2025 NBA Finals Preview: Thunder vs. Pacers - A Battle of Modern Powerhouses

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are set to face off in the 2025 NBA Finals, marking the end of long droughts for both franchises. The Thunder have not been to the Finals since 2013, while the Pacers have not made it to the championship series since 1999. This matchup is a battle of two modern-day powerhouses, with both teams built around depth and not just a few All-Star players.

The Thunder boast new Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been a dominant force all season. He will be joined by a talented supporting cast that includes Lu Dort, Darius Bazley, and Aleksej Pokusevski. The Thunder's defense has been suffocating all postseason, and they will need to stay focused in late-game situations to come out victorious.

The Pacers, on the other hand, lean on their own star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton. He will be joined by Myles Turner, Bennedict Mathurin, and Buddy Hield. The Pacers have a reputation for pulling off miraculous comebacks, but the Thunder's defense is too strong to give them any kind of life in the fourth quarter. The key for the Pacers will be creating turnovers and scoring in transition. If they are forced to play a half-court game against the Thunder, they will lose.

This series is expected to be a tough one, with both teams bringing their A-game. The Thunder are favored to win in five games, but the Pacers are no slouches and could certainly steal a game or two. In the end, it will be a battle of two of the best teams in the league, and fans are in for a treat.