Q: Does being in the East help us with getting Kevin Durant? Maybe the Suns don’t want KD in the West. Maybe KD wants the best chance to win and the East gives him that chance. It seems like the path would be easier in the next year being in the East. – Kristopher, Oceanside, Calif.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was introduced to the Grateful Dead four decades ago by then-Boston Celtics teammate Bill Walton.

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Indianapolis played host to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years and the home fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse witnessed a doozy of a game that saw their home team take another step toward a title.

Following the Oklahoma City Thunder's 111-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, the 2025 NBA Finals are tied at two games apiece.

In the playoffs thus far, Mathurin has been averaging 11.1 points on .504/.326/.865 shooting splits, plus 2.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists. He's converting the aforementioned 86.5 percent of his free throws while attempting 4.7 takes per bout, which makes it all the more disconcerting that he couldn't nail his attempts late.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips) AP

At the NBA Finals, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle is trying to shine a light on what he considers an important cause.