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Mathurin, Haliburton Power Pacers To 2-1 Series Lead

Reserve guards bag 49 points at home as the Pacers top the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in Game 3.

Bennedict Mathurin has put on a game-changing performance in game three of the NBA Finals to help the Indiana Pacers out-duel the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.

Fuelled by a near triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton, who scored 22 points with nine rebounds and 11 assists, and a career playoff-high 27 points from reserve Mathurin, the Pacers showed a tremendous collective effort in Wednesday’s Game 3.

The Pacers bench outscored Oklahoma City’s reserves 49-18 and Indiana wore down NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose 24 points included just three in the fourth quarter.

“So many different guys chipped in,” Haliburton told broadcaster ABC. “Ben Mathurin was amazing off the bench tonight. He just stuck with it. We just had guys make plays after plays.”

Pascal Siakam scored 21 points for Indiana, and TJ McConnell added 10 points and five steals off the bench to help the Pacers improve to 10-0 since March 11 in games immediately after a defeat.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle lauded the contributions of Mathurin and McConnell.

“Those guys were tremendous,” Carlisle said. “TJ just brought a will, competitive will, to the game. Mathurin jumped in there and immediately was aggressive and got the ball in the basket.

“This is the kind of team that we are,” Carlisle added. “It’s not always going to be exactly the same guys that are stepping up with scoring and stuff like that. But this is how we’ve got to do it, and we got to do it as a team.”

In 22:24 minutes on court through the second and fourth quarters, Mathurin was brutally efficient, making two of his three three-point attempts and seven of eight free – throws, adding in four rebounds an assist and a blocked shot for good measure.

“Just staying ready,” Mathurin said after the game. “Whenever my number is called, go into the game and do the right things and try to help my team win — that’s the whole mindset.”

Mathurin is playing in the playoffs for the first time, after watching the Pacers’ run to the Eastern Conference finals from the bench in the wake of season-ending surgery in March of 2024.

Carlisle said , the 22-year-old Canadian was looking ahead.

“He was with the team. He just wasn’t playing,” Carlisle recalled. “He took a lot of notes, a lot of mental notes, and he may have written some things down.

“He’s putting a lot of work to be ready for these moments, and tonight he was an absolute major factor.”

Mathurin said he was “fortunate to learn a lot” in what was an unfortunate situation last year but he admitted that it wasn’t easy.

Playing in the finals, in front of the intense fans in Indianapolis, “is a dream” but one he doesn’t want to get caught up in.

“I’m not trying to live in my dream,” he said. “I’m trying to live in the present and make sure the dream ends well, which means winning the next game and winning a championship.”

The Pacers will try to stretch their lead in the best-of-seven championship series when they host game four on Friday before the series heads back to Oklahoma City for game five on Monday.

Aljazeera.com

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NSC Hails Junior D’Tigress On Winning Start At FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has congratulated the Junior D’Tigress of Nigeria for their remarkable start to the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Czech Republic.

The Nigerian U19 Women’s Basketball Team secured a thrilling 93-88 victory over China in their opening group match.

Despite trailing 44-38 at halftime, the Nigerian girls mounted a spirited comeback in the second half, showcasing resilience, skill, and heart.

NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, hailed the performance as a “victory of belief and preparation,” commending the athletes for making the nation proud on the global stage.

“This victory is not just a win on the court—it is a statement of what Nigerian sports can achieve with focus, teamwork, and the right support. Our J’Tigress U19 girls have demonstrated courage and resilience, and we are extremely proud of them,” said Mallam Shehu Dikko.

Furthermore, Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, praised the team’s fighting spirit and discipline:

“Today’s triumph is a testament to the growing strength of women’s basketball in Nigeria. The composure, technical discipline, and collective effort from the players and coaching crew speak volumes. We salute the J’Tigress and assure them of our full support as they progress in the tournament.”

The standout performer of the day, rising basketball star Nora Ezike, delivered an electrifying performance with 25 points—16 of them in the decisive fourth quarter—to help seal the memorable win for Nigeria.

The NSC extends its congratulations to the team, coaching staff, and all stakeholders involved in this success, encouraging Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to continue supporting the team as they aim for further glory at the World Cup.

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Nigeria’s Valentine Chiemelie Thinks Big Ahead CAA Athletics Championship

A dominant figure in Team Nigeria to the Confederation of Africa Athletics U-18/U-20 Championship, Valentine Chiemelie, on Saturday, expressed happiness in representing Nigeria at the event.

He made his feelings known in an exclusive interview with your authoritative and award-winning news channel, FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG’S Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye.

He stated that this is his first time representing Nigeria, and he will do everything within his power to make it count.

The terrific javelinist made his presence felt in Shagamu, during the National Trials and is very confident he can make it happen again, at the Rock City, Abeokuta, Ogun State during the championship.

“I’m happy to be representing Nigeria on the continental stage, I’m a bit nervous, it’s my first dawning the colours of my country, but I will make my presence felt,” he said.

He emphasized that he had begun training for this moment, immediately after the MTN Championship Grand Finale Season 3.

“I’ve been training for the trials for a time, after I came back from the MTN Championship Grand Finale Season 3, which I had my javelin throw there and I won a bronze medal, I was so excited and very happy, and then I started training for the National Trials, although not intensely, I thank God that I made it in this trials, God has been my backbone all the way,” Valentine stated.

He commended the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN) and the Nigeria Sports Commission, (NSC), for the pre-championship camping, stressing that it has been a platform for athletes to sharpen their skills.

He went on to add that the camp has been a memorable one for him as athletes have been given the best from feeding to accommodation.

“The camp is going great, the accommodation is excellent, the feeding is great, training has been exceptional,” he added.

Over 700 athletes will be participating in the age grade competition, slated for July 16-20, 2025.

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Wrestling: Lt Col Okou Urges Customs Comptroller General To Run For NWF Presidential Election

An International Wrestling referee, Lieutenant Colonel Okou Femedein Timipre, has called on the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR to present himself as the Armed Forces, Police and Paramilitary constituency’s presidential candidate ahead of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation Elections

The call became imperative considering the Customs Boss’ antecedents to sports development, particularly Wrestling

Lt Col Okou, in a statement issued out said relatively Comptroller Adeniyi, has shown distinctive attributes and characteristics, indicating how well he satisfies requirements and expectations

Lieutenant Colonel Okou, who is a member of the World Military Sports Science Commission, maintained that the impeccable contribution of CG Adeniyi to the development of wrestling is unmatched

Pleading on behalf of the Armed Forces, Police and Paramilitary constituency for the candidature of CG Adeniyi as President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation

Equally, Dr. Okou urged President Daniel Igali, Board Members, and the Nigeria Wrestling Stakeholders to accept Adeniyi’s candidature from his constituency, who has contributed immensely to the growth of the sport

Okou acknowledged that the Wrestling Federation needs a successor who has the capacity to continue the developmental policies under the leadership of honourable Daniel Igali while maintaining the standards the Wrestling Federation has attained globally.

Lieutenant Colonel Okou Femedein Timipre stressed that with the collaborative support of every stakeholder, the Nigeria Wrestling Federation has the potential to win world and Olympic gold under CG Adeniyi, adding that the current NWF Board led by Daniel Igali has laid salient foundation to consolidate upon.

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