2025 NBA Finals: Everything you need to know ahead of Thunder-Pacers championship

The Oklahoma City Thunder spent Christmas nighttime successful Indianapolis successful a bittersweet mood.

They woke up that time astatine location with their families and opened presents with their children earlier a precocious day formation for the roadworthy trip, which was positive. But they were besides annoyed, whether they admitted it publically oregon not, that 10 teams were playing 5 games connected the NBA's marquee day, and they were spectators.

They'd won a league-best 57 games the play earlier and had 1 of the supposedly marquee players successful the league, erstwhile twelvemonth Most Valuable Player runner-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, that the NBA possibly should've been featuring connected their highest-profile day. They were besides 23-5 astatine that point, connected an eight-game triumph streak and not playing connected Dec. 25 was looking benignant of ridiculous.

Their hosts for a pedestrian non-national tv Dec. 26 crippled were the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers had rolled their eyes 4 months earlier erstwhile the docket work that they weren't connected Christmas Day, contempt making the league finals. It was the 20th consecutive twelvemonth they'd been deemed not worthy of a Christmas game.

In retrospect, this was an ironic infinitesimal successful the NBA season; the 2 teams that would yet conscionable successful the Finals were unneurotic connected the header time for the league. They were conscionable surviving the lives of small-market underdogs.

They ended up staging a terrific crippled that everyone would beryllium thrilled to spot repeated implicit the adjacent 2 weeks. The Pacers, inactive overcoming early-season injuries and malaise, were inactive conscionable a .500 squad astatine the clip but led the crippled for astir of the mode and by arsenic overmuch arsenic 16 points adjacent though their prima Tyrese Haliburton was held to conscionable 4 points.

But the Thunder, relentless successful their precision, turned the shot implicit lone 3 times and chopped disconnected Indiana's classical crippled program of crushing the opponent's mistakes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied his vocation precocious with 45 points, 16 of them coming successful the fourth, including a cold-blooded 3-pointer with conscionable nether a infinitesimal near with Benedict Matherin successful his face.

It would've been a tremendous showcase crippled had it been afforded the spotlight. Instead, it's conscionable an absorbing footnote to the factoid uncovered by Yahoo! Sports that the Pacers and Thunder are the archetypal teams to marque the Finals without playing connected Christmas since 2007.

The league had its reasons and justifications -- Christmas 2024 produced respective awesome games and tremendous tv ratings, it was a triumph for the NBA, but that didn't mean it wasn't a mistake. These were ever 2 of the champion teams successful the league this season, and they've proven it implicit the past six weeks during precise akin dueling playoff runs.

Brilliant constituent guards, exceptional depth, harassing defenses, slayer modulation play, shrewd crippled plans, varying heroes, harrowing finishes, demonstrations of resilience, wide dominance.

Call them tiny market, foretell debased ratings, mock the respective cities' nightlife, oregon the question challenges, oregon adjacent the championship-hungry fans, each you want.

Underestimating the Thunder and Pacers has been a losing ideology each play long.

The matchup of the play was determination each on and close determination connected Christmas, even, hiding successful plain sight. -- Brian Windhorst

Our NBA insiders are mounting the signifier for the Finals -- Game 1 tips disconnected Thursday, June 5 astatine 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) -- including breakdowns of however each squad got here, the astir important matchups and however each squad tin triumph it all.

Road to the Finals | Last clip they met
Biggest questions | Matchup to watch
How they triumph it each

MORE: Schedule and news | Offseason guide

Road to the Finals

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder

Following 1 of the astir ascendant regular seasons successful NBA history, the 68-win Thunder passed a accent trial against a proven title squad successful the 2nd circular of the playoffs. Otherwise, it made speedy enactment of the Western Conference bracket.

After sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies successful the archetypal round, Oklahoma City blew a double-digit pb successful the bid opener against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets and faced a 2-1 shortage aft 3 games. The Thunder viewed the adversity arsenic an opportunity.

"I knew that they were going to bring greatness retired of us," Thunder reserve Alex Caruso, the lone subordinate connected the roster with a title ring, said the time earlier Game 4 successful Denver.

"Denver is simply a astute team, an experienced team. I cognize that this is the situation that's going to propulsion america to beryllium great."

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David Dennis Jr.: Pacers haven't seen a defence similar OKC's successful the playoffs

David Dennis Jr. explains wherefore the Pacers volition person a "jarring" realization successful the NBA Finals erstwhile it comes to the Thunder's defense.

Led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder closed retired choky wins successful the adjacent 2 games, answering questions astir their quality to execute successful clutch situations aft cruising to double-digit wins successful 54 of their regular-season victories. Oklahoma City blew retired the Nuggets successful Game 7, with Gilgeous-Alexander signaling 35 points successful a 32-point win.

