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Exiled prince looks to lead Iranian people in ending Islamic Republic: ‘Our Berlin Wall moment’

The exiled prince of Iran has proposed leading the country’s democratic transition to end the Islamic Republic in a new speech Monday. 

‘Today, it is clearer than ever: The Islamic Republic is collapsing,’ Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the late last shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, said. ‘Credible reports indicate that Ali Khamenei’s family – and the families of senior regime officials – are making preparations to flee Iran. The regime is on its last legs, in towns and cities across the country. The military is fractured. The people are united. The foundations of this 46-year tyranny are shaking.’

‘This is our Berlin Wall moment,’ Pahlavi said from a press conference he called in Paris.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly hiding out in a bunker as the U.S. military pounded three Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. Amid concerns that he could be assassinated, Khamenei has cut off all electronic communications to his commanders, relying on a trusted aide to relay orders, the New York Times reported.

Pahlavi, whose father was the last monarch overthrown during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, said Monday that Iran currently stands at a crossroads, warning that the West handing the current regime a lifeline would only result in more bloodshed. 

‘The difference in these two roads depends on one factor and one factor alone: whether the current regime in Iran is allowed to survive,’ he said. ‘If the West throws the regime a lifeline there will be more bloodshed and chaos – because this regime will not submit or surrender after it has been humiliated. It will lash out. As long as it is in power, no country and no people are safe: whether on the streets of Washington, Paris, Jerusalem, Riyadh or Tehran.’

He argued for a ‘peaceful and democratic transition’ and said the only way to achieve peace was through ‘a secular, democratic Iran.’ 

‘I am here today to submit myself to my compatriots to lead them down this road to peace and a democratic transition,’ Pahlavi said. ‘I do not seek political power, but rather to help our great nation navigate through this critical hour toward stability, freedom, and justice.’ 

Pahlavi accused Khamenei of using the Iranian people as ‘human shields’ by hiding out in his bunker. 

‘Seeing the images of the people of Tehran forced to flee our beautiful capital, the explosions in Isfahan, the fires along the Persian Gulf, all fill me with pain. But more than pain, I am filled with anger because this war is the result of the selfishness, hatred, and terror of one man: Ali Khamenei,’ he said. ‘While he directs this war from the safety of his hidden bunker, he uses our people as human shields. It is time to end the suffering.’

In a direct message to Khamenei, Pahlavi said, ‘Step down. And if you do, you will receive a fair trial and due process of law. Which is more than you have ever given any Iranian.’

He said other senior regime officials would have to face justice but promised not to ‘repeat the mistakes made in other failed transitions.’

‘To those of you who are loyal to the Iranian nation, and not the Islamic Republic: there is a future for you in a democratic Iran, if you join the people now,’ Pahlavi said. ‘The choice is yours to make. I know these officers, these soldiers, these brave men exist because they are reaching out to me and telling me they want to be part of this national salvation. But now, greater coordination is needed.’ 

Pahlavi announced that he is establishing ‘a formal channel for military, security, and police personnel to reach out directly to me, my team, and our expanding operation.’ He promised that it was a ‘secure platform to efficiently manage the growing volume of inbound communications and requests from those breaking with the regime and seeking to join our movement.’ 

He said the international community was right to be concerned about stopping nuclear weapons and securing regional stability. Although the destruction of the three nuclear sites at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow has ‘diminished the regime’s domestic nuclear enrichment,’ Pahlavi warned that the U.S. strikes did ‘not diminish the regime’s intent to acquire and use nuclear weapons.’

‘The regime, enraged and emboldened, will be seeking revenge and can acquire nuclear weapons from other rogue regimes like North Korea,’ he said. ‘The destruction of the regime’s nuclear facilities alone will not deliver peace.’ 

Pahlavi said he was ‘stepping forward to lead this national transition – not out of personal interest but as a servant of the Iranian people.’ He said he has a ‘clear plan for transition and national renewal’ based on three core principles: Iran’s territorial integrity; individual liberties and equality of all citizens; and separation of religion and state. Pahlavi proposed convening a ‘national unity summit’ of activists, dissidents, business leaders, professionals, experts and other groups outside of politics. 

The goal would be for them to together develop a roadmap to democratic transition, and he said the ‘final form of this future democracy we seek will be for the Iranian people to decide in a national referendum.’ 

Pahlavi also said he developed a three-phase, comprehensive plan for the ‘economic reconstruction and social stabilization’ of the country. He promised that his team of experts ‘will publish the plans for the first 100 days after the collapse of the Islamic Republic based on this work.’ 

‘We are bringing together some of the world’s greatest investors, builders, entrepreneurs, and experts who care about Iran and see its immense potential,’ he said. 

Before opting for U.S. military intervention, President Donald Trump reportedly was working with Turkey to coordinate a diplomatic resolution to the Israel-Iran conflict and cut a nuclear deal, but the ayatollah did not engage. According to Axios, sources said Trump offered to send Vice President JD Vance and White House envoy Steve Witkoff for negotiations, and Trump offered to come to Turkey himself if it meant meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. 

Turkey relayed the proposal to its Iranian counterparts, who reportedly could not reach Khamenei for hours. Without the ayatollah’s sign-off, the proposed meeting was called off. 

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Trump slams Russia’s casual threat to arm Iran with nuclear weapons: ‘That’s why Putin’s the boss’

President Donald Trump took a swipe at former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for suggesting that other countries would step in to supply Iran with nuclear warheads in retaliation for the U.S. strikes on Saturday that targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities. 

