Overview

• The Oklahoma City Thunder closed the regular season at 68-14 and are paced by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has averaged nearly 30 points in the playoffs.
• The Indiana Pacers overcame pre-playoff projections that gave them just a 4% chance to reach the Finals, riding Tyrese Haliburton’s playmaking and a defense-first approach.
• The best-of-seven series starts at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on June 5 before shifting to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4.
• Major sportsbooks list Oklahoma City at around –700 odds, translating to roughly an 87% implied probability of winning the championship and underlining their status as favorites.
• Neither franchise has won an NBA title since joining the league, with the Thunder seeking their first championship since the 1979 Sonics era and the Pacers aiming for their inaugural NBA crown.