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And just like that, the Oklahoma City Thunder sit at the top of the NBA world, and they are NBA Champions most of all. Oklahoma City roared with a massive swing in the third quarter to take control of Game 7 at home, closing a game that saw them down by a point at halftime even after Tyrese Haliburton went down with an injury. It was all Thunder after that as lightning struck and kept on banging and hounding the Indiana Pacers as they pulled away to finish Game 7 with an exclamation point. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the Finals MVP – after having won the scoring title, season MVP, and the WCF MVP awards on top of the championship. He finished with 29 points, 12 assists, and five assists to lead Oklahoma City to a massive victory en route to their first league title. It was a picture perfect finish for the Thunder, and they certainly carried the momentum counting to the final seconds of the game. Fans celebrated with time running out of the game clock, knowing that after 17 years of wait, Oklahoma City now has its own NBA Championship to celebrate ever since the franchise competed at a high level for many years. A Dominant Finish OKC owned the third quarter thanks to a 34-20 scoring margin, and they built a massive 22-point lead at most in the second half. Indiana was leading 48-47 to start off the second half, and OKC went on a massive rally, first to retake the lead, and then cooked the rest of the way. The Pacers did try to stage a comeback of their own without Haliburton, who went down in the first quarter with a right lower leg injury. He finished with nine points and was 3-of-4 from three before he left Game 7 and did not return for the rest of the game. OKC never let up and showed that their magical season will not end with a blown lead and a missed chance at a championship. Jalen Williams added 20 points, while Chet Holmgren finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks. The Thunder only had 11 threes – just the same as Indiana, but they were spectacular on the defensive end and rallied the crowd well behind them for a strong closeout finish. A Historic Season For most of the season, Oklahoma City was the best defensive team in the league, and for good reason. They have registered 10.2 steals per 100 possessions, the highest rate for any team in the last 12 seasons. Their 10.7 steals per 100 possessions in the playoffs were the most for any team that played beyond the first round in the last 26 years. In Game 7? The Thunder forced 21 turnovers and scored 32 points off them – the usual game for OKC. They also had 14 steals on that regard, along with eight blocks. It was the defense that carried them to the Finals, and it is only fitting that it would also be the same thing that now took them to a title finish. Nothing has been easy, and yet the Thunder strongly persevered as the second-youngest team to ever win a championship, and this is a storybook finish for the team to remember as they now etch their names in the history of the NBA.

Legislators in Rhode Island have approved a bill that bans smoking in workplaces, and this now includes casinos and other gambling facilities. These facilities will be allowed to have smoking lounges instead, as long as the smoking lounge has a well-ventilated system that prevents smoke migration into other smoke-free spaces. In a significant shift toward healthier workplace conditions, Rhode Island lawmakers have approved a bill that extends the state's workplace smoking ban to include casinos. The legislation, championed by Senator V. Susan Sosnowski, marks the end of a long-standing exemption that had allowed smoking on casino floors despite broader public health regulations. Closing the casino loophole The legislation repeals a carveout in the state's Public Health and Workplace Safety Act, which previously excluded gambling facilities from the ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces. Sosnowski, who also sponsored the original Act over 20 years ago, said the time had come to extend the same protections to all workers - including those in the gaming industry. "Everyone deserves to breathe clean air in the workplace," said Sosnowski. "Yes, we want a casino that's making money because we depend on that revenue; but we want our workers to be strong, healthy and vibrant as they're making money for our state." A compromise with the industry While Sosnowski's initial proposal called for an outright and immediate ban on smoking inside casinos, the legislation was amended following pushback from Bally's Corporation, which operates both the Tiverton and Twin River casino locations in Rhode Island. Bally's argued that a full ban could drive away smoking patrons and lead to a significant dip in revenue. In response, Sosnowski modified the bill to allow for designated "smoking lounges" - enclosed areas outfitted with specialized ventilation systems designed to prevent smoke from seeping into non-smoking areas. In a statement, Bally's expressed appreciation for the compromise: "We appreciate the thoughtful review Senate and House leadership provided on the issue of smoking at our two Rhode Island casinos, and are grateful that a compromise has been reached that will allow us to continue to accommodate our smoking patrons." Delayed implementation In another concession to the casino industry, the bill's implementation has been delayed until the 1st of July, 2027, giving gaming operators time to prepare for the transition. Bally's has high hopes the extended timeline and the smoking lounge provision will help reduce any financial impact once the full ban is in effect. The push to ban smoking in casinos has gained strong momentum in recent years, particularly among employees and staff who have long voiced concerns over their working conditions. The movement intensified right after Rhode Island's casinos temporarily halted indoor smoking during the Covid-19 pandemic. When that temporary ban was lifted in March of 2022, many workers felt abandoned and renewed their calls for permanent reform. I've had to breathe in secondhand smoke for years while just trying to do my job, said one Twin River employee who supported the bill. We're not asking for much - we're just asking for the right to work in a safe and healthy environment like everyone else. The next steps for the Rhode Island bill The bill now awaits Governor Dan McKee's signature. If signed into law, Rhode Island will join a growing list of states reevaluating smoking policies in casinos, balancing public health priorities with economic considerations. For both public health advocates and casino employees alike, the legislation represents a long-awaited victory. Though not immediate or absolute, it moves the state significantly closer to smoke-free gaming floors - and a safer workplace for all.