‘Did I hear Former President Medvedev, from Russia, casually throwing around the ‘N word’ (Nuclear!), and saying that he and other Countries would supply Nuclear Warheads to Iran? Did he really say that or, is it just a figment of my imagination? If he did say that, and, if confirmed, please let me know, IMMEDIATELY. The ‘N word’ should not be treated so casually. I guess that’s why Putin’s ‘THE BOSS,’’ Trump said in a Truth Social Post on Monday. 

Trump’s comments came after Medvedev, now the deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, said that Iran would continue to advance its nuclear program and would receive assistance from other nations to do so. 

‘The enrichment of nuclear material — and, now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons — will continue,’ Medvedev said in a Sunday X post. 

‘A number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads,’ Medvedev said.

He did not specify which countries could be involved in providing Iran with nuclear capabilities, but Russia historically has supported Iran’s nuclear program. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin also offered to broker peace talks between Iran and Israel. 

Likewise, Moscow has also offered to intervene and help negotiate a nuclear deal between the U.S. and Iran. 

Moscow was involved in the 2015 Iran deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The agreement lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on Iran’s nuclear program, but Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018.

On Saturday, the U.S. launched strikes late Saturday targeting key Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. The mission involved more than 125 U.S. aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers, according to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine. 

Trump also touted the success of a guided-missile nuclear submarine involved in the strikes, which launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at key Iranian targets. 

‘By the way, if anyone thinks our ‘hardware’ was great over the weekend, far and away the strongest and best equipment we have, 20 years advanced over the pack, is our Nuclear Submarines,’ Trump said Monday in the Truth Social post. ‘They are the most powerful and lethal weapons ever built, and just launched the 30 Tomahawks — All 30 hit their mark perfectly. So, in addition to our Great Fighter Pilots, thank you to the Captain and Crew!’

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What Rick Carlisle said of Tyrese Haliburton’s injury in NBA Finals

Tyrese Haliburton suffered a lower leg injury, suspected to be an Achilles injury, during Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Haliburton’s injury occurred in the first quarter, forcing him out of the game, which the Pacers ultimately lost.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle declined to comment on the specifics of the injury after the game.
Haliburton was seen on crutches post-game but Carlisle expressed confidence in his full recovery.

Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton fell to the court in pain during the first quarter of the 103-91 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, June 22, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Haliburton had been playing through a right calf injury, but his prognosis became worse when ESPN’s Lisa Salters reported Haliburton had suffered an Achilles injury on the play that ended his season.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle could not confirm a diagnosis for Haliburton during his postgame press conference in Oklahoma City. But he did give some insight into his reaction to the injury.

“I’m not talking about his injury,” Carlisle said. “I’m not giving you — I have no idea. I haven’t heard anything about a diagnosis or anything.”

What Rick Carlisle said about Tyrese Haliburton postgame

“What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped,” Carlisle said. “He will be back. I don’t have any medical information about what may or may not have happened, but he’ll be back in time, and I believe he’ll make a full recovery.”

Haliburton interacted with the team in the locker room at halftime and was praised by Carlisle after the game.

“He authored one of the great individual playoff runs in the history of the NBA with dramatic play after dramatic play,” Carlisle said. “It was just something that no one’s ever seen and did it as 1 of 17. You know, that’s the beautiful thing about him. As great a player as he is, it’s always a team thing.”

Haliburton was the Pacers’ spark plug throughout the NBA playoffs, dazzling with a bevy of clutch shots, skillful scoring and late-game heroics.

Haliburton averaged 17.7 points, 9.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds in 22 postseason games this season. He had nine points when he exited in the first quarter — all on 3-pointers — and his absence was felt as the Thunder pulled away in the third quarter to erase the 48-47 Pacers lead at halftime.

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Pacers come up short again. Is their title window already closed?

For the second consecutive season, the Indiana Pacers exceeded external expectations and pressed deep into the NBA playoffs.

But, also for the second consecutive season, they fell short of their objective of winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy. And in each case, the Pacers were eliminated by the eventual NBA champions.

The most difficult part for the Pacers is that, with star point guard Tyrese Haliburton going down early in Game 7 with an Achilles injury, Indiana never got its chance to fully put its best foot forward. Now, it must ponder the what-ifs over the course of an entire offseason.

The Oklahoma City Thunder dispatched Indiana on Sunday, June 22, 103-91, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, one year after the Pacers made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference finals. Behind the clutch play of Haliburton, the steady offensive production of forward Pascal Siakam and overall team buy-in that saw drastic improvements on defense, the Pacers proved that they can be a formidable force, confounding and frustrating some of the NBA’s best teams. But can this roster, as currently constructed, with Haliburton now potentially sidelined deep into next season, win an NBA Finals?

“No moral victories, obviously,” Pacers backup point guard T.J. McConnell said after the game. “Deflated. But proud of everything we’ve accomplished. There’s no award for second place, obviously, so everyone’s upset.”

Both last year, against the Boston Celtics, and this season against the Thunder, the Pacers met opponents who had just a little bit more. More consistent star power (Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams), more effective defenses, more versatility needed to win.

Indiana wouldn’t be the only good team to ultimately miss out on its championship window.

The Utah Jazz made the playoffs 20 consecutive seasons from 1984-2003. In a seven-year stretch from 1992 through 1998, they reached the Western Conference finals five times and made consecutive trips to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998. But they didn’t win the title.

The Phoenix Suns earned 13 consecutive postseason berths from 1989 through 2001. They made the Finals in 1993, but lost.

The Seattle SuperSonics (who later became the Thunder) under George Karl also come to mind. They lost in the championship round in 1996.

