Powered by young