Oklahoma City needed lone 5 games to decorativeness disconnected the Minnesota Timberwolves successful the West finals, capping that bid with a 30-point victory. It was the Thunder's 4th triumph by a borderline of 30 points oregon much during this playoff tally -- the astir by immoderate squad successful a azygous postseason, according to ESPN Research.

As superb arsenic Gilgeous-Alexander is offensively, averaging 29.8 points and 6.9 assists per crippled this postseason, defence drives the Thunder's dominance. Oklahoma City had the top-ranked defence during the regular play and tightened the screws adjacent much during the postseason, lowering its antiaircraft ratio to 104.7 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Thunder person forced 18.0 turnovers and converted them into 23.8 points per crippled during the playoffs, some increases implicit their league-leading regular-season numbers (17.0, 21.8).

Five Oklahoma City players -- Caruso, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Luguentz Dort -- person averaged much than a bargain per crippled successful the playoffs, portion Chet Holmgren has averaged 2.0 blocks per game. The Thunder's defence is simply a singular blend of relentless pressure, swarming help, elite playmaking and togetherness.

"Fifteen puppets connected 1 string," Timberwolves prima Anthony Edwards said, describing Oklahoma City's antiaircraft chemistry. -- Tim MacMahon

(4) Indiana Pacers

It whitethorn person been casual to place the Pacers astatine the commencement of the postseason, but aft a breathtaking tally arsenic an underdog done the Eastern Conference field, they won't beryllium truthful easy dismissed anymore.

The Pacers won 50 games and entered the playoffs arsenic a No.4 seed, but a dilatory commencement masked their existent contender qualities. It wasn't evident erstwhile they dispatched caller rival Milwaukee Bucks successful 5 games successful the archetypal round, but erstwhile they made a 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers squad look mean and the Pacers announced their ascent from young, up-and-comer to league elite.

"They're up here, guys," Cavs manager Kenny Atkinson said, raising his manus toward his caput for emphasis, aft his top-seeded squad was eliminated from the league semifinals.

"I cognize from the data, I cognize from watching film, they're up present and they tin prolong it. I springiness them truthful overmuch recognition for being capable to prolong that benignant of strength for truthful long."

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How did the Pacers predominate the Knicks successful Game 6?

Quentin Richardson and David Dennis Jr. item however the Pacers eliminated the Knicks successful Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.

It acceptable up a matchup successful the Eastern Conference Finals with Indiana's top rival, the New York Knicks, the aforesaid franchise the Pacers bushed successful their lone different travel to the Finals successful 2000. Indiana's elite discourtesy -- led by Tyrese Haliburton, who has had a star-making playoff run, averaging 18.8 points 9.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds successful the postseason to spell on with a fewer immense clutch shots; Pascal Siakam, who was named Conference Finals MVP aft putting up 3 30-point games successful the series; and manager Rick Carlisle, a champion with the Dallas Mavericks successful 2011, who Haliburton has termed a "savant" -- overwhelmed the Knicks successful six games.

The Pacers person posted the second-best violative ratio successful the playoffs astatine 117.7 points per 100 possessions. They person a heavy seat and play accelerated for a afloat 48 minutes, which has allowed Indiana to propulsion disconnected 3 of the most improbable comebacks successful playoff past during this run. They were down by 7 successful the past 40 seconds of Game 5 successful the archetypal circular against the Bucks. They trailed again by 7 successful the last 50 seconds of Game 2 successful the 2nd circular against the Cavaliers. And successful Game 1 against the Knicks, they were down 14 with 2:51 remaining. Indiana came backmost to triumph each game.

"It's however we orchestrated this team," said Pacers halfway Myles Turner, the longest tenured subordinate connected the team. "It's not the flashiest, sexiest team. We conscionable get results." -- Jamal Collier

Last clip they met

The Thunder -- who went 29-1 against the Eastern Conference, the champion interconference grounds successful NBA past -- won some head-to-head meetings this season, but their triumph astatine Indianapolis connected Boxing Day required a fourth-quarter comeback. Down 4 with 3:42 to play aft a 7-0 Pacers run, Oklahoma City ripped disconnected 8 consecutive points to instrumentality control, with Jalen Williams scoring fractional of them. Gilgeous-Alexander was inactive the standout with 45 points connected 15-of-22 shooting, including 4 3-pointers successful 5 attempts, positive a cleanable 11-for-11 nighttime astatine the foul line.

There was small specified play erstwhile the Thunder hosted Indiana connected March 29. Oklahoma City opened up a 22-point pb aft 3 quarters. The Thunder knocked down 17 3-pointers, including six from Lu Dort and 5 disconnected the seat from Isaiah Joe. -- Kevin Pelton

How galore times volition this Oklahoma City halfway get to this stage?

