THE CORE THEME of this NBA Finals matchup might've been summed up in two powerful yet simple quotes this week. The first came from Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner, whose love of Lego is famous within the NBA,

The Northwestern details the important dates in Tyrese Haliburton's career as his Indiana Pacers prepare to play in the NBA Finals.

Indiana's Rick Carlisle is back in the Finals, continuing the dream he started pursuing while growing up in small-town New York.

Pascal Siakam reflects on his 6-year journey back to the NBA Finals, leading the Indiana Pacers into a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

For years, so-called superteams disrupted the NBA's competitive balance and dominated the league to build impenetrable dynasties. From the Golden State Warriors ' extended run as perennial Finals favorites to the Miami Heat's Big 3, franchises invested heavily in veteran superstars and leaned on them to establish a reign over the league.

WNBA season was set to build on last year’s momentum, with surging attendance, primetime TV slots, and a fresh crop of talent drawing new fans to the game. But just a few weeks into the season, Caitlin Clark’s quad injury has put the brakes on the Indiana Fever’s playoff hopes and offered a stark reminder of how fragile the league’s surge can be when its biggest star is sidelined.