Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals Showdown You Can't Miss!

NBA Finals 2025: Thunder vs. Pacers – A Clash of Titans for the Title

The 2025 NBA playoffs have been nothing short of spectacular, delivering stunning upsets, remarkable comebacks, and unexpected challenges for the usual contenders. Now, the stage is set for a captivating NBA Finals showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. This best-of-seven series promises to be a memorable battle for the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Both teams have navigated arduous paths to reach this pinnacle. Let's delve into everything you need to know about this thrilling matchup.

How to Watch

Game 1 tips off on Thursday in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder leveraging their home-court advantage earned through a superior regular-season record. All games will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

Here's the complete NBA Finals schedule:

• Game 1: Pacers @ Thunder, Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 2: Pacers @ Thunder, Sunday at 8 p.m. ET
• Game 3: Thunder @ Pacers, June 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 4: Thunder @ Pacers, June 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 5 (if needed): Pacers @ Thunder, June 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 6 (if needed): Thunder @ Pacers, June 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 7 (if needed): Pacers @ Thunder, June 22 at 8 p.m. ET

David vs. Goliath? A Tale of Two Journeys

The routes taken by the Thunder and Pacers to the NBA Finals couldn't be more distinct.

The Thunder dominated the Western Conference throughout the regular season, emerging as a favorite to win the title. Their success is fueled by this season's MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and a well-rounded roster with impactful role players who consistently rise to the occasion. Their regular season record was impressive, especially at home with a league-best 43-7.

Conversely, the Pacers experienced a solid but less dominant regular season. Despite boasting elite talents like Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, few predicted their deep playoff run. Siakam was even named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP!

Despite their differing paths, both teams faced significant challenges during the playoffs:

• The Thunder battled through a grueling Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets and weathered a 42-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
• The Pacers became comeback specialists, upsetting the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in just five games and emerging victorious from a thrilling Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks.

While the Thunder are favored to capture their first NBA title since relocating from Seattle, the Pacers, under the guidance of coach Rick Carlisle (who orchestrated a stunning upset with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011), have proven that anything is possible.

Offense vs. Defense: A Contrasting Style

The Thunder and Pacers have leaned heavily on their respective strengths throughout the postseason.

The Thunder are renowned for their elite defense. Their deep roster is brimming with capable defenders, including All-NBA Defensive team selections Lu Dort (First Team) and Jalen Williams (Second Team). Key contributions have also come from players like Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso.

The Pacers, on the other hand, rely on their explosive offense. Led by Haliburton's exceptional playmaking and Siakam's physicality, they consistently outscore their opponents. Haliburton is averaging 18.8 points, 9.8 assists, and 5.7 rebounds this postseason. A telling statistic: the Pacers are 12-0 when scoring 114 or more points but 0-4 when they fall short.

Carlisle acknowledged the challenge, stating, "Defensively, they're historically great, and they got all kinds of guys that can score... It’s two teams that have similar structures, slightly different styles."

The Story of Two Guards: SGA vs. Haliburton

The NBA Finals may well be defined by the performances of the two star guards: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the Thunder and Tyrese Haliburton for the Pacers.

Both players were traded from their original teams and have since flourished in their new environments.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's MVP, led the NBA in scoring with 32.7 points per game. He's an offensive juggernaut, but his journey has been filled with challenges. "It’s been a roller coaster," he said. "I had nights where I thought I wasn’t good at basketball... My mentality to try to stay level through it all really helped me."

Haliburton's trade to Indiana allowed him to shine. He's become one of the league's premier playmakers. "This is a franchise that took a chance on me," Haliburton said of the Pacers. "Sometimes, I think they saw more in me than I saw in myself." Despite some early criticism, his playoff performance has solidified his status as a star.

Ultimately, the fate of this year's Larry O'Brien Trophy hinges on the shoulders of these two exceptional guards.

This NBA Finals presents a fascinating contrast in styles and a compelling narrative of two teams who overcame adversity to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Regardless of the outcome, the 2025 NBA Finals promises to be an unforgettable chapter in basketball history.

Tags: NBA Finals, 2025 NBA Playoffs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers, NBA schedule, NBA, Basketball, Larry O'Brien Trophy, NBA game, NBA news

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/05/sport/nba-finals-thunder-pacers-game-1-spt