Betting Odds Shift in Favor of Oklahoma City Thunder Despite Heavy Pacers Support in NBA Finals Game 1

The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are set to face off in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, and while the line has shifted in favor of the Thunder, bettors are heavily backing the Pacers to cover the spread. Despite Indiana receiving 66% of bets and 63% of the money against the spread at BetMGM, the Thunder are now 9.5-point favorites to win Thursday night’s game. Despite this shift, bettors are clearly counting on a 20-year trend to not go the Thunder’s way. Oklahoma City is currently -700 to win the series, making them one of the biggest Finals favorites ever. Since 1996, only six teams have had lower odds to win the Finals, with the 2001 Lakers being the biggest favorite at -2000. However, the Sixers won Game 1 by six before the Lakers went on to win four straight to clinch the series. The over/under for Game 1 remains at 230.5 points, with just over half of the bets and 60% of the money on the over given how strong each team’s offense is and the quick tempo the game is likely to be played at. The Thunder had the third-best offensive rating during the regular season and averaged over 120 points per game, while the Pacers had the ninth-best offensive rating and scored just over 117 points per game. Looking at the most-bet props ahead of Game 1, bettors are heavily backing unders for Pacers guard Tyrese Hailburton. The top ticket is under 9.5 assists for Haliburton (-145), and the second-most bet prop is under 27.5 points (-120). In two games against Oklahoma City this season – both Thunder wins – Haliburton had a combined 22 points and 11 assists. Bettors are also counting on a six-game series going in the Thunder’s favor, with the most-bet series prop so far being the Thunder in six games at +425. However, there are also betting trends that suggest some bettors think the series will not go six games, preferring the idea of the Thunder winning the first two games, losing the third game, and then winning two more games to close out the series in five games at +625. Overall, it seems that despite the line shifting in favor of the Thunder, bettors are still heavily backing the Pacers to make a strong showing in Game 1 and potentially cause an upset in this year’s NBA Finals. With such a high level of interest and excitement surrounding this matchup, it will be interesting to see how both teams perform on Thursday night and how the series unfolds over the next few weeks.