OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Andrew Nembhard had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Jarace Walker added a career-high 26 for the Indiana Pacers, who withstood a late rally to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-114 on Friday night in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.
Walker, whose previous high was 21 points, sank four free throws in the final 10 seconds to lift injury-riddled Indiana (11-35), which snapped a three-game skid. Pascal Siakam added 21 points.
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Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, front left, gestures to Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Andrew Nembhard drives against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) celebrates during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points for the NBA-best Thunder, who were also depleted by injuries with Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso among those sidelined. Chet Holmgren added 25 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.
It was the second and final meeting this season between the Pacers and Thunder, whose fortunes have diverged since Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton tore an Achilles tendon early in Game 7 of last season's NBA finals. Oklahoma City went on to win its first title and has the league's best record (37-9), although the Thunder have slowed after a 24-1 start.
Oklahoma City trailed 113-103 with 2:35 remaining but pulled within 115-114 on a pair of free throws by Gilgeous-Alexander with 7.8 seconds left. After two free throws by Walker, the Thunder's Isaiah Joe missed a 3-pointer with 3 seconds remaining.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, made 17 of 28 field goals and all 12 free throws, and he scored nine points in the final 2 minutes.
The Pacers were missing Bennedict Mathurin (thumb), Obi Toppin (ankle) and Quenton Jackson (ankle).
Nembhard scored eight points in the first quarter and eight more in the second. His 3-pointer gave Indiana a 47-30 advantage. But Oklahoma City chipped away with a 23-11 run that featured two 3s by Cason Wallace to get within 58-53 at halftime.
Pacers: Visit the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
Thunder: Host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, front left, gestures to Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Andrew Nembhard drives against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) celebrates during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Play was suspended on outside courts and briefly halted on undercover arenas in the mid-afternoon Saturday under the extreme heat rules at the Australian Open.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner was down a break in the third set of his third-round match against Eliot Spizzirri and struggling with cramping when play was stopped for several minutes to allow the roof on Rod Laver Arena to be closed.
A match on John Cain Arena was also suspended while the stadium roof was closed. All matches on outside courts were stopped when the tournament's heat index hit 5 and were expected to be on hold for at least three hours.
The temperature was around 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) when the extreme heat policy was invoked, and the forecast is for searing temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
An earlier start than usual on Day 7 and hot weather were no worries for defending champion Madison Keys and her fellow American Jessica Pegula in their morning matches. The ninth-seeded Keys beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-3 in the opening match on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, while sixth-seeded Pegula defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2 in the first match at Margaret Court Arena.
Next up for the two Americans is a fourth-round encounter against each other.
“I served well, and overall I give myself a full pat on the back for that,” Keys said of her win. “It gives yourself a boost when you can find your best tennis, trust your game and try to do the right things.”
Pegula said she didn’t mind the hotter temperatures — “being a Floridian I was ready for it.”
Keys said she expects a tough match against Pegula in the fourth round.
“Jess is such a great player, consistently doing well in every match she plays,” Keys said. “She is in every single match. It also makes it hard being friends.”
There was an all-American encounter on Saturday as well — fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova beat Peyton Stearns 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the Round of 16.
Keys and Pegula, along with several other WTA players, do a podcast called “The Player’s Box” which chronicles everyday life on tour.
“ I think we have to do (one) before the match, so we’ll see how that goes,” Keys said, smiling.
Among the Americans who featured in early matches Saturday, Spizzirri had the toughest assignment. The 24-year-old Spizzirri, who spent part of his off-day Friday playing table tennis at a communal table in Garden Court at Melbourne Park, played two-time defending champion and second-seeded Sinner.
The night session at Rod Laver Arena featured 10-time champion Novak Djokovic as he continued his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. Djokovic plays Botic van de Zandschulp in the first of the evening matches.
The concluding match on the main court could have the capacity crowd guessing what fashion statement Naomi Osaka might make in her third-round encounter with Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis.
Osaka, who has two Australian Open titles among her four majors, walked onto the court wearing a wide-brim hat, a veil and holding a white parasol for her first-round match. For her second, Osaka didn’t bother with the couture hat, veil and parasol but was still wearing a jellyfish-inspired dress and matching warmup jacket.
Jannik Sinner of Italy takes a drink during his third round match against Eliot Spizzirri of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. plays a backhand return to compatriot Peyton Stearns during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Jessica Pegula, left, of the U.S. is congratulated by Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia following their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Madison Keys, left, of the U.S. is congratulated by Karolina Pliskova, right, of the Czech Republic following their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Madison Keys of the U.S. waves after defeating Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Naomi Osaka of Japan walks onto court for her second round match against Sorana Cirstea of Romaniaat the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Ben Shelton of the U.S. reacts after defeating Dane Sweeny of Australia during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia serves to Jessica Pegula of the U.S. during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Jessica Pegula of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Madison Keys of the U.S. plays a forehand return to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