Each of those squads ran into Michael Jordan in the Finals.

And though No. 23 has been retired since 2003, the young Thunder are set up to contend for multiple titles.

“I told these guys coming into this that there’s no feel-good scenario when you get to the Finals and are unable to get it done,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.

The Pacers do have a formula that works. They sprint out in transition and are so well conditioned that they can full-court press on defense. With their tempo, they can exhaust opponents and be a nightmare to defend.

But Haliburton is the team’s engine. He is the one who dictates the tempo at which the Pacers play. Without him, Indiana struggles to create open looks; just look at the third and fourth quarters in Game 7 as proof, when the ball stagnated and McConnell was the only source of offense.

If Haliburton does indeed miss most of next season, Carlisle will need to get creative to keep the Pacers afloat until he’s able to return — if he’s able to return at all. Unquestionably, McConnell and backup guard Bennedict Mathurin will need to step up.

But, realistically, even when he is healthy, the team often needed more consistent scoring from Haliburton, who is one of the game’s premier distributors, but a player who often defers too much to his teammates.

Siakam is a star player, guard Andrew Nembhard and forward Aaron Nesmith are steady, rotation role players. Mathurin can often ignite off the bench, though he is susceptible to error-prone play on occasion.

Center Myles Turner, a key presence on both ends, is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Indiana, whether it’s Turner or not, needs to find a solution at the 5.

Regardless, the Pacers might still be a piece or two away. Perhaps they can bypass that if Mathurin, who turned 23 on June 19, continues to develop and embraces efficiency. Regardless, these two deep playoff runs have proven that the Pacers are lacking — though, to be clear, it’s not by much.

As the players from so many good but not great teams before them can attest, championship windows typically close just as quickly as they spring up.

‘We tried our best,” Siakam said after the game. ‘But at the end of the day, you win some, you lose some, and we’ve just got to be strong and keep going. I told everyone, I love every single one of these guys, and I wouldn’t do it with anybody else. I’m super proud. So proud of the team.

‘But, you know, it’s hard to look forward into the future after you lose like this.’

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‘Mofo…in the White House’: Jasmine Crockett attacks Trump, praises Massie in anti-Iran strike rant

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, launched another tirade against President Donald Trump over the weekend, while offering rare praise for one of her House GOP colleagues who is currently at odds with the commander in chief.

The Democratic firebrand took to Instagram Live late Saturday to criticize Trump’s strikes on Iran, while giving a ‘shout out’ to Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., over his bipartisan resolution to rein in the president’s ability to conduct such operations.

‘So long story short, for those of you that are unaware, the mofo that resides in the White House has unilaterally, in my estimation, declared war,’ Crockett said in the video.

‘Mofo’ is often used as a shorthand term for the curse phrase ‘motherf—er.’

Crockett, an outspoken progressive, is part of the chorus of voices on the left accusing Trump of wrongly bypassing Congress in his military operation against Tehran’s nuclear sites.

Trump officials have maintained that they are in compliance with the War Powers Act.

‘We are living in this time in which there is someone who is occupying the White House who does not care about any rules, any norms, any laws, nor the Constitution. And we cannot be a civilized country if there is no law and order,’ Crockett said.

She then launched an attack on Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration, accusing him of doing more harm with his strikes on Iran.

‘I know that they may claim, ‘We law and order, blah blah blah. So go get the undocumented people and let’s try to ship them out.’ Let me tell you something – they are not the people that are putting us in harm’s way,’ Crockett said.

‘It is him and his administration that is putting us in harm’s way.’

Crockett called on her supporters to confront Trump supporters, adding, ‘I literally need you to wake them the f— up, because everything since he has stepped into office has done nothing other than put us in harm’s way.’

Later in the roughly 20-minute video, Crockett asked her supporters living in Republican-held districts to reach out to their representatives in Congress.

‘We need action now, and that is going to take a few Republicans, like, getting on the right page,’ she said. 

‘And right now there’s only one Republican that I know I can count on for sure doing the right thing. And that’s going to be Thomas Massie. The rest of them, it’s a little bit questionable.’

Foreign entanglements, particularly when the U.S. military is involved, are an issue that’s made for strange political bedfellows in the past.

When the House passed emergency foreign aid last year in separate packages by region, each passed with bipartisan support – while also seeing ‘no’ votes from dovish progressives and conservatives wary of U.S. involvement overseas.

Trump’s weekend strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities are no different. While the move gained wide support from Republican leaders and some pro-Israel Democrats, a small group of conservatives has expressed varying levels of concern.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., posted on X that she could ‘support President Trump and his great administration on many of the great things they are doing while disagreeing on bombing Iran and getting involved in a hot war that Israel started.’

Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, commended the ‘strength and precision’ of the strikes to Fox News Digital on Sunday but argued Congress needed to regain its ‘war powers.’

‘While President Trump has legal precedent on his side, the legal reality underscores how far we’ve drifted from the constitutional order,’ Davidson said.

Massie, who has been one of the most consistent lawmakers in Congress regarding his skepticism of foreign entanglements, is leading a resolution alongside Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., to limit Trump’s war powers on Iran.

He told Fox News Digital on Sunday that he hoped to force a vote on the bipartisan measure and signaled cautious optimism that it could succeed.

‘I think it could [pass the House], because we have such a tight majority. And the Democrats aren’t very consistent about war, but when there’s a Republican in the White House, they find their religion, their anti-war religion again,’ Massie said.

