The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers meet in the NBA Finals for the first time.–AFP PHOTOS
The NBA Finals are set: It’s the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers clinched their trip with a win over the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Thunder swept the two head-to-head meetings between the clubs this season. Game 1 of the finals is Friday morning (Manila time) in Oklahoma City.
Recapping the OKC-Indiana series
— Dec. 26: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 45 points and the Thunder erase an early double-digit deficit, pulling away in the second half to beat the Pacers 120-114. Andrew Nembhard scores 23 for Indiana, while Tyrese Haliburton is held to four points.
— March 29: Gilgeous-Alexander scores 33 and the Thunder win 132-111. Haliburton leads the Pacers with 18, and both teams have six players finish in double figures.
SGA is the MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates with teammates after winning the Western Conference Finals MVP after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 28, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. William Purnell/Getty Images/AFP
A recap of Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s winning of the NBA MVP award.
The story: Gilgeous-Alexander tops Jokic for MVP award
The reaction: SGA tears up when talking about his wife
Steve Nash speaks: Canada’s 1st MVP thrilled to see SGA follow him
The notebook: Jokic finishes top-2 again, Giannis’ streak ends, LeBron gets votes
Betting odds
Oklahoma City (-700) is a big favorite to win the NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Indiana’s odds are set at +500.
The Thunder are an early 9.5-point favorite over Indiana for Game 1.
NBA Finals schedule (Manila time)
All games of the NBA Finals will be aired on ABC.
June 6 — Game 1, Indiana at Oklahoma City, 8:30 a.m.
June 9 — Game 2, Indiana at Oklahoma City, 8:00 a.m.
June 12 — Game 3, Oklahoma City at Indiana, 8:30 a.m.
June 14 — Game 4, Oklahoma City at Indiana, 8:30 a.m.
June 17 — Game 5, Indiana at Oklahoma City, if necessary, 8:30 a.m.
June 20 — Game 6, Oklahoma City at Indiana, if necessary, 8:30 a.m.
June 23 — Game 7, Indiana at Oklahoma City, if necessary, 8:00 a.m.
(And good news: No NBA Finals games conflict with Stanley Cup Final dates!)
Key upcoming events
June 25 — NBA draft, first round.
June 26 — NBA draft, second round.
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Stats of the day
— Indiana is the only team yet to face elimination in these playoffs.
— This is the second time a No. 1 seed (Oklahoma City) has met a No. 4 seed (Indiana) in the NBA Finals. Both previous times were Lakers-Celtics matchups, one in 2010 and the other in 1969. Both went seven games, both saw the Lakers as the No. 1 seed out of the Western Conference (or division, as they were called in 1969), the Celtics won in 1969 (Bill Russell’s final game as a player and 11th championship) and the Lakers won in 2010 (Kobe Bryant’s fifth and final title).
Quote of the day
“We’ve got our work cut out for us.” — Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.
