The Indiana Pacers are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. They beat the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks to win the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers are playing the best team in the association this year in the NBA Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder had the top record in the league during the regular season at 68-14. OKC was first in the NBA in defensive rating and net rating as well.
The Thunder are heavy betting favorites to beat the Pacers in the NBA Finals, which doesn't bother Indiana star point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
"They're historically great on both sides of the ball," Haliburton said, via ESPN. "They have the MVP. There's so many different things you could name down the list of why they are so great at what they do, why they're such a great team.
"You want to go through the best team, the best challenge. This is the best challenge. This is the best team in the NBA. It's been the best team in the NBA all year. They're well-coached. They just do everything so well. There's no shortcuts to beating this team.
"We know the odds are stacked against us. It is what it is. We want to be here. We want to play against the best. This is the best. We look forward to the challenge as a group."
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The Thunder defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012.
They have the MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the league in total points and points per game this season.
OKC is currently a -700 favorite to win the NBA Finals, according to ESPN BET. The Pacers were the underdog in every game of their second-round series against the Cavaliers and won that series in five games, so Indiana is in familiar territory.