{"id":3267,"date":"2025-06-16T14:56:37","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T18:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/bill-simmons-reveals-surprising-victor-in-nba-finals-game-1\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T14:56:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T18:56:41","slug":"bill-simmons-reveals-surprising-victor-in-nba-finals-game-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/bill-simmons-reveals-surprising-victor-in-nba-finals-game-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill Simmons Reveals Surprising Victor in NBA Finals Game 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Indiana Pacers emerged victorious over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the opening game of the NBA Finals. Tyrese Haliburton delivered a crucial game-winning shot, sealing a comeback victory for the Pacers despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive 38-point performance from 30 attempts.<\/p>\n

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Although the Thunder didn’t win, the game had its share of victors. The Pacers, Haliburton, and the fans anticipating a one-sided series all came out on top\u2014and unexpectedly, so did Nikola Jokic?<\/p>\n

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Bill Simmons brought up Jokic’s name while discussing the game’s outcome with Zach Lowe immediately after it concluded.<\/p>\n

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“My list of winners includes Nikola Jokic,” Simmons explained to Lowe. “Simply because I view OKC as an incredibly formidable team. Think about it; he nearly overcame Team USA and brought them to the edge. He pushed this OKC squad to seven games. Watching them in the first half, you\u2019d think, ‘oh my god, this team could go 84-18…'”<\/p>\n

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It appears that Simmons had formulated his views well before the game concluded, and he seemed eager to integrate them into the conversation, even though the actual results cast doubts on his assertion. Lowe was quick to argue that the Pacers’ victory actually made a stronger argument for Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks as the real winners.<\/p>\n

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This is despite the fact that the Knicks, much like Jokic with the Nuggets, had already faced their own defeats.<\/p>\n

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More NBA Coverage on Sports Illustrated<\/h3>\n

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