The Indiana Pacers’ quest for the NBA Championship took an unexpected turn on Tuesday when their flight to Oklahoma City was diverted due to severe weather conditions, specifically a tornado warning. The team ended up landing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to refuel before continuing their journey.
A representative from the Pacers confirmed the situation, stating, “The Pacers team plane circled due to the weather in Oklahoma City and subsequently landed in Tulsa to re-fuel.” Fortunately, the team was able to depart Tulsa shortly after and resume their travel to Oklahoma City. They expressed gratitude towards the Delta pilots and crew for their efforts, while also wishing for the safety of everyone in the affected areas.
This year marks a significant achievement for the Pacers, who are returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 when they faced the Los Angeles Lakers. Their path to this momentous occasion included playoff victories over formidable opponents such as the Milwaukee Bucks, the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, and a six-game series win against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
On the other side, the Oklahoma City Thunder are also looking to reclaim glory, as they last reached the NBA Finals in 2012 and seek their first title since winning as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979. The Thunder advanced to this year’s Finals with a dominant performance, including a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies and a hard-fought seven-game series against the Denver Nuggets.
With Game 1 set to kick off Thursday night in Oklahoma City, both teams are eager to secure a pivotal early win in the best-of-seven series. Fans and players alike are hopeful for an exciting matchup that will add a new chapter to both franchises’ histories.