When reached about Crockett’s video the White House pointed Fox News Digital to comments by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

‘The last time I checked, Jasmine Crockett couldn’t dream of winning such a majority of the public as President Trump did. And the America First movement, which President Trump has built, is filled of hardworking patriots, the forgotten men and women, business owners, law enforcement officers, nurses, and teachers. And middle America – as we all know, you know, from where you all grew up, outside of this beltway – that’s who makes up this president’s movement,’ Leavitt said. ‘Jasmine Crockett should go to a Trump rally sometime, and she can see it for herself.’

Meanwhile, a White House official told Fox News Digital, ‘The fact Jasmine Crockett is siding with Massie tells you everything you need to know about both of them!’

Fox News Digital also reached out to Massie’s office for comment on Crockett’s video.

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Russia claims US strikes on Iran have opened a ‘Pandora’s box’ and could lead to global ‘nuclear catastrophe’

Russia’s United Nations ambassador is claiming the Trump administration’s devastating airstrikes on Iran have opened a ‘Pandora’s box’ and could lead to a global ‘nuclear catastrophe.’ 

Vassily Nebenzia, speaking during an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday, said Russia ‘vehemently condemns the irresponsible, dangerous, and provocative actions taken by the USA against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is a sovereign country and a U.N. member state.’ 

‘Through its actions, the U.S. has opened Pandora’s box, and no one knows what new consequences this may lead to,’ Nebenzia said. 

‘I think it is obvious to everyone in this chamber that unless we stop the escalation, the Middle East will find itself on the brink of a large-scale conflict, which is fraught with unpredictable consequences for the entire international security architecture. And the whole world could find itself on the verge of a nuclear catastrophe,’ he added. 

Nebenzia also accused the Trump administration of being ‘completely unconcerned about either the radiological consequences or the threat to the lives and health of a huge number of civilians, including women and children, in the region and beyond’ following the airstrikes Saturday on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities during Operation Midnight Hammer. 

‘We have persistently offered our American colleagues our mediation services so as to find a peaceful and mutually agreeable solution to the contradictions surrounding the Iranian nuclear program. But it appears that diplomacy is not what our U.S. colleagues currently need. Responsibility for all this falls squarely on the shoulders of the American leadership,’ Nebenzia said, calling for ‘all parties to exercise restraint and return into the fold of international diplomacy and negotiations.’ 

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi also said Monday, ‘Given the explosive payload utilized, and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred’ at Fordow. 

‘At the Isfahan nuclear site, additional buildings were hit, with the U.S. confirming their use of cruise missiles,’ he added. ‘Affected buildings include some related to the uranium conversion process. Also at this site, entrances to tunnels used for the storage of enriched material appear to have been hit.

‘At the Natanz enrichment site, the Fuel Enrichment Plant was hit, with the U.S. confirming that it used ground-penetrating munitions,’ Grossi said.

‘Iran has informed the IAEA that there was no increase in off-site radiation levels at all three sites,’ he added. 

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Report: Tyrese Haliburton injured Achilles in NBA Finals Game 7

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton suffered an Achilles injury in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, according to his father.
Haliburton’s dad, John Haliburton, told ESPN that the injury will sideline him for the remainder of Game 7 vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Clarity is coming after Tyrese Haliburton suffered what appeared to be an excruciating injury in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

John Haliburton, the father of the Indiana Pacers star, told ESPN his son suffered an Achilles injury in the first quarter of the winner-take-all game against the Thunder on Sunday, June 22, in Oklahoma City.

‘What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped,’ Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. ‘He will be back. I don’t have any medical information about what may or may not have happened, but he’ll be back in time, and I believe he’ll make a full recovery.’

Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury update

Haliburton showed signs of visible pain and frustration while he was down on the court with 5:02 left in the quarter. He went down after catching a pass from Obi Toppin and attempting to make a move with the ball past Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

‘Mr. Haliburton confirmed that it is an Achilles injury,’ sideline reporter Lisa Salters said on the ESPN broadcast. ‘He said Tyrese was doing as well as he can be under the circumstances. He says the entire family was back (in the locker room) with him, his mom, his dad, his brother.

Haliburton suffered a right calf injury in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series and was questionable for Game 6 but managed to play in the game. Haliburton was deemed healthy enough to play in Game 7.

After suffering the injury, Haliburton was seen being embraced by teammates on the court before he was helped back to the locker room with a towel over his head. He did not return to the game.

The Pacers rallied in the first half and led the Thunder 48-47 at the break. Haliburton had nine points in seven minutes of play in the first quarter.

‘He says that he seems to be in good spirits,’ Salters said on the broadcast. ‘He’s watching the game, and he’s trying to root on his team from back in the locker room.’

The Pacers couldn’t overcome the loss of Haliburton and struggled to take advantage of their halftime lead in the second half, eventually losing Game 7 to the Thunder 103-91.

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Thunder wins NBA championship: Highlights from victory over Pacers

The Oklahoma City Thunder started the season with a victory and ended the season with a victory.

The Thunder capped a dominant season with a 103-91 triumph against the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, giving the franchise its first NBA championship since relocating to Oklahoma City from Seattle in 2008.

It was not easy for the Thunder even with the Pacers missing star guard Tyrese Haliburton who left the game with 4:55 left in the first quarter due to a lower right leg injury.

The Pacers’ resilience makes an opponent earn each victory, and the Thunder were challenged in the series more than they had been in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Thunder pulled away in the third and fourth quarters – carried by stars and depth that produced the best defensive team and No. 3 offensive team this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered 29 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, two blocks and one steal and became the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to win a title, regular-season MVP and Finals MVP in the same season.

All-Star Jalen Williams scored 20 points, and Chet Holmgren added 18 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. Off the bench, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace each had 10 points and three steals.

