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Gilgeous-Alexander Named MVP, Indiana Takes the Lead in Eastern Conference Finals

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2024–2025 season.

Gilgeous-Alexander beat out Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić to become the second Canadian player to win this prestigious award, following Steve Nash, who won it in the 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 seasons. This continues the trend of international players dominating the award in recent years, as the last American to win it was James Harden in 2018.

Gilgeous-Alexander received 71 votes compared to Jokić’s 29. Jokić, a three-time MVP winner, was edged out as Gilgeous-Alexander became the third player in Oklahoma City history to win the award, following Kevin Durant (2013–2014) and Russell Westbrook (2016–2017).

Gilgeous-Alexander posted outstanding numbers this season, averaging 32.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, leading the Thunder to the league’s best regular-season record with 68 wins and 14 losses.

He also scored 20 or more points in 75 games, 30 or more in 49 games, 40 or more in 13 games, and reached the 50-point mark in 4 games. This means he scored at least 20 points in each of his last 72 games—the longest such streak in a single season since 1963–1964.

Indiana Takes the Lead in Eastern Conference Finals

Meanwhile, as the Canadian star aims for an NBA title with his team holding a 1–0 lead in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Indiana Pacers delivered a huge performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. They came back from a 14-point deficit with just 2 minutes and 51 seconds left in regulation to force overtime and ultimately defeat hosts New York Knicks 138–135.

It was the fourth time this season that the Pacers managed to overturn a 14-point or greater deficit in the playoffs, despite the Knicks—playing in their first conference final in 25 years—dominating most of the game and extending their lead to 14 points with about 3 minutes remaining. But Indiana responded strongly by sinking six three-pointers, including five from Aaron Nesmith, who scored 20 of his 30 total points in the fourth quarter.

The Pacers thought they had sealed the win when Tyrese Haliburton hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, but it was ruled a two-pointer, tying the game at 125–125 and forcing overtime.

Haliburton was Indiana’s top scorer with 31 points and 11 assists, while Nesmith added 30 points. On the other side, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 43 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 35 points.

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