The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are neck and neck in the 2025 NBA Finals, with each team having won one game apiece. However, a closer examination of their statistical performance reveals significant deviations from their usual norms.
In Games 1 and 2, the Pacers have struggled with 2-point shooting, averaging just 22 made 2-pointers per game on 51.8% shooting – significantly lower than their regular-season averages. This shift towards more 3-point attempts has been a notable trend, with the team taking over 48% of its shots from beyond the arc.
The Pacers’ turnovers have also been a major issue, with nearly 18% of their possessions ending in giveaways. Oklahoma City’s steals have been another outlier, with the Thunder dwarfing the Pacers’ usual average by a significant margin.
Oklahoma City has seen an increase in free throw attempts and makes, with the team averaging 25.0 free throws per game and making 87.7% of its shots from the line. Meanwhile, the Pacers have struggled to score, dipping their average points per game to 109.0 – a significant drop from their regular-season average.
The assists are also down for both teams, with the Pacers falling short of their usual averages and Oklahoma City’s ball movement being hindered by a lower assist rate.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45487350/2025-nba-finals-outlier-trends-indiana-pacers-oklahoma-city-thunder-far