'Something special going on'; What ABC's Mike Breen sees from the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals
The Indiana Pacers remain underdogs in the NBA Finals after building a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
ABC play-by-play announcer Mike Breen sees reason to question that.
"There's something special going on with that team right now, that's for sure," he said Thursday on the "Dan Patrick Show."
Despite their tremendous regular-season record and march through the Western Conference playoffs, the Thunder are younger and less experienced that Indiana. OKC has the league's second-youngest roster and last season won one playoff series.
The Pacers are older and reached the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, where they were swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics.
Breen believes that experience is valuable.
"I know this sounds ridiculous, but that was a close sweep," noting that three of the four games went down to the final minute. "They played well. They gained valuable experience.
"Continuity is the most underrated part of basketball, to have the same guys who know their strengths and weaknesses and have been through the wars together. It's showing right now."
Listen up: Magic Johnson has advice for Tyrese Haliburton
'D-Day' for Thunder: What Charles Barkley thinks about NBA Finals Game 4
Breen acknowledged that "the series is far from over" and that OKC's smothering defense could return. However, he's a little concerned about the Thunder after Game 3.
"That's the first time I've seen the Thunder look that way," he said. "They looked unsure of themselves, as well as being fatigued. I've never seen that from them."
Game 4 is Friday night in Indianapolis.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
36 minutes ago
- New York Post
BetMGM bonus code POSTBET for $1,500 in bonus bets for Game 5 of the NBA Finals
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The Oklahoma City Thunder evened up the NBA Finals with a win on the road in Game 4. It was neck and neck for three quarters, but the Thunder pulled away in the final frame en route to an 111-104 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. With the series knotted, 2-2, the scene shifts back to Oklahoma City on Monday night. The folks at BetMGM are offering new users an offer to get your first bet back in bonus bets if your first bet doesn't win, up to $1,500, for the 2025 NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder. BetMGM bonus code POSTBET for the NBA Finals Use BetMGM bonus code POSTBET to get your first bet back in bonus bets if your first bet doesn't win, up to $1,500. BetMGM Sportsbook is legal in Arizona, Colorado, Washington D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. How to sign up at BetMGM sportsbook Select your bonus offer. Choose your state. Fill out your login details. Enter the promo code POSTBET. Make a deposit. What our Post expert thinks about Game 5 of the NBA Finals The Thunder are once again big favorites to win the game — and series — but we've seen this movie before with the Pacers. Just when you think Indiana has run out of magic, the Pacers come back with a shocking win. This one isn't over just yet. 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. AZ, CO, DC, IA, IL, IN, LA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Participant must complete the Wagering. Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. US Promotional Offers Not Available in MS, NY, ON, or PR. Visit for Terms & Conditions.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sports betting roundup: NHL and NBA playoffs enter final week
Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers, right, celebrates with shortstop Trevor Story (10) after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper) Boston Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez crosses home plate to score during in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper) J.J. Spaun celebrates with his caddie, Mark Carens, after making a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP) Florida Panthers' Anton Lundell (15) and Brad Marchand (63) celebrate after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. ( Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Anton Lundell (15) and Brad Marchand (63) celebrate after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. ( Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers, right, celebrates with shortstop Trevor Story (10) after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper) Boston Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez crosses home plate to score during in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper) J.J. Spaun celebrates with his caddie, Mark Carens, after making a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP) Florida Panthers' Anton Lundell (15) and Brad Marchand (63) celebrate after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. ( Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) The Stanley Cup Final, NBA Finals and the U.S. Open made for an exciting weekend of sports. In the NHL, the Florida Panthers lead the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in a best-of-seven series, while the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are knotted at 2-2 headed into Monday's Game 5 in the NBA. Advertisement Meanwhile, J.J. Spaun won his second career PGA Tour event at the U.S. Open. Spaun made a long birdie putt on the last hole at Oakmont to finish at 1 under, which gave him a two-shot victory. Trends of the Week Oklahoma City closed as a 6.5-point favorite in Friday's Game 4 and came away with a 111-104 win to barely cover the spread. At the BetMGM online sportsbook, 39% of the bets and 54% of the money were on the Thunder to cover. Following a loss in the playoffs this season, the Pacers are a perfect 5-0 straight up and 5-0 against the spread. They are currently 9.5-point underdogs for Game 5. Thanks to five goals in the third period of Game 5, the over of 6.5 paid off in Florida's 5-2 victory. The over is now 5-0 in the Stanley Cup Final this year. Advertisement Upsets of the Week Edmonton closed as the favorite in Game 5 — the Oilers were -115 on the moneyline. At BetMGM, 57% of the bets and 70% of the money came in on the Oilers to win. Florida is -150 to win Tuesday's Game 6. With a win, the Panthers would win their second straight Stanley Cup. Spaun was +12500 going into the first round of the U.S. Open. Going into the final round, where he trailed Sam Burns by a shot, he was +333. The New York Yankees were -180 against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday and fell 2-0. New York lost all three games in Boston over the weekend. The Yankees were the second-most bet team in terms of bets and money in MLB on Sunday. Advertisement Coming Up Following their sweep of the Yankees, the Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the Giants. San Francisco's World Series odds went from +3100 before the trade to +2600 after the trade. The Los Angeles Dodgers still have the best odds to win the World Series at +250, followed by the Yankees (+650), Detroit Tigers (+750) and New York Mets (+800). ___ This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook. ___ AP sports:
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers: How to watch Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals tonight
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Obi Toppin and the Indiana Pacers will play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. () The Oklahoma City Thunder are facing the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. The odds heavily favored the Thunder over the Pacers headed into this series, which is no surprise considering the Thunder were 68-14 in the regular season and the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference. However, the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers are currently tied against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 2-2 in the NBA Finals. Game 5 tips off in Indiana tonight, June 16, at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the Pacers vs. Thunder NBA Finals. How to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers Game 5: Date: Monday, June 16 Advertisement Time: 8:30 p.m. ET TV channel: ABC Streaming: DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and more NBA Finals channel: All games in the NBA Finals will air on ABC — sweet and simple! How to watch the NBA Finals without cable: Watch the NBA Finals on local ABC DirecTV MySports Pack DirecTV's MySports pack is a curated live TV package geared toward sports fans, with access to local ABC, plus ESPN's suite of channels, TBS, TNT, USA, FS1 and an included subscription to ESPN+ for $69.99/month. The MySports pack guarantees access to thousands of live televised events, plus all the live-streaming and library content on ESPN+, all on one interface and one bill. You can try it for free for five days before committing. Try free at DirecTV Who is playing in the NBA Finals? The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. 2025 NBA Finals TV schedule: All times Eastern. Monday, June 16 Game 5 - Indiana at Oklahoma City: 8:30 p.m. (ABC) Thursday, June 19 Game 6 - Oklahoma City at Indiana: 8:30 p.m. (ABC) Sunday, June 22 Game 7 - Indiana at Oklahoma City, if necessary: 8 p.m. (ABC) *if necessary More ways to watch the NBA Finals:
