What awaits Pacers in NBA Finals? The league's best team: OKC Thunder
The Pacers come in as decided underdogs against the team that had the NBA's best record this season (68-14). These teams met twice in the regular season, with the Thunder winning both (120-114 on Dec. 26 in Indianapolis; 132-111 in March 29 in OKC).
Indiana defeated the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers in five games and New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference playoffs in six games. Oklahoma City beat the Memphis Grizzlies (four games), Denver Nuggets (six) and Minnesota Timberwolves (five).
Here's what you should know about the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It's difficult to find a flaw with the Thunder. They led the NBA in the following categories:
They were second in blocked shots (5.6).
Quinn Buckner, the analyst on Pacers TV broadcasts, sees similarities between the teams, but that the Thunder have been even better.
"The (Pacers) bench has got to be really good because OKC plays 10 to 11 players, and they all contribute," Buckner said. "Everybody may have a specialty, but they star in their roles."
Buckner said he'd like to see more consistency from Bennedict Mathurin and more production from Obi Toppin.
Defensively, OKC "can really challenge you, and they can run with you in transition. It would be a very difficult series."
Father's Day gift: Celebrate the Pacers' amazing season and run to NBA Finals with our commemorative book
The Thunder made the 2012 NBA Finals, losing to the Miami Heat in five games. (Miami beat Indiana in the Eastern Conference playoffs that season.) Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook started for that team, while James Harden came off the bench. They combined to average 68.4 points, 12.7 rebounds and 12.7 assists per game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the NBA MVP award after averaging 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. He led the league in games with at least 20 points (75), 30 points (49), 40 points (13) and 50 points (four). He received 71 of 100 first-place votes.
The average age of Thunder players is 24.7 years, making them the second-youngest team in the NBA (Portland is 24.3).
*-usual starters
Mark Daigneault is in his fifth season as Thunder coach, and he owns a 211-189 overall record, 125-39 over the past two seasons. He was voted NBA Coach of the Year in the 2023-24 season.
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