The Thunder won a league-best 68 regular-season games and 16 playoff games, becoming the third team in NBA history to win at least 84 games and capture the title in the same season.

In this mini-era of NBA parity – Oklahoma City is the seventh different champion in the past seven seasons – the Thunder are set up roster-wise to compete for multiple championship. They are also the second-youngest team to win a title in the past 50 seasons.

While the Thunder celebrated, a deflating pall hung over the Pacers’ loss. Haliburton, who suffered a right calf strain in Game 5 and played through it in Game 6, sustained the injury with 5:02 remaining in the first quarter trying to drive by Gilgeous-Alexander. He left the game when Indiana called timeout seconds later.

The Pacers’ mental and physical strength powered them to a 48-47 halftime lead, and the score was 56-56 with 8:32 left in the third quarter. But Haliburton’s absence was too much to overcome. Oklahoma City outscored Indiana 25-12 in the final 8:16 of the third for an 81-68 lead headed into the final quarter and pushed its advantage to 90-68 with 7:41 left in the fourth.

The Pacers’ 23 turnovers led to 32 Thunder points. Too many possessions without a shot attempt proved detrimental for Indiana.

Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 24 points and 13 rebounds, and T.J. McConnell and Pascal Siakam each scored 16 points.

Celebrate Thunder’s NBA title with gear, books, keepsakes

NBA Finals Game 7 final score

Indiana Pacers — 91
Oklahoma City Thunder — 103

NBA Finals MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder star, is commonly referred to by initials, SGA. You can also call him MVP – not only of the 2024-25 regular season but now of the 2025 NBA Finals, too.

Gilgeous-Alexander became the first Canadian to win the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award after scoring 29 points and adding 12 assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 103-91 win in Game 7.

Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.3 points, 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals and shot 44.3% from the field in the Finals. That made him the clear pick for Finals MVP honors, and he put his name in elite company.

Gilgeous-Alexander became the 11th player in NBA history to win the league MVP and Finals MVP in the same season, joining Willis Reed (1969-70), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71), Moses Malone (1982-83), Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86), Magic Johnson (1986-87), Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98), Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94), Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00), Tim Duncan (2002-03) and LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13). — Josh Peter

NBA Finals score: Two minutes to play

Two free throws by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has extended the Thunder lead to 98-86 with 1:51 remaining in the game.

Pacers staging late rally

After falling behind by 21 points, Indiana has proceeded on a 11-2 run that has made things slightly interesting in OKC.

The Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin drove for a layup to cut Indiana’s deficit to 12 points at 91-79. The Thunder have called timeout with 4:45 remaining to go.

NBA Finals Game 7 score: Thunder opening things up

OKC has started the fourth and final quarter of this NBA season on an 8-0 run, the last three coming on a Jalen Williams 3-pointer. The Thunder now lead 89-68, opening up a 21-point lead with just 8:27 remaining.

End Q3: Thunder 81, Pacers 68

If the Indiana Pacers cannot hold onto the ball, they will lose the NBA Finals.

Already without star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, sidelined with an Achilles injury, Indiana’s inability to get quality possessions allowed the Thunder to open a 13-point lead – their largest of the game – headed into the final quarter of the NBA season.

The Thunder are harassing Pacers guards and using active hands to deflect and force errant passes. In the first four-and-a-half minutes of the third, the Pacers committed four turnovers. In the third, they committed eight. Overall, they have given it away 17 times.

Oklahoma City has turned those turnovers into a massive advantage; the Thunder are leading the battle in points off turnovers by a margin of 27-5.

Oklahoma City has four players in double figures, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading all players with 22 points and 10 assists.

Backup Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell, once again, had a massive third quarter, scoring 12 points in the period, to give him a team-high 16. In fact, McConnell scored the final 12 Pacers points of the period.

Tyrese Haliburton injury: Dad calls it ‘an Achilles injury’

John Haliburton, the father of Tyrese Haliburton, told reporter Lisa Salters that the Pacers star suffered an ‘Achilles injury’ during the first quarter of Game 7.

‘He said that Tyrese is doing as well as he can be under the circumstances and the entire family was back there with him. …’ Salters said. ‘He says that (Tyrese) is in good spirits and he is watching the game and he is trying to root on his team from back in the locker room.’

How to watch Pacers vs Thunder in NBA Finals Game 7

Time: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City)
TV: ABC
Stream: Fubo, Sling TV

Q2: Pacers 48, Thunder 47

The Indiana Pacers are showing some resilience without Tyrese Haliburton.

Despite Haliburton suffering a non-contact, right lower leg injury in the first quarter that knocked him out of the game, the Pacers, thanks to their depth and balance, are have taken a one-point lead into halftime after outscoring Oklahoma City by four in the period.

The Pacers have embraced a swarming defense, high energy and off-ball movement on offense to make up for Haliburton’s absence. Eight different Pacers have scored, with four of them having at least eight points. Forward Pascal Siakam leads all Indiana players with 10 points.

The 3-point shot is keeping Indiana in this game; the Pacers shot 8-of-16 from deep, while Oklahoma City – as it has for most of the Finals – struggled from deep, hitting just 4-of-18 (22.2%) of its looks from 3-point range.

For the Thunder, NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the way with 16 points, though his most important contribution thus far may be his shot creation for his teammates; SGA dished out seven assists.

Oklahoma City has worked the ball into paint and is outscoring Indiana down low by a margin of 20-12. The Thunder have also forced Indiana into nine turnovers.

End Q1: Thunder 25, Pacers 22

A shadow, unfortunately, hung over the first quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

The Thunder took a three-point lead in what was a back-and-forth period, but that will be overshadowed by an apparent serious right leg injury to star Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton.

