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Pacers HC Rick Carlisle’s honest reaction to stunning Warriors for first 2025-26 win

Rick Carlisle expressed immense relief after the Indiana Pacers stunned the Golden State Warriors 114-109 on Saturday night. Entering the matchup, Indiana held an 0-5 record and had been plagued by multiple injuries to their core players, with star guard Tyrese Haliburton already sidelined for the entire season. Despite these challenges, the Pacers refused to roll over against the Warriors.

Trailing for most of the game, the Pacers mounted a fierce comeback in the fourth quarter, completing a rally to secure the home victory. Reflecting on the win, Carlisle, as reported by Tyler Smith, summed up his feelings succinctly: “It feels good to win one.”

### How Rick Carlisle and the Pacers Performed Against the Warriors

Rick Carlisle is thrilled to finally put an end to the Pacers’ winless streak to start the season. Pulling off a win against a healthy Warriors squad made the triumph even sweeter.

Golden State maintained the upper hand throughout the first three quarters, leading 88-82 going into the fourth. However, the Pacers woke up in the final period, outscoring the visitors 32-21 in the last 12 minutes of the game.

Free throws and turnovers proved decisive in this matchup. Indiana excelled in both areas, converting 24 of 28 attempts at the line while limiting turnovers to 12. Meanwhile, the Warriors made 19 of 24 free throws but committed 16 turnovers, which contributed to their downfall.

Four Pacers players scored in double figures. Aaron Nesmith led the charge with an impressive stat line of 31 points, six rebounds, and one assist. He shot 10-of-19 from the field, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, and was perfect from the free-throw line at 6-of-6.

Pascal Siakam added 27 points and five rebounds, Quenton Jackson contributed 25 points and 10 assists, and Isaiah Jackson chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds.

### Looking Ahead

The Pacers will look to build on this momentum as they remain at home for their next matchup. Indiana is set to host the Milwaukee Bucks on November 3 at 7 p.m. ET. Fans will be eager to see if the team can continue their winning ways.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-rick-carlisle-honest-reaction-stunning-warriors-first-2025-26-win

Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo reveals motivation to beat Knicks after trade rumors surfaced

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks delivered their first win over the New York Knicks since the start of the 2023-24 season, securing a commanding 121-111 victory. The Greek Freak led the charge with an impressive performance, scoring 37 points, providing eight assists, and grabbing seven rebounds.

This win was particularly special given the offseason rumors linking Giannis to the New York Knicks. The significance was heightened by the Bucks’ previous 3-0 sweep loss to the Knicks in the 2024-25 campaign.

“I don’t remember that. Right now I’m here representing my team, and that’s it. We beat the Knicks. So it doesn’t matter,” Giannis said, dismissing the trade rumors according to PFN. He also admitted that he didn’t pay much attention to the reports suggesting a move to New York.

“The Knicks didn’t just sweep us. They beat us really, really well. This year is different,” Giannis proclaimed, as reported by New York Daily News reporter Kristian Winfield.

Throughout the offseason, Giannis has been the subject of numerous trade rumors, with the Knicks frequently mentioned as a potential destination. They were considered frontrunners if Milwaukee’s star decided to leave. However, Giannis appears fully committed to the Bucks for at least the current campaign and is clearly pleased with how the team performed in this pivotal win.

Ryan Rollins contributed a career-high 25 points and added four steals to the Bucks’ strong showing. Gery Trent Jr. was the only other Bucks player to score in double digits, finishing with 11 points.

On the Knicks’ side, Jalen Brunson led the team with 36 points but suffered a leg injury midway through the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Mikal Bridges added 24 points as Milwaukee’s bench outscored New York’s reserves 34-18.

Karl-Anthony Towns struggled offensively, going 2-for-11 from the field despite pulling down 12 rebounds.

With this victory, the Bucks have improved their season record to 3-1. They will look to keep their momentum going when they face the Golden State Warriors at the Fiserv Forum, followed by a matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-giannis-antetokounmpo-motivation-beat-knicks-after-trade-rumors

Thunder get massive praise from Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith

Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith had high praises for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder as the 2025-26 NBA season kicked off. The Thunder are on a quest to repeat as NBA champions, having secured the title last season. Despite starting the campaign without Jalen Williams due to injury, the team held down the fort with a strong performance against the Houston Rockets in their season opener.

Barkley and Smith shared their thoughts on the Thunder ahead of the team’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers during a segment of *Inside the NBA* on Thursday. Barkley praised the squad for its impressive depth. “That’s why this team is a favorite. They’re the deepest team in the NBA. They’re two-deep, they’re pretty much three-deep in their positions. They got it all, so they are heavy favorites. But I’m telling you, man, they just plug and play, because as long as they got [Gilgeous-Alexander] and [Chet Holmgren], they got to be,” Barkley said.

Kenny Smith echoed this sentiment, highlighting the team’s balance even without its star players. “Let’s say Shai has to do something for a month, they’re still a playoff team. They would be a top eight team in the West without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—that’s how strong this team is,” Smith replied.

### How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder Played in the First Half vs. Pacers

The praise from Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith speaks volumes about the championship-level talent on the Thunder roster. Currently, Oklahoma City leads Indiana 54-47 at halftime in their first rematch since Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

Indiana is missing star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who will miss the entire season while rehabbing a torn Achilles. This absence has presented a challenge for the Pacers’ offense, which showed as Oklahoma City outscored them 32-22 in the second quarter.

Only two players on the Thunder have scored in double figures so far. Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the charge with 21 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. He’s been efficient, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and a near-perfect 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. Ajay Mitchell is next with 10 points and two rebounds, while Chet Holmgren has contributed five points and two steals.

### What’s Next for the Thunder?

Following this matchup, the Thunder will continue their road trip. They are set to face the Atlanta Hawks on October 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET. With their depth and star talent, Oklahoma City looks poised to make another strong run this season.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-okc-gets-massive-praise-charles-barkley-kenny-smith