The Indiana Pacers are going to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 after defeating the New York Knicks in a tough-fought Eastern Conference Finals.
There, they'll face off against the league's Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder made relatively light work of the Minnesota Timberwolves, defeating them 4-1 in the Western Conference Finals.
For the Thunder, it's their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2012, when they fell to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green
© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Draymond Green makes Tyrese Haliburton statement before NBA Finals
The Golden State Warriors had NBA Finals aspirations, but an injury to Stephen Curry in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves derailed them.
The Warriors had been playing do-or-die basketball essentially since they traded for Jimmy Butler. The quick turnaround from their series with the Houston Rockets to the Western Conference semifinals could be to blame.
With the Warriors eliminated, Draymond Green has been watching Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers and has been impressed with what he's seen.
"They give him so much space... They don't realize he's surgical with it," Green said. "Hali's handle is very underrated and sneaky."
While Pascal Siakam took home the Larry Bird Trophy for the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Haliburton has been an integral part of what the Pacers have accomplished in these playoffs.
During the Conference Finals, Haliburton was second in points and first in rebounds, assists, steals and 3-pointers made.
The Pacers will face their toughest opponent yet, as the Thunder finished with the best record in the NBA during the regular season and has coasted in these playoffs outside of their semifinals series against the Denver Nuggets.
Oklahoma City is the overwhelming favorite at -700, which is an implied probability of 87.5%. The Pacers are accustomed to being underdogs, having faced off against the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks in their recent series.