Championship final.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#India #club

Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons expects Australia to respond strongly in the second Test after his side recorded a nine-wicket win in the series opener in Darwin.

The result was Bangladesh's first Test victory on Australian soil and was described by Australian media as the "Darwin Disaster". Simmons said his players cannot afford to relax when they face the World Test Championship leaders in Mackay from Saturday.

"The only thing I had to say to them - and I will repeat it anyway - is that Australia is going to come harder," Simmons said.

"We have to either keep that level of performance or get a little bit better. Even if we have to get 1% better in some areas, then we will have to make sure that that's there."

"But we know that they are going to change their game. They are going to come harder at us."

Simmons said the victory in Darwin was among the most satisfying results of his coaching career in Test cricket.

Bangladesh could also retain the same XI for the second Test despite left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam pushing for a return. Shoriful, who has taken 27 wickets in 13 Tests, missed the first Test because of a hamstring injury.

"He offers something different. But again, we just won a test match," Simmons said.

"I'm one ... who hardly likes to change winning teams. So it's a possibility, but I can't really say."

Australia, meanwhile, confirmed one change to their team on Friday. Matt Renshaw will open the batting in place of Jake Weatherald, who was dropped on Tuesday.

Captain Pat ****** mins had also considered playing four pacers by bringing in Scott Boland and leaving out spinner Nathan Lyon, but the final XI was confirmed after training.

Cummins said Australia need to produce a better performance in Mackay.

"I think if we play really well and we lose, you feel like you need to do some soul searching," he told reporters.

"I certainly felt like we didn't play anywhere near our best, and they played really well and they deserved to win. So, I think it's going back to when we play well."

"I think everyone's in a pretty good nick. So it's just about translating our form into actually a good result."

#going #better #really

Today in Boston Celtics history, Jerryd Bayless was born in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1988. He played his NCAA basketball for the Arizona Wildcats for a single season before entering the 2008 NBA Draft, where the Indiana Pacers selected him with the 11th overall pick.
The Phoenix native never suited up for the Pacers, dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers soon after the draft was over. He also played for the (then) New Orleans Hornets (now, Pelicans), Toronto Raptors, and Memphis Grizzlies before the latter ball club sent Bayless to Boston in a trade that netted the Celtics 3-and-D wing Courtney Lee. Bayless played just one season for the Celtics, suiting up for a total of 41 games and starting 14 of them.
He averaged 10.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.1 ***** ists while with the Celtics, leaving in free agency next summer to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks.
It is also the birthday of Sihugo Green, born in New York City in 1933. An alum of Duquesne, Green was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1956 NBA Draft, taken by the (then) Rochester Royals (now, Sacramento Kings). The New Yorker played for the Royals after their move to Cincinnati, the St. Louis Hawks before they relocated to Atlanta, and the defunct Chicago Packers, Zephyrs, and the also-defunct Baltimore Bullets before joining the Celtics via trade in 1965. The last stop of his career, Green averaged 3.2 points and 1.1 rebounds per game as a Celtic, retiring afterward.
Finally, it is also the birthday of Quinn Buckner, born today in 1954 in Phoenix, Illinois. Buckner played college ball with the Indiana Hoosiers, where he won an NCAA championship, and was drafted seventh overall in the 1976 NBA Draft by the Bucks. He was dealt to the Celtics in 1982, and won a ***** le in his second of three seasons with Boston. The Indiana alum averaged 4.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.8 ***** ists, traded to the Indiana Pacers in 1983.

#played #draft

Tyrese Haliburton believes the Eastern Conference is finally better than the West originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 offseason has been quite eventful for the Eastern Conference. Jaylen Brown and LeBron James are now with the Philadelphia 76ers, Giannis Antetokounmpo is with the Miami Heat, and the New York Knicks are the defending champions.
It is one of the most loaded Eastern Conferences in a long time, and it could finally end the notion that the Western Conference is the better group. Now, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers believes that he is part of the stronger conference ahead of the 2026-27 season.
With all the moves that happened this offseason and the Pacers' impending comeback with Haliburton, the East is quite challenging to play against. It is one of the most loaded Eastern Conferences in recent memory, which is refreshing due to the many years that the Western Conference has dominated the league.
There are plenty of teams that are ready to compete, as the likes of Philly, Miami, New York, and Indiana are all prepared. At the same time, teams like the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons are still ready to compete at a high level.

#conference #eastern #tyrese #Miami

Indiana's major sports franchises are donating $250,000 to storm relief efforts, after severe winds and historic flooding caused at least seven storm-related deaths and property damage across Indiana.
The Indianapolis Colts and Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever, will donate a combined quarter-million dollars to the American Red Cross, the aid organization that funds disaster relief and operates emergency shelters. The teams made the joint announcement Aug. 16, saying each organization will give $125,000.
The Red Cross is providing shelter, food and other relief supplies to Hoosiers affected by the flooding. The money will help ensure families have access to critical ******* istance and recovery resources now, said Terry Stigdon, CEO of the American Red Cross Indiana Region.
The organization is currently operating or helping to run 13 emergency shelters for displaced residents, Stigdon said. The Red Cross sheltered more than 200 people overnight on Aug. 15 and distributed about 4,700 meals and snacks.
"The American Red Cross was here before the storms hit, we are here now and we will be here for the months to come to help people recover," Stigdon said.

