The Indiana Pacers are set to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, a David vs. Goliath series that promises to be an exciting and unpredictable ride. The Pacers need to play near-perfect basketball to have any shot at defeating the heavily favored Thunder.
The Thunder’s elite defense will be put to the test by the Pacers’ efficient offense, led by point guard Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton’s ability to create scoring chances for his teammates is reminiscent of a pass-first point guard like Dirk Nowitzki in 2011. However, the Thunder’s Lu Dort and Jalen Williams are both All-Defensive team members who will be crucial in slowing down the Pacers’ attack.
The big men matchup is also a key aspect of this series. The Thunder’s Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein have the potential to dominate the glass, but the Pacers’ Myles Turner will need to step up his rebounding game if they hope to compete.
One thing that could give the Pacers an edge is their ability to match the Thunder’s depth. Oklahoma City has a strong bench that can produce big numbers when its starters are exhausted. However, the Pacers have shown flashes of brilliance in their playoff runs, and it will be interesting to see how they fare against the Thunder’s depth.
The primary battle in this series could come down to the first five or six seconds of the shot clock. The Thunder lead the playoffs in opponent turnovers per 100 possessions, while the Pacers have allowed the fewest points per possession in transition defense.
In a pick for the series, many experts are predicting an Oklahoma City victory, but there’s reason to believe that the Pacers could pull off an upset. Tyrese Haliburton needs to play a clutch game, and if he can, it could be enough to send the series to a deciding Game 7.
Ultimately, the outcome of this series will depend on which team can match its opponent’s level of intensity and depth. The Thunder have been dominant all season, but the Pacers have shown that they’re not afraid of a challenge. It’s going to be a wild ride in the NBA Finals.
Source: https://www.nba.com/news/2025-nba-finals-preview-thunder-pacers