Deutschland hat ein neues NBA-Märchen!
Isaiah Hartenstein ist nach Basketball-Superstar Dirk Nowitzki (2011) der zweite deutsche NBA-Champion.
Seine Oklahoma City Thunder gewinnen das entscheidende Spiel 7 der Final-Serie gegen die Indiana Pacers mit 103:91.
Hartenstein (l.) greift nach der „Larry O’Brien Trophy“
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Der Center war erst vor der Saison von den New York Knicks nach Oklahoma City gewechselt, hatte dort einen Dreijahresvertrag über 87 Mio. Dollar unterschrieben. In den Finals hatte Hartenstein zeitweise seinen Startplatz verloren, kämpfte sich wieder zurück. Im Spiel 7 kommt er am Ende auf 7 Punkte und 9 Rebounds.
Das alles entscheidende Spiel 7 beginnt mit einem Schocker: Pacers-Superstar Tyrese Haliburton verletzt sich schwer, muss nach 7 Minuten ausgewechselt werden. Offenbar hat er sich die Achillessehne gerissen.
Haliburton wird unter Tränen in die Kabine gebracht
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Aber auch ohne ihren Anführer lassen sich die Pacers zunächst nicht abschütteln. Der tiefe Kader hatte sie erst ins Finale geführt, auf dem Weg dorthin die Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers und New York Knicks ausgeschaltet. Vor allem Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard und T.J. McConnell halten sie im Spiel. Zur Pause führen sie sogar mit einem Punkt.
Doch in der zweiten Halbzeit läuft Oklahoma City vor heimischer Kulisse im Paycom Center heiß, zieht auf neun Zähler davon. Bei den Pacers geht zeitweise gar nichts mehr. Zum Ende des 3. Viertels sind es schon 13 Punkte Vorsprung. Vier Minuten später liegt Indiana mit 22 Punkten zurück – die Vorentscheidung.
Die giftigen Pacers kommen zwar noch einmal auf 10 Punkte heran, für mehr reicht es allerdings nicht mehr. Letztlich unterlaufen den Pacers einfach zu viele Turnover. Und Oklahoma wiederum behält die Nerven.
Überragend bei OKC: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, der beste Spieler der Saison (MVP), kommt am Ende auf 29 Punkte, hat zudem 12 Assists. Der Kanadier wird auch als Finals-MVP ausgezeichnet.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (l.) setzt sich gegen Andrew Nembhard durch
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Damit holen die Thunder den ersten Titel seit ihrem Umzug! 2008 war die Franchise von Seattle nach Oklahoma City gezogen. 1979 holte man den Titel in Seattle.
Gut möglich, dass nun noch weitere Titel folgen!
Die Thunder haben das jüngste Team der Liga. Das Fundament bilden vor allem Gilgeous-Alexander (26), Jalen Williams (24) und Chet Holmgren (23). Mit Nikola Topic (19) stößt in der kommenden Saison noch eines der vielversprechendsten Talente dazu. Der Serbe fiel die gesamte Saison wegen eines Kreuzbandrisses aus. Dazu hat das Team allein in den kommenden vier Jahren gleich neun Erstrundenpicks.
Dass die Thunder fest mit dem Titel geplant hatten, zeigte ein Video, das kurz vor der Partie aufgetaucht war. Dort waren die bereits fertig lackierten Thunder-Busse für die Meisterschaftsparade zu sehen.
Fans rufen ihm zu: NBA-Megastar von eigenem Wechsel überrascht
Pacers-Trainer Rick Carlisle, der 2011 mit den Dallas Mavericks den Titel geholt hatte, war darüber gar nicht begeistert: „Ich habe gerade ein Video gesehen, das wahrscheinlich viral gehen wird, von einigen Bussen, offenen Bussen, vermutlich für die Parade, die bereits mit ihnen als Champions bemalt sind. Das ist alles, woran ich gerade denke.“
Am Ende lagen die Thunder mit ihren Planungen richtig. Der Party-Marathon in Oklahoma City kann beginnen.
This news was originally published on this post .
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