With 5:02 in the period, when trying to blow past Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Haliburton tumbled to the floor with a non-contact injury. Haliburton immediately slapped the floor in pain and discomfort, expression obvious emotion, appearing to shout “no” repeatedly.

After trainers spent several minutes tending to him, Haliburton was eventually helped off the floor and into the locker room with a towel draped over his head.

Haliburton had been aggressive with his shot, scoring 9 points on 3-of-5 shooting, with all makes coming from 3-point range.

Despite Haliburton going down, the Pacers were able to stabilize, inserting backup guard T.J. McConnell into the game.

The Pacers are shooting 38.1%, while Oklahoma City is shooting 50%.

Backup guard Alex Caruso came into the game and hit a pair of quick 3s to chip in 6 points, while Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder with 8 points on 3-of-6 shooting.

Tyrese Haliburton injury

Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton went down with a scary injury with 5:02 left in the first quarter. Haliburton slipped with 5:02 on the clock after catching a pass from Obi Toppin and trying to drive by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He was emotional, pounding on the court as his teammates circled around him.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers timeline

With everything on the line, both teams came out with energy and intent.

But it was the visiting Indiana Pacers who took the early lead at the first media timeout.

The Pacers are up 14-10 through the first five minutes of action, with Indiana shooting a blistering 66.7% from beyond the arc. Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton was aggressive with his shot, particularly the 3, hitting 3-of-4 attempts from deep.

Haliburton leads all players with 9 points.

The Thunder are shooting 57.1% from the floor, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way with 6 points. 

NBA Finals national anthem

Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and Oklahoma native Kristin Chenoweth (aka Glinda from the musical ‘Wicked’) gave a rousing rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ before the start of Game 7.

What time is Pacers vs Thunder game today?

The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local) at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

Watch the NBA Finals with Fubo

Where is Game 7 between the Pacers and Thunder?

The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers in a decisive Game 7 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

Pacers vs. Thunder Game 7 starting lineups

Indiana Pacers

Aaron Nesmith
Pascal Siakam
Myles Turner
Andrew Nembhard
Tyrese Haliburton

Oklahoma City Thunder

Jalen Williams
Chet Holmgren
Isaiah Hartenstein
Lu Dort
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Thunder already have NBA championship buses; Pacers coach not happy

Oklahoma City Thunder officials are certainly confident of a Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals. Buses were seen at the Paycom Center, primed and painted and ready for a victory parade, with the words 2025 NBA Champions on them before Sunday’s winner-take-all game against the Indiana Pacers.

Word of the colorfully painted buses got around to Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who no doubt will use that as motivation to ruin any championship plans by the Thunder.

“I just saw a video that’s probably going to go viral of some buses, open-top buses, presumably for the parade that are already painted with them as champions. That’s all I’m thinking about right now,” Carlisle said.

Indiana is looking to become the first road team to win a Game 7 on the road since the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors in 2016.

Pacers-Thunder Game 7 referees

James Capers (13th Finals; officiated Game 3)
Josh Tiven (Sixth Finals; officiated Game 4)
Sean Wright (Second Finals; officiated Game 4)

Pacers vs. Thunder odds: NBA Finals Game 7

The Oklahoma City Thunder are favorites to win the series vs. the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, according to BetMGM (odds as of afternoon of Sunday, June 22):

Spread: Thunder (-6.5)
Moneyline: Thunder (-275); Pacers (+220)
Over/under: 215.5

Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals Game 7 predictions

USA TODAY: Majority pick Thunder

Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder 101, Pacers 96
Lorenzo Reyes: Thunder 107, Pacers 106
Scooby Axson: Pacers 116, Thunder 113
James Williams: Thunder 110, Pacers 105
Jordan Mendoza: Thunder 102, Pacers 99

How many Finals have the Oklahoma City Thunder won?

The Oklahoma City Thunder have one NBA championship. However, it came in 1979 when the team was the Seattle SuperSonics. They have not won a title since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008.

How many Finals have the Indiana Pacers won?

The Indiana Pacers have not won an NBA championship. They have two Eastern Conference titles (2000, 2025).

What was the last NBA Finals to go to Game 7?

The most recent NBA Finals to reach a Game 7 came in 2016 when the Cleveland Cavaliers won their first championship in franchise history. The Cavs were down 3-1 against the Golden State Warriors through the first four games before winning two games in a row to tie the series. Cleveland then won Game 7 on the road and became the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals.

How many NBA Finals have gone to a Game 7?

The NBA Finals have gone to a full seven games 19 times in the league’s history. The first seven-game series was in 1951 when the Rochester Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) won Game 7 at home over the New York Knicks. The first 12 of those 19 seven-game series occurred in the 1950s, 60s or 70s, with just seven taking place since. The last time an NBA Finals went to a Game 7 was 2016, when the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Golden State Warriors on the road in the decisive game.

The Lakers have played in nine Game 7s – the first two as the Minneaplis Lakers before moving to Los Angeles – which is the most in NBA history. But the Lakers have only won four of those nine games. The Boston Celtics are 7-1 when playing in a Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

How many teams have won Game 7 of the NBA Finals on the road?

