Shumita Basu

Now to the NBA Finals, which start tonight with a matchup that casual fans might not have seen coming. There's no super famous franchise like the Celtics or the Lakers, and there are no household names on the court like LeBron James or Steph Curry. Rather, these finals will pit the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Indiana Pacers, two teams with unique brands of basketball.

Michael Pina, a senior staff writer at The Ringer, told us there is a clear favorite in this matchup.

Michael Pina, a senior staff writer at The Ringer, told us there is a clear favorite in this matchup.

Michael Pina, a senior staff writer at The Ringer, told us there is a clear favorite in this matchup.

Not to mention, they're led by 26-year-old phenom and league MVP Shea Gilgis-Alexander. Meanwhile, the Pacers this season have enjoyed their role as the David in a number of David vs. Goliath-type matchups, surprising some people by even making it this far. They're led by guard Tyrese Halliburton, who Pina said needs to sustain the pace of the team's namesake.

Not to mention, they're led by 26-year-old phenom and league MVP Shea Gilgis-Alexander. Meanwhile, the Pacers this season have enjoyed their role as the David in a number of David vs. Goliath-type matchups, surprising some people by even making it this far. They're led by guard Tyrese Halliburton, who Pina said needs to sustain the pace of the team's namesake.

Not to mention, they're led by 26-year-old phenom and league MVP Shea Gilgis-Alexander. Meanwhile, the Pacers this season have enjoyed their role as the David in a number of David vs. Goliath-type matchups, surprising some people by even making it this far. They're led by guard Tyrese Halliburton, who Pina said needs to sustain the pace of the team's namesake.

The other thing that separates these teams from some of the others in the league is that they have deep rosters.

The other thing that separates these teams from some of the others in the league is that they have deep rosters.

The other thing that separates these teams from some of the others in the league is that they have deep rosters.

There's also a lot of history on the line. The Thunder have not been to the finals in 13 years, and they haven't won a championship in almost 50 years. The Pacers, meanwhile, have never won a championship and haven't been to the finals since 2000. Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following. First, to a series of escalating attacks on higher education by the administration.

There's also a lot of history on the line. The Thunder have not been to the finals in 13 years, and they haven't won a championship in almost 50 years. The Pacers, meanwhile, have never won a championship and haven't been to the finals since 2000. Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following. First, to a series of escalating attacks on higher education by the administration.

There's also a lot of history on the line. The Thunder have not been to the finals in 13 years, and they haven't won a championship in almost 50 years. The Pacers, meanwhile, have never won a championship and haven't been to the finals since 2000. Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following. First, to a series of escalating attacks on higher education by the administration.

The Department of Education is threatening Columbia University's status as an accredited school, saying the university violated civil rights law because of its handling of campus antisemitism. Now, the DOE is not directly in charge of accreditation, but it informed the commission that is responsible of these allegations.

The Department of Education is threatening Columbia University's status as an accredited school, saying the university violated civil rights law because of its handling of campus antisemitism. Now, the DOE is not directly in charge of accreditation, but it informed the commission that is responsible of these allegations.

The Department of Education is threatening Columbia University's status as an accredited school, saying the university violated civil rights law because of its handling of campus antisemitism. Now, the DOE is not directly in charge of accreditation, but it informed the commission that is responsible of these allegations.

Revoking Columbia's accreditation would mean the school loses a key credential for its ability to receive aid, as well as student grants and loans from the federal government. Columbia said it was aware of the administration's concerns and reiterated its commitment to fighting anti-Semitism on campus.

Revoking Columbia's accreditation would mean the school loses a key credential for its ability to receive aid, as well as student grants and loans from the federal government. Columbia said it was aware of the administration's concerns and reiterated its commitment to fighting anti-Semitism on campus.

Revoking Columbia's accreditation would mean the school loses a key credential for its ability to receive aid, as well as student grants and loans from the federal government. Columbia said it was aware of the administration's concerns and reiterated its commitment to fighting anti-Semitism on campus.

And at Harvard, President Trump signed an executive order last night seeking to block the school from continuing to host international students. Harvard says it complied with the administration's recent request to provide records related to misconduct by foreign students. The administration called the school's response insufficient.