NBA storylines ahead of Finals showdown

The GIST: The NBA Finals are officially set: The Western Conference top seed Oklahoma City Thunder — armed with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — will take on the comeback king Indiana Pacers beginning Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

• Stay tuned for an official preview on the small-market series later this week, but until then, here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s Eastern Conference (EC) Finals finale.

🙌 Pacers reach NBA Finals for first time since 2000: Indiana knocked the NY Knicks out of the playoffs on Saturday, topping the ’Bockers 125–108 in Game 6 behind a double-digit effort from seven players, including EC Finals MVP Pascal Siakam.

• Indy was also powered by Tyrese Haliburton, who continues to pair his absolutely not overrated postseason performances with top-tier trolling, including jabs at Knicks superfan Ben Stiller. So much for the five Ds.

💔 NY heads home heartbroken: After reaching the EC Finals for the first time in 25 years, this Knicks season ended the same way as 2000: with a loss to the Pacers. That said, Jalen Brunson and Co. proved the new-look Knicks will be contenders for a while, especially after toppling the defending champ Boston Celtics and showcasing their signature grit throughout the postseason.

• All to say, this series breathed new life into a historic and only growing rivalry, brimming with starpower on and off the court. Don’t worry, Samantha Kylie — no more games until October.

😂 “Inside the NBA” signs off with profanity-laden broadcast: Thirty-five years and countless memes later, the iconic TNT show aired their final broadcast after Saturday’s Game 6.

• Have no fear, though — the legendary show helmed by Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson isn’t going away forever: “Inside the NBA” will air on ESPN beginning next season. Can’t mess with success.