NBA Finals Game 5 live updates: Pacers-Thunder prediction, TV channel
It all adds up to a crucial Game 5. USA TODAY Sports will provide the latest updates, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout the game. Follow along.
What time is Thunder vs. Pacers game today?
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers for Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Where to watch Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 5
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
8:30 p.m. ET Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) TV: ABC
ABC Stream: Fubo, Sling TV
Watch the NBA Finals with Fubo
Jarace Walker is out with a right ankle sprain, according to the latest injury report on Monday, June 16.
Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle took exception Sunday to the criticism being levied at officiating during the NBA Finals, specifically the rebukes against Scott Foster.
"I think it's awful some of the things I've seen about officiating, and Scott Foster in particular," Carlisle said Sunday, June 15. "I've known Scott Foster for 30 years. He is a great official. He has done a great job in these playoffs. We've had him a lot of times. The ridiculous scrutiny that is being thrown out there is terrible and unfair and unjust and stupid."
Many Pacers and NBA fans had taken to social media to criticize Foster for his performance Friday night in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, an eventual 111-104 Oklahoma City Thunder victory that evened the series at 2-2. -- Jeff Zillgitt and Lorenzo Reyes
The NBA's 3-point shot has enemies. Too many 3s, they say. The shot is ruining the game, they say.
And those critics of the 3-point shot found ammunition in the Eastern Conference semifinals of this season's playoffs when the Boston Celtics attempted 60 3-pointers and missed 45 against the New York Knicks. The guffawing ignored the fact that Boston's 3-point shooting was instrumental in its 2023-24 championship season and in its 61-21 record this season.
Regardless of your aesthetic view of how basketball should be played and what it should look like, the 3-point shot has turned divisive but remains vital to winning championships. USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt takes a deeper look at this divisive shot.
The NBA Finals TV ratings discussion is a classic struggle between the optimist and the pessimist.
One headline: "NBA Finals have been most-watched programs since first week of May."
Another headline: "NBA Finals ratings down 24%."
Two things can be true in this season's Finals between "small-market" Indiana and Oklahoma City.
Yes, ratings are down from last season's Finals between Boston and Dallas, and yes, the Thunder-Pacers Finals have brought in millions of viewers, including a peak of 11.54 million at 11 p.m. ET of Game 3 on Wednesday, June 11.
Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the TV ratings for the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder.
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers needed Game 4. They had Game 4. At least it looked that way for three quarters. Felt like Indiana was headed for a 3-1 series lead against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. Felt like Indiana was in control. And they were. Until they were not. USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt looks at the Pacers' Game 4 loss.
If the NBA Finals matchup of the league's 23rd and 27th-ranked media markets is supposed to spell doom for the league, it is a doom the NBA's owners intentionally brought on themselves.
While two glitz-free Midwestern cities in the Finals might not have the celebrity pull the NBA has largely enjoyed through its historically successful franchises, it was an inevitable outcome once the league designed a collective bargaining agreement that dismantled its traditional cycle of superteams and dynasties.
Welcome to the new NBA, where championship windows are smaller, the life cycle of a roster is shorter and the number of teams that can win a title in any given year is beyond anything we've seen in our lifetimes. -- Dan Wolken Read Wolken's full column here.
Where is Game 5 between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder?
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers for Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are favorites to take a 3-2 lead in the series vs. the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals, according to BetMGM (odds as of Monday, June 16):
Spread : Thunder (-9.5)
: Thunder (-9.5) Moneyline : Thunder (-450); Pacers (+340)
: Thunder (-450); Pacers (+340) Over/under: 224.5
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter Game 5 as the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers, according to BetMGM (odds as of Monday, June 16).
Series winner: Thunder (-625); Pacers (+450)
USA TODAY: Most pick Thunder in Game 5
Scooby Axson: Thunder 121, Pacers 116
Thunder 121, Pacers 116 Jordan Mendoza : Thunder 112, Pacers 106
: Thunder 112, Pacers 106 Lorenzo Reyes : Pacers 121, Thunder 106
: Pacers 121, Thunder 106 Heather Tucker : Thunder 131, Pacers 118
: Thunder 131, Pacers 118 James Williams : Pacers 110, Thunder 107
: Pacers 110, Thunder 107 Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder 115, Pacers 105
USA TODAY: Every expert picked the Thunder
Ahead of the series opener, all of the NBA experts at USA TODAY Sports picked the Oklahoma City Thunder to beat the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals
Scooby Axson: Thunder in five
Thunder in five Jordan Mendoza: Thunder in six
Thunder in six Lorenzo Reyes: Thunder in six
Thunder in six Heather Tucker: Thunder in five
Thunder in five James Williams: Thunder in six
Thunder in six Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder in five
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers at 8:30 p.m. ET with coverage on ABC.
Game 5 between the Thunder and Pacers is available on ABC. Fans can also stream the action with Sling TV and Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.
ABC is set to broadcast the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers starting lineups introductions ahead of Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals for the first time since 2013, ESPN reported on Monday.
All times Eastern; *-if necessary
(Series tied 2-2)
Eastern Conference finals
No. 4 Indiana Pacers def. No. 3 New York Knicks, 4-2
Western Conference finals
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder def. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, 4-1
NBA Finals
No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (Series tied 2-2)
Official assignments are announced at 9 a.m. on the day of the game. Here are the referees assigned to Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Monday.
John Goble (ninth Finals, officiated Game 1)
Marc Davis (14th Finals, officiated Game 1)
James Williams (fifth Finals, officiated Game 2)
Odds via BetMGM on Monday, June 16.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-600)
Pascal Siakam (+800)
Tyrese Haliburton (+900)
Jalen Williams (+3500)
Alex Caruso (+15000)
Chet Holmgren (+30000)
The Oklahoma City Thunder have one NBA championship. However, it came in 1979 when the team was the Seattle SuperSonics. They have not won a title since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008.
The Indiana Pacers have not won an NBA championship. They have two Eastern Conference titles (2000, 2025).
Dort averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 71 games (all starts) this season. Dort is averaging slightly lower than his regular-season stats in the 2025 NBA Finals, averaging 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists through four games.
5? checking in for Game 5? pic.twitter.com/GVs1Zd1ucf — OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 16, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder guard and league Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic were unanimous selections from a panel of 100 global reporters and broadcasters who cover the NBA and voted on the squad. View the complete list.
Here's a look at the winners over the past 20 years. For a full list of champions, visit NBA.com.
2023-24 -- Boston Celtics
2022-23 -- Denver Nuggets
2021-22 -- Golden State Warriors
2020-21 -- Milwaukee Bucks
2019-20 -- Los Angeles Lakers
2018-19 -- Toronto Raptors
2017-18 -- Golden State Warriors
2016-17 -- Golden State Warriors
2015-16 -- Cleveland Cavaliers
2014-15 -- Golden State Warriors
2013-14 -- San Antonio Spurs
2012-13 -- Miami Heat
2011-12 -- Miami Heat
2010-11 -- Dallas Mavericks
2009-10 -- Los Angeles Lakers
2008-09 -- Los Angeles Lakers
2007-08 -- Boston Celtics
2006-07 -- San Antonio Spurs
2005-06 -- Miami Heat
2004-05 -- San Antonio Spurs
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