Pacers at Thunder Game 1 picks, odds, how to watch: Oklahoma City favored in NBA Finals opener
Two small-market franchises take the sport's headlining stage, each seeking an NBA championship to call their own.
The Indiana Pacers have never lifted the Larry O'Brien trophy, though they claimed three ABA titles, back when basketballs were tricolored. The Oklahoma City Thunder are also ringless. They technically won in 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics, but that relocation was deeply acrimonious.
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This game will also be streamed on ESPN+.
Series odds: Thunder -700, Pacers +500
Folks are cracking jokes about how David Stern would react to a Finals with Indiana and Oklahoma City. Forget that, though. This is a cool draw for true basketball appreciators. Both teams play with brisk pace and deploy ultra-flexible, hyper-athletic lineups. Indy's offense is swaggering and breathless; OKC's defense borders on all-time dominant. Mark Daigneault and Rick Carlisle are elite strategists with Coach of the Year credentials. Let's get it on.
What a cool mirror match. The two conference champs have efficient superstar point guards, a cadre of springy wings and a long-range rim protector at center. Together, they reached the mountaintop because of their Paul George trade. And yes, this is the fastest-paced pairing in Finals history.
Indiana will likely shoot at will from the opening minute, and get its offense running with end-to-end intensity. The Pacers' starting lineup seems to have unlocked 'unlimited stamina' video game status, and their best chance of breaking this relentless and organized Thunder D should be through light-speed perimeter play.
Tyrese Haliburton shows no fear in clutch minutes. Andrew Nembhard is an exemplary, archetypal defender. Conference finals MVP Pascal Siakam is title-tested from his time in Toronto, and he's been playing the most efficient ball of his nine-year career.
OKC is favored for a reason, though. This team had the best net rating in NBA history. It employs the league MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, pre-prime mega-talents in Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, and a comprehensive crew of lengthy defenders that mutate passing lanes. Oklahoma City has been nearly unbeatable in front of its thundering home crowd, though the Pacers have ripped hearts out in Milwaukee, Cleveland and New York this postseason.
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Throw numbers out the window and reset expectations accordingly. The NBA Finals are here, a clean slate for new legacies.
Starting five of players to wear both jerseys
1991 — Michael Jordan broke the continuum with this ambidextrous bucket.
Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Photo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton: Zach Beeker / NBAE via Getty Images)
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