Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers: Predictions, picks, odds for 2025 NBA Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers: Predictions, picks, odds for 2025 NBA Finals
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Pacers and Thunder NBA Finals is better than it's 'small-market' billing
USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the star-studded NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sports Pulse
Despite the daunting weather challenges of tornado warnings and thunderstorms, the Indiana Pacers arrived in Oklahoma City for the 2025 NBA Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder are aiming for their second franchise NBA title (1979 as Seattle SuperSonics) and are led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 29.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds for Oklahoma City. Jalen Williams has also made significant contributions to the Thunder's success, recording 20.4 points per game so far this postseason.
The Pacers are striving to make history as they pursue their first NBA title. In the postseason, Pascal Siakam has been a standout player for the team, averaging 21.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton has also made significant contributions, recording an average of 18.8 points and 9.8 assists per game during the playoffs.
Here are the current predictions, odds and how to watch Thursday's Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.
More: Tom Thibodeau didn't cost the Knicks a ring, but firing him makes sense
NBA Finals picks: Thunder vs. Pacers predictions
USA TODAY: Every expert picks the Thunder
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 Cydney Henderson: Thunder in six
Thunder in six 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
ESPN: 14 out of 15 experts pick Thunder
14 out of 15 of ESPN's NBA experts pick the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
NBA.com: Every expert picks the Thunder
John Schuhman writes, "The Thunder are, simply, the best team in basketball. Their No. 1 defense has been ridiculously good in the playoffs, holding the Grizzlies, Nuggets and Wolves to 19.6, 15.0 and 4.2 fewer points per 100 possessions, respectively, than they scored in the regular season. (Take away the Game 3 blowout and the Wolves' discrepancy would also be in the double-digits.) The Indiana offense vs. Oklahoma City defense could be the best one-end-of-the-floor matchup that we've seen in the Finals in a long time, but the Thunder should have the edge on that end of the floor and the other."
NBC Sports: Experts pick Thunder
Kurt Helin writes: "Here's Indiana's problem: Tyrese Haliburton is outstanding, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is just better; Indiana's defense is improved and can force turnovers, but OKC's is elite and just better; Myles Turner is good, but Chet Holmgren is just better (especially paired with Isiah Hartenstein); the Pacers bench was good enough for the East, but the Thunder bench is just better. And so it goes down the line. Indiana is a quality team that's about to get overwhelmed."
Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals Game 1 odds
The Oklahoma City Thunder are favorites to take a 1-0 lead over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, according to BetMGM (odds as of Wednesday, June 4):
Spread : Thunder (-9.5)
: Thunder (-9.5) Moneyline : Thunder (-450); Pacers (+340)
: Thunder (-450); Pacers (+340) Over/under: 231.5
Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals series odds
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter Game 1 as the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers, according to BetMGM (odds as of Wednesday, June 4)
Series winner: Thunder (-700); Pacers (+500)
NBA Finals 2025: Schedule, time, TV channel, live streaming
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Game 1, June 5: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.
Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m. Game 2, June 8: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8 p.m.
Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8 p.m. Game 3, June 11: Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.
Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m. Game 4, June 13 : Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.
: Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m. Game 5, June 16 : Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.*
: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.* Game 6, June 19 : Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.*
: Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.* Game 7, June 22: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8 p.m.*
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