Thunder and Pacers: Two Teams Chasing Their First NBA Title
Fans have waited years to see new blood at the top, and now the 2025 NBA Finals have thrown two hungry underdogs into the spotlight. The NBA Finals 2025 are laced with drama as the Oklahoma City Thunder, top dogs in the West, take on the Indiana Pacers, surprise giants from the East. Neither team has ever raised the trophy, setting the scene for a showdown full of hope and nerves.
The Thunder know about heartbreak—it's their first Finals since 2012, when a young Kevin Durant squad fell short. Back then, dreams ended fast. This time, MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t just putting up numbers; he’s running the show with swagger. His partners in crime? Lu Dort and Jalen Williams, two names any offensive star dreads seeing in the playoffs. Their suffocating defense was critical in shutting down the Timberwolves to reach this point, and they haven’t let up since.
Indiana’s last brush with a Championship was even longer ago—hard to believe Reggie Miller was their go-to guy in 2000. Now, Tyrese Haliburton has lit a new fire in the city. The Pacers got here by turning up the volume against the Knicks, winning the Eastern Conference in six rugged games. Haliburton’s quick reads are matched by Pascal Siakam’s veteran grit—Siakam even snagged Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors. Scoring isn’t a problem for them; their 117.7 offensive efficiency puts them ahead of all but one NBA team this year.
Pivotal Games, Tactical Moves, and How to Tune In
This series isn’t just a battle of skill, but also of schedules and travel legs. The Finals stick with the 2-2-1-1-1 format, giving the Thunder—thanks to piling up wins during the regular season—home-court advantage for Games 1, 2, 5, and (if needed) Game 7. That means crowd noise in Oklahoma City gets loudest when it matters.
Here’s how the games have played out so far: Indiana stunned everyone by stealing Game 1 on OKC’s floor, 111-110. Instead of folding, the Thunder stormed back in Game 2 with a double-digit win, 123-107. Now, the series heads to Indiana for Games 3 (June 11) and 4 (June 13).
This is where coaching becomes chess. Expect Indiana to lean into its deep bench, looking for sparks off the pine against the Thunder’s relentless starters. OKC’s tight defense might have to find new answers to contain Siakam once he gets rolling in front of a home crowd. And if things remain deadlocked, those later games in Oklahoma City could carry a wild energy. No slip-ups allowed—one misstep might mean the end of a dream season.
- Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110 (Oklahoma City)
- Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107 (Oklahoma City)
- Game 3: June 11, Indianapolis
- Game 4: June 13, Indianapolis
- Game 5: June 16, Oklahoma City (if needed)
- Game 6: June 19, Indianapolis (if needed)
- Game 7: June 21, Oklahoma City (if needed)
If you’re not at the arena, you’re not missing out—every game airs nationwide on ABC and ESPN+. Whether you’re a Thunder fan still haunted by 2012, or a Pacers follower who grew up watching highlights of Reggie Miller, this Final has something for everyone. Championship history is on the line, and it’s all happening live. So grab your snacks, pick a side, and settle in for the kind of drama only the NBA can deliver.