The Indiana Pacers have a chance to etch their name in a very exclusive list should they win the NBA championship: winning a Game 7 on the road. When the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals, they became just the fourth team in NBA history to win a Game 7 on the road. Here are the four teams that won the decisive Game 7 on their opponent’s home court (home in italics):

2016: Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Golden State Warriors
1978: Washington Bullets defeated Seattle Supersonics
1974: Boston Celtics defeated Milwaukee Bucks
1969: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Finals MVP odds

Players with the best odds to win the Most Valuable Player award of the 2025 NBA Finals, according to BetMGM (odds as of afternoon of Sunday, June 22):

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder): -235
Pascal Siakam (Pacers): +310
Jalen Williams (Thunder): +1200
Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers): +1500
TJ McConnell (Pacers): +10000
Obi Toppin (Pacers): +25000

NBA Finals schedule: Thunder vs. Pacers

Game 1, June 5: Pacers 111, Thunder 110
Game 2, June 8: Thunder 123, Pacers 107
Game 3, June 11: Pacers 116, Thunder 107
Game 4, June 13: Thunder 111, Pacers 104
Game 5, June 16: Thunder 120, Pacers 109
Game 6, June 19: Pacers 108, Thunder 91
Game 7, June 22: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8 p.m.

Pacers vs. Thunder NBA Finals Game 7 TV channel

ABC is televising Game 7 of the NBA Finals between Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT).

How to stream NBA Finals Game 7: Pacers vs. Thunder

Game 7 between the Thunder and Pacers is available on ABC. Fans can also stream the action with Sling TV and Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.

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Sports

Winners and losers from LSU’s College World Series title

After winning a mesmerizing pitching duel in Saturday night’s College World Series opener, LSU took advantage of Coastal Carolina’s sloppy start and won, 5-3, on Sunday, June 22 to capture the eighth national championship in program history.

The two-game sweep solidifies the Tigers’ place among the very upper crust of college baseball. Only one program has won more: Southern California has won an even dozen, though none since 1998.

For Coastal Carolina, it’s a heartbreaking and disappointing end to what had been a dream run to the doorstep of the Chanticleers’ second championship, following the 2016 team that came out of relative anonymity and defeated Arizona in the finals.

Coastal Carolina head coach Kevin Schnall and first-base coach Matt Schilling were ejected in the first inning of Sunday’s clincher for “continued arguing about balls and strikes,” the NCAA said in a statement.

Given where they started the year, though, and the lower expectations after an offseason coaching change, the appearance in Omaha opposite LSU establishes Coastal as maybe the best program outside the non-major conferences.

Looking back at the entire tournament, here are the winners and losers from this year’s CWS:

WINNERS

LSU

Talent eventually won out. That was apparent on Saturday night, when LSU sophomore Kade Anderson put together the first complete-game shutout in the CWS finals since 2018 and just the third since the championship series was added into the tournament format in 2003. What the Tigers had was room for error — and more than enough athleticism and MLB-level ability to take advantage of any opportunity provided by the Chanticleers’ missteps. Handed that opportunity on Sunday afternoon, LSU plated a run in the third and four in the fourth on a pair of two-run singles.

Coastal Carolina

The Chanticleers will always have that 23-game winning streak heading into Omaha, Nebraska, which passed the previous record heading into the College World Series set by Oregon State in 2017. They added three more to push that run to 26 games before meeting LSU. That the magic ran out in the best-of-three finals is the biggest source of disappoint from Coastal, which felt like a team of destiny in overcoming several big-name programs in the regional and super regional rounds before breezing through the double-elimination section of the World Series.

The SEC

LSU gives the SEC five national championships in a row: Vanderbilt in 2019, Mississippi State in 2021, Mississippi in 2022, the Tigers in 2023 and Tennessee last season. It hadn’t been a picture-perfect tournament for the conference, which placed a record-setting 13 teams in the tournament but had just four reach the super regionals. The Tigers’ win this weekend erases the league’s inept run through the first two weekends and cements the SEC as the top baseball conference in the country.

Murray State

The Racers were the feel-good story of the tournament after making the program’s CWS debut. Beyond a distinct lack of national success, Murray State simply wasn’t expected to reach that stage even after booking a spot in the 64-team field: Underdogs in the Oxford regional against Mississippi, the Racers beat the Rebels to reach the program’s first super regional and then rallied out of another hole with a pair of wins against Duke to become just the fourth regional No. 4 seed to reach Omaha.

Gage Wood

While Arkansas was unable to mount a winning streak and reach the finals, Wood had the tournament’s defining moment with his epic 19-strikeout no-hitter against the Racers. The no-no was the first in Omaha since 1960 and his strikeout total set a new record for a nine-inning game. Before that performance, Wood had gone more than five innings in a start just once all season with just one start with double-digit strikeouts.

LOSERS

Arkansas

The long dry run continues for the Razorbacks. Arkansas has now made 12 CWS appearances with two trips to the finals, tying North Carolina and Clemson for the second-most trips to Omaha without a national championship. This most recent exit stands among the most painful in program history, bested by the 2018 loss to Oregon State defined by a misplayed fly ball in foul ground. After scoring two runs in the top of the ninth to take a 5-3 lead in a must-win game against LSU on Wednesday, June 18, the Razorbacks allowed a two-run double that tied the score and then a walk-off single to loss 6-5.

North Carolina

The Tar Heels suffered maybe the most brutal loss of the super regionals in giving away the elimination game against Arizona. Ahead 3-1 heading into the eighth inning thanks to a three-run homer from senior Jackson Van De Brake, UNC coughed away the lead with a pair of errors on the infield. The first, on a grounder booted by Van De Brake, cost the Tar Heels a possible double play. After a pitching change, UNC committed a throwing error on the Wildcats’ bunt attempt to move runners over, allowing a run to score. Another pitching change resulted in a two-run single that gave Arizona the lead and eventually the World Series berth.

