The 2025 NBA Finals are finally here as the top-seeded team in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, square off with the red-hot Indiana Pacers. Game 1 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday from the Paycom Center.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who took home MVP honors this year after he led the league in scoring, has been the catalyst all postseason. He averaged 29.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds as the Thunder cruised to the Finals with wins against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jalen Williams (20.4 points per game) and Chet Holmgren (8.6 rebounds per contest) have also come up big.
Oklahoma City has just four losses in the playoffs so far.
The No. 4-seed Pacers, meanwhile, weren’t exactly expected to get to this point. But thanks to huge performances from their superstar, Tyrese Haliburton (18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game), they eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks in impressive fashion. Balance has been the key for Indiana, a team with six players averaging double-digit scoring this postseason.
Who will come out on top? Stay with NBC News all series for the latest from Oklahoma City and Indianapolis.
NBA Finals Game 1: Pacers at Thunder
Date: Thursday, June 5
When: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
How to watch: ABC or streamed on Fubo
How to bet Game 1 (via BetMGM)
Spread: Thunder (-9.5)
Moneyline: Thunder -400, Pacers +310
Over/Under: 230.5 total
