The Indiana Pacers take a 2-0 Series lead over the New York Knicks The Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, 114-109. The Pacers now lead the series 2-0. “You cannot assume going home is going to be easier,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “It never is. Each game, as you ascend in a playoff series, becomes harder, and you know, New York is, they’ve got an amazing fighting spirit and so we’re going to have to keep concentrating on our process.” Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 39 points. Tyrese Haliburton had 14 points and 11 assists. “I think what makes us special and special as a team is just, we have different weapons,” Siakam said. “We’re not consumed with who’s going to do what. We just go into the game and however the game presents itself, that’s how we’re going to take it and do it that way. It doesn’t matter who scores.”
“Just so special, to see what our group is doing,” Haliburton said. “I think that’s what comes with being part of a special group. Many different people can contribute at any time. Many people have had to step up in different ways and different times, and that’s been the special part about this season.” Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 36 points. The Pacers trailed 52-49 at halftime. Game 3 is scheduled for Sunday at 8 p.m. in Indianapolis.
Casey Irsay Foyt to Be the Honorary Starter for the Indianapolis 500 Casey Irsay Foyt, Jim Irsay’s daughter, will waive the green flag as the honorary starter for the Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Friday afternoon. Irsay Foyt is part of the next generation of Colts ownership, as well as her sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Kalen Jackson. Jim Irsay died on Wednesday at the age of 65. “As Indianapolis prepares for a special weekend that showcases our city’s unmatched ability to successfully host massive global sporting events, it’s incredibly appropriate and especially meaningful to celebrate Jim’s contributions to our city and state,” Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles said in a statement. “Put simply, the Indianapolis we know, and love would not be remotely possible without Jim.”
“We’re honored to have Casey on the flag stand representing her family, our friends at the Colts organization and Hoosiers everywhere who cherish our unique sports scene,” IndyCar and IMS president Doug Boles said. “Our organizations have a deep history together, and our fans cherish the familiar sight of players at the racetrack and drivers at the stadium.” Irsay Foyt worked for the NFL in London, where she helped plan the first NFL regular season game that was played outside of North America. Irsay Foyt helps represent the Colts at NFL Owners Meetings. She joined the Colts in 2007. Irsay is married to Anthony J. Foyt IV, who made six starts in the Indianapolis 500. He is the grandson of A.J. Foyt, who won the Indy 500 four times. The 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is on Sunday, with the green flag scheduled for 12:45 p.m.
Indiana Fever beat the Atlanta Dream on the Road to Avenge Tuesday’s Loss The Indiana Fever (2-1) grinded out an 81-76 road win over the Atlanta Dream, spurred on by a 26-point performance from Natasha Howard and 17 points from Kelsey Mitchell. After a slow offensive start for Indiana, eight points off the bench from Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull, along with strong defensive play from Damiris Dantas kept the Fever within striking distance to end the first quarter trailing 13-18. The Fever took their first lead of the night early in the second quarter, with a three-pointer from Dantas tying the score, while a deep field goal from Mitchell put Indiana out in front. Mitchell’s nine-point second quarter helped Indiana take the 37-34 lead into halftime. Howard took over during the third quarter, scoring 13 points, including seven in the opening minutes, while also contributing defensively with several rebounds. Howard continued to find success inside the paint in the fourth quarter with four points. Trailing inside the two-minute mark, Mitchell sunk a clutch three-pointer to give Indiana back a narrow one-point lead. A layup from Aliyah Boston in the final minute, followed by Cunningham drawing an offensive foul and late free throws from Cunningham and Mitchell saw the Fever secure the 81-76 road victory.
After missing the first two games of the season with an ankle injury, guard Sophie Cunningham made her regular season debut, entering the game at the 3:06 mark of the first quarter. Cunningham’s first points of the season came from a 25-foot three pointer. Natasha Howard scored a season-high 26 points, matching her career high of 12 field goals made, set in 2022 when she was a member of the New York Liberty. Lexie Hull matched a career high with her four assists. The Fever’s 41 rebounds bring the team’s total to 119 this season, currently the most in the WNBA. The Indiana Fever return home to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host the defending WNBA Champion New York Liberty This Afternoon at 1PM and will be broadcast live on CBS.
Indiana University Men’s Basketball Heads to Puerto Rico for a Foreign Tour in August New IU basketball head coach Darian DeVries will lead the Hoosiers on foreign tour in a couple months. Indiana will be in Puerto Rico Aug. 5-12 and play three games, two against Mega Superbet and one against the Puerto Rico All Star team, based on an e-mail that went out to IU Varsity Club members on Thursday. The games are slated for Aug. 6, 9 and 11. Indiana is also planning interactive events with DeVries and the IU players over the course of the week on the island. More details will be provided in the days to come. College basketball teams are allowed to take an offseason foreign trip every four years. Indiana went to The Bahamas in 2021 under then new coach Mike Woodson. Along with the games in Puerto Rico, IU will be allowed to hold 10 additional practices above and beyond what is typically allowed by the NCAA. This will allow DeVries and his staff valuable extra time with an entirely new team in 2025-26. DeVries knows well the benefits of a foreign tour, and his recent experiences should allow him to optimize the value Indiana derives this summer. A year ago, he took West Virginia to Italy, and the year before that in 2023 he took Drake to Spain.
Indiana University Baseball Ends the Season with a Big Ten Tournament win over Iowa The Indiana Baseball team (32-24) put together one of its best pitching performances of the season as the clock struck midnight on the 2025 campaign. The Hoosiers scattered just five hits as they blanked No. 3-seeded Iowa, 5-0, in the final game of Pool C at the Big Ten Tournament. Graduate student pitchers Cole Gilley (W, 10-3) and Ben Grable (SV, 2) combined for nine shutout innings on Thursday evening at Charles Schwab Field. The two veterans combined for seven strikeouts while walking just two batters. Gilley became just the sixth different pitcher in program history with at least 10 wins in a season.
Junior outfielder Devin Taylor – playing in his final collegiate game – did most of the scoring for IU. His three-run home run in the third inning was the 54th of his illustrious career. The Hoosiers added two more in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from sophomore infielder Jasen Oliver and an RBI single from Taylor. Iowa got a runner to third base on just two occasions in the ballgame. Gilley stranded the bases loaded in the first inning while Grable kept the Hawkeyes off the board in the eighth inning. The two teams combined for just two extra-base hits in the ballgame. IU won at least one game in the Big Ten Tournament for the fourth-straight season. Barring something unforeseen, the Hoosiers wrapped up the 2025 season with a victory in Omaha. IU ends the baseball campaign with a 32-24 (16-14 B1G) record.
Purdue University Fort Wayne is Dropping Softball and Baseball Amid University Budget Cuts and Revenue Sharing Purdue Fort Wayne joined a line of schools dropping sports because of budget cuts and the looming era of revenue sharing with athletes, announcing Friday it would discontinue its baseball and softball programs immediately. The university announced $6 million in budget cuts Thursday, and discontinuing the two sports will save about $1 million. The Mastodons are members of the Horizon League and Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association and will sponsor 14 Division I sports. “This is one of the saddest days in my 25 years as a Mastodon,” athletic director Kelley Hartley Hutton said. “We know this news will upset our student-athletes, alumni and fans. It was not made lightly, and we are committed to supporting those affected through this transition.” Harley Hutton said budget challenges across the university, in combination with changes in the NCAA model, led to a re-evaluation of the athletic program. Stephen F. Austin announced Thursday it would drop bowling, men’s and women’s golf and beach volleyball. Eastern Illinois announced on May 12 it would discontinue men’s and women’s tennis.