Amid sirens, swirling winds, and an ominous sky lit by flashes of lightning, the Indiana Pacers touched down in Oklahoma City, undeterred and laser-focused. With tornado warnings looming and thunderstorms crashing through the region, both teams brace not just for nature’s fury—but for a battle on the court that could rewrite NBA history. The 2025 NBA Finals are here, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are ready to defend home turf against a relentless Pacers squad chasing their first-ever championship.
The Thunder, seeking their second NBA title—their first since the franchise’s 1979 win as the Seattle SuperSonics—are fueled by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s been electric this postseason, averaging 29.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. His leadership and clutch shot-making have powered OKC through a gauntlet of elite teams. Alongside him, Jalen Williams has stepped into the spotlight, contributing a consistent 20.4 points per game during the playoffs and proving to be a key offensive threat.
Meanwhile, the Pacers are carving a new chapter in franchise history, determined to capture their first NBA championship. Pascal Siakam has been the engine of their offense, posting 21.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest this postseason. Tyrese Haliburton has shown poise and brilliance under pressure, dishing out 9.8 assists and scoring 18.8 points per game—his playmaking critical to Indiana’s deep playoff run.
As anticipation builds, all eyes turn to Game 1 of the Finals. Here’s how the experts see it playing out—and the numbers behind their picks.
NBA Finals Picks: Thunder vs. Pacers
At Sports, every analyst is siding with the Thunder to win the 2025 NBA Finals. Here’s how the predictions stack up:
- Scooby Axson: Thunder in 5
- Cydney Henderson: Thunder in 6
- Jordan Mendoza: Thunder in 6
- Lorenzo Reyes: Thunder in 6
- Heather Tucker: Thunder in 5
- James Williams: Thunder in 6
- Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder in 5
Over at ESPN, 14 out of 15 NBA experts are also picking Oklahoma City to come out on top. And on NBA.com, there’s unanimous consensus—the Thunder are the team to beat.
John Schuhmann wrote:
“The Thunder are, simply, the best team in basketball. Their top-ranked defense has been phenomenal in the playoffs—shutting down the Grizzlies, Nuggets, and Timberwolves, holding each to drastically fewer points per 100 possessions than in the regular season. The matchup between Indiana’s offense and OKC’s defense might be one of the best we’ve seen in years, but the Thunder hold the edge—on both ends of the floor.”
From NBC Sports, Kurt Helin added:
“Indiana has talent—Haliburton is a star—but OKC is just better. Shai is better. Their defense is better. Chet Holmgren, especially paired with Isiah Hartenstein, outmatches Myles Turner. Even the benches tilt in OKC’s favor. Indiana is a solid team… but they’re walking into a storm.”
Game 1 Betting Odds (via BetMGM, as of June 4)
- Spread: Thunder -9.5
- Moneyline: Thunder -450, Pacers +340
- Over/Under: 231.5
Series Odds
- Thunder: -700
- Pacers: +500
NBA Finals 2025 Schedule and How to Watch (All Times ET)
- Game 1: June 5 – Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.
- Game 2: June 8 – Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8 p.m.
- Game 3: June 11 – Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.
- Game 4: June 13 – Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.
- Game 5: June 16 – Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.*
- Game 6: June 19 – Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.*
- Game 7: June 22 – Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8 p.m.*
(*If necessary)
