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Thunder Favored Over Pacers in 2025 NBA Finals Game 1

Thrust into their first Finals since 2012, the Thunder arrive at home backed by a cohesive defense anchored by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

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Oklahoma City Thunder will face Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals
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Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam ahead of the NBA Finals

Overview

  • Game 1 tips off at 8:30 PM ET on June 5 at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center with live coverage on ABC.
  • OKC posted a 68-14 regular-season record and powered through the playoffs by sweeping Memphis, outlasting Denver in seven games and downing Minnesota 4-1.
  • Indiana overcame the Bucks, Cavaliers and Knicks as the No. 4 seed to reach its first Finals since 2000 and has embraced its underdog status heading into the opener.
  • Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder after earning league MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP honors while Tyrese Haliburton spearheads the Pacers’ high-octane attack.
  • Only four players on both rosters have prior Finals experience, setting the stage for a series defined by emerging stars and fresh matchups.