Kevin Schnall

The former Coastal assistant pushed all the right buttons in piloting the Chanticleers to a record-setting win streak and to the doorstep of another national championship. But his ejection on Sunday threatens to overwrite his deft touch in reaching that point. Was he trying to motivate his team and raise the Chanticleers’ energy after a tough-to-swallow defeat in the opener? While that might have been his intent, Coastal continued to play listlessly the rest of the way, especially at the plate.

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.

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Politics

White House office tells agencies to apply ‘Gold Standard Science’ to depoliticize research, restore trust

The White House Office of Science and Technology on Monday directed federal agencies to implement ‘gold standard science’ principles to depoliticize science and restore public trust, Fox News Digital has learned.

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios sent guidance to federal research agencies Monday morning, incorporating President Donald Trump’s executive order on ‘Restoring Gold Standard Science.’

Fox News Digital exclusively obtained the guidance sent to federal agencies.

President Trump, in May, signed an executive order to restore ‘Gold Standard Science’ as the cornerstone of federal scientific research.

‘Gold Standard Science’ is ‘reproducible, transparent and falsifiable,’ according to the order. 

It is also ‘subject to unbiased peer review; clear about errors and uncertainties; skeptical of assumptions; collaborative and interdisciplinary; accepting of negative results as positive outcomes; and free from conflicts of interest.’ 

The executive order reinstated ‘the scientific integrity policies’ of the first Trump administration and ‘ensures that science is no longer manipulated or misused to justify political ends.’ 

‘President Trump’s Gold Standard Science EO will transform the conduct and management of federal science, from research design to public communication, in order to strengthen scientific inquiry, rebuild public trust, and ensure the U.S. continues to be the global leader in rigorous, evidence-based science,’ Kratsios told Fox News Digital. ‘But federal agencies are only one part of our nation’s research ecosystem.’

Kratsios added, ‘American universities, scientific journals, industry and philanthropic leaders all have a crucial role in improving the overall quality of research, and we encourage this executive action to serve as a model for the entire scientific enterprise.’

Kratsios sent the memo to federal agencies Monday morning to provide guidance to federal departments and agencies on implementing gold standard science ‘in the conduct and management of all aspects of their scientific activities, from research design to public communication.’

‘By adopting these standards, agencies will strengthen scientific inquiry, rebuild public trust, and ensure the United States continues as the global leader in rigorous, evidence-based science,’ the memo states.

Kratsios said that ‘Gold Standard Science’ represents a ‘commitment to the highest standards of scientific integrity, defined by nine core tenets: reproducible; transparent; communicative of error and uncertainty; collaborative and interdisciplinary; skeptical of its findings and assumptions; structured for falsifiability of hypotheses; subject to unbiased peer review; accepting of negative results as positive outcomes; and without conflicts of interest.’

‘These tenets ensure that federally-supported research and research used in federal decision-making is transparent, rigorous, and impactful, enabling federal decisions to be informed by the most credible, reliable, and impartial scientific evidence available,’ Kratsios wrote in the guidance.

But ‘Gold Standard Science’ is not limited to science, Kratsios said, saying that it is critical for tackling complex challenges in energy innovation and national security as well.

‘In an age of rapid technological progress and heightened public scrutiny, federally-funded and federally-performed science, and its use in Federal decision-making, must be beyond reproach,’ he wrote.

As for conducting science ‘without conflicts of interest,’ Kratsios said it is imperative to ensure that ‘research is designed, executed, reviewed, and reported free from financial, personal, or institutional influences that could bias outcomes or undermine objectivity.’

‘This approach is important for generating trustworthy and credible new knowledge, as it upholds scientific integrity, fosters public confidence, and ensures that results reflect evidence rather than external agendas,’ the memo states. ‘Maintaining freedom from conflicts of interest requires researchers, reviewers, and managers to disclose all relevant affiliations, funding sources, and relationships relevant to the science conducted, adhering to stringent ethical standards supported by strong institutional oversight, transparent reporting systems, and independent expert review mechanisms.’

Kratsios said agencies must ‘prioritize conducting and managing scientific research free from conflicts of interest to advance unbiased science,’ and must ‘require disclosure of all relevant conflicts of interest by researchers, reviewers, and agency officials involved in the funding or performance of Federal research.’

‘These efforts include requiring comprehensive, standardized disclosure of all financial, personal, or institutional interests in research proposals, publications, peer and merit reviews, and data repositories, with clear and standardized protocols to identify, mitigate, and manage potential biases,’ the memo states. ‘Agencies should mandate the use of independent oversight approaches and enforce strict conflict-of-interest policies.’

Agencies have 60 days to outline ‘Gold Standard Science’ implementation plans, including plans for training and resources to ensure agency personnel understand the new policy, and the use of artificial intelligence-driven tools when practical.

After Trump signed the May executive order to restore gold standard science, a senior White House official said there had been a decline in ‘disruptive research’ and investments in biomedical research, along with ‘serious cases’ of fraud and misconduct and the inability to reproduce scientific methods for the purpose of restoring public trust.

The official also blamed policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and ‘woke DEI initiatives’ for endangering the public’s trust in government scientists.

Now-retired National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci was repeatedly denounced for flip-flopping and obfuscating during his time engineering the federal response to COVID-19, leading many, particularly on the right, to disregard and dismiss the legitimacy of federal health authorities outright.

That order cites the fact the Biden administration included political edits from teachers’ unions in school-reopening guidance, instead of leading with any scientific evidence.

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital in April, Kratsios echoed Trump, saying the U.S. is in the ‘golden age’ and that this special moment in time is ‘underpinned by unbelievable science and technology.’

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