The NBA is astatine the highest of parity, preparing to crown a caller champion for the seventh consecutive season, but the Thunder person dynasty potential. This is the second-youngest squad (average age: 25.6 years) to beforehand to the Finals, trailing lone the Portland Trail Blazers' 1976-77 title team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. A heavy Thunder roster is built astir a 26-year-old MVP successful Gilgeous-Alexander, a 24-year-old All-NBA enactment successful Williams and a 23-year-old imaginable aboriginal Defensive Player of the Year successful Holmgren. Plus, wide manager Sam Presti has accumulated 13 first-round picks implicit the adjacent 7 drafts. Oklahoma City's past Finals squad -- which featured MVPs Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden -- is simply a lawsuit survey successful aboriginal occurrence ne'er being guaranteed successful the NBA. But Oklahoma City enters the Finals arsenic a dense favorite, and it's casual to envision the Thunder becoming June regulars. -- MacMahon

Can Indiana triumph a spot vs spot battle?

The Thunder's defence volition easy beryllium the toughest situation for the Pacers to lick -- a healthy, swarming juggernaut portion with younker and velocity that tin match, and perhaps, thrive successful Indiana's up-tempo style. The Pacers person benefited from seemingly catching each of their playoff opponents by astonishment with their speed, putting the different squad connected its heels and forcing them into uncharacteristic styles and mistakes. Indiana volition participate the bid with much acquisition and Carlisle volition proceed to effort and find a mode to dictate the presumption of the bid similar it has successful each of the erstwhile 3 rounds. But the spread betwixt the apical of the West and the East has seemed wide for astir of the season, which is wherefore Oklahoma City enters the bid arsenic dense favorites. The Pacers person thrived successful their underdog relation each postseason. Can they find a mode to propulsion disconnected 1 much monolithic upset? -- Collier

Matchup to ticker for the series

Tyrese Haliburton vs. Luguentz Dort

The All-NBA defender against the first-team All-Defense stopper. Haliburton is the motor that makes the Pacers go, but helium hasn't worked that mode against Dort. Over the past 2 seasons, Haliburton averaged conscionable 12 points per crippled against the Thunder, his fewest against immoderate opponent, and helium attempted shots astatine a little complaint erstwhile guarded by Dort than immoderate different defender, according to GeniusIQ tracking.

If the Thunder tin dilatory Haliburton similar they person successful the regular season, and thereby gum up the works of Indiana's offense, this bid won't past precise long. If Haliburton tin lick Dort's carnal defence and support the Pacers humming, however, Indiana has a accidental to daze the satellite and upset the rubric favorites. -- Zach Kram

How the Thunder tin triumph it all

By doing what they've been doing passim the regular play and playoffs. A Finals triumph would implicit a historical play for Oklahoma City, which posted the champion constituent differential ever successful the regular play (plus-12.9 PPG) and has the champion for immoderate squad heading into the Finals (plus-10.8) since some the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors successful 2017.

More specifically, the Thunder volition triumph this bid arsenic agelong arsenic they proceed controlling the turnover differential, which has proven a cardinal stat passim the playoffs. Oklahoma City is simultaneously forcing acold much turnovers than immoderate different squad (18.0 per game) portion averaging less connected discourtesy than immoderate squad that precocious past the archetypal circular (11.6). That vantage of 6.4 per crippled would beryllium the highest for a squad that played aggregate bid since the league began tracking squad turnovers successful 1973-74. -- Pelton

How the Pacers tin triumph it all

Indiana's way to the Larry O'Brien Trophy involves 3 steps.

First, the Pacers can't suffer the turnover conflict by arsenic drastic a borderline arsenic each different Thunder opponent. There are encouraging signs here: Haliburton ranks arsenic 1 of the lowest-turnover guards successful the league, and Indiana ranked 3rd successful some the regular play and postseason successful lowest turnover rate. Taking attraction of the shot volition bounds Oklahoma City's demoralizing, game-breaking modulation sequences.

Second, the Pacers request to triumph the 3-point conflict by a wide margin. Again, there's crushed for anticipation here, arsenic Indiana leads each playoff teams with a 40.1% 3-point mark, portion Oklahoma City's shooters person collectively struggled (33.6% this postseason).

And finally, the Pacers person to triumph adjacent games. The Thunder are sufficiently ascendant that they should expect a blowout triumph oregon 2 successful the Finals; they've won astatine slightest 1 crippled by 30-plus points successful each bid truthful far. But if Indiana tin triumph the non-blowouts, an upset is possible. The Pacers are 7-1 successful clutch games successful the playoffs. -- Kram