#american #here #storm

Before Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, the point guard was well on his way to becoming a household name. Sure, Haliburton had been well-known to basketball fans for years at that point, but an NBA championship ring would've pushed him into another realm of stardom.
Alas, it wasn't meant to be after Haliburton went down midway through the first quarter of Game 7, with the Oklahoma City Thunder cruising to victory in his absence.
Haliburton's injury coming at the latest possible moment of the season meant he would miss the Pacers' entire 2025-26 campaign rehabbing. Hali would raise his national profile a bit by contributing to Prime Video's NBA Nightcap throughout the season, but the Pacers guard was largely out of sight and out of mind as the team finished 19-63, the worst record in franchise history.
But with Haliburton poised to make his return this upcoming season, and the Pacers looking to right the ship, Indiana would seem to be an intriguing team headed into 2026-27. Alas, the NBA schedule makers didn't find them intriguing enough to put the team in a national television window for Haliburton's return. The Pacers will open the season against the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 21 and it will not be nationally televised.
That news didn't sit well with Haliburton, who shared his feelings on a recent episode of the Numbers on the Board podcast.

#Pacers #haliburton #point

Tyrese Haliburton reveals that Giannis Antetokounmpo is impossibly hard to scheme against originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Now that he is on the Miami Heat, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a weapon for the team. Everyone in the NBA is familiar with his impact when he was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, but now he will be the star in South Beach alongside Bam Adebayo.
He is one of the most dominant players in the league, so it is not surprising that other players are wary of him and the Heat moving forward. As the Bucks' fiercest rivals, Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers were quite familiar with the Greek Freak.
Over the years, the Bucks and Pacers became fierce rivals. While the Bucks have had tremendous success, it seems Antetokounmpo and the team struggled to win against Haliburton's Pacers. It was a fierce rivalry with trash talk on both sides, but it seems Indiana won the war, especially with the two postseason series victories.
Despite how it looked, the Pacers did struggle against the Bucks from time to time. They might have a lot of wins against them, but head coach Rick Carlisle was hard at work making adjustments, setting up schemes, and preparing his team to play against the Bucks.

#Pacers #haliburton #indiana

Timesofindia.com in Galle: Quick single, a punch in the air followed by a jubilant jump before unleashing another punch. The helmet came off in a flash, and his arms spread wide to acknowledge the applause from the dressing room and the spectators braving the heat on the grass banks. It was a memorable moment for Devdutt Padikkal, who notched up his maiden Test hundred, and it couldn't have come at a better time, both for him and the country.

Playing a Test for the country after 632 days, he walked into bat after a moment of chaos between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who were involved in a terrible mix-up, but took the mantle seamlessly from the opener. Devdutt got off the mark with a boundary, danced down the track to launch Prabath Jayasuriya for a maximum early in the innings and showcased excellent footwork against both spin and pace. There wasn't much happening off the surface in the first session, but the odd delivery did surprise the batters, mostly because of the drift caused by the crosswinds.

Off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, introduced in the ninth over on his debut, got one to drift in and hold its line after pitching, but the bounce saved Devdutt, who wore a look of disbelief. No one expected that kind of ***** istance from the surface that early in the contest, and the remainder of the day showed that what happened in the 13th over was an anomaly. Except for the occasional delivery with more drift than usual, there wasn't much turn on offer, and Devdutt remained very busy and breezy in his approach, outscoring his senior partner, Rahul, with ease.

Like the spinners, pacers Lahiru ***** ara and Asitha Fernando also found little ***** istance. The two had their moments, but their effort wasn't consistent enough to challenge the visitors in the beautiful batting conditions. After the first rain break, Asitha bowled a testing spell to both Rahul and Devdutt, but both were seasoned enough to navigate the period, when moisture might have seeped into the surface because of the strong shower, and then feasted on some ordinary bowling.
While Rahul was happy to switch to blockathon mode, Devdutt kept the board moving at a fair clip. The Karnataka batters, who spend a lot of time off the field bonding over their mutual love for coffee, complemented each other really well. Rahul, who unfortunately retired hurt due to cramps, enjoys batting with Devdutt as the left-hander's positive approach allows him to switch to zen mode.

Devdutt remained in the driving seat of the 150-run stand, which put India in a dominant position on the opening day, maximizing the crucial toss Shubman Gill had won earlier. With the pitch expected to deteriorate in the coming days, India's best shot at winning the Test is to bat once and bat big, and both Devdutt and Rahul laid a solid foundation for that.

A couple of weeks ago, Devdutt was nowhere close to the playing XI, but an ill-timed injury to Sai Sudharsan opened up the No. 3 slot. The management, not

Two seasons ago, the Indiana Pacers won 50 games and then reached Game 7 of the NBA Finals before falling to the champion New York Knicks after star guard Tyrese Haliburton went down with a torn Achilles tendon.
Last season, with Haliburton out while rehabilitating from surgery, the Pacers dropped to 19-63, a franchise worst.
Now, Indiana tips off its 2026-27 regular season at New Orleans at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, before returning to Indianapolis on Friday, Oct. 23 for the home opener at Gainbridge Fieldhouse vs. the Dallas Mavericks at 7 p.m.
The Pacers announced the schedule Friday.
Among the highlights in a team news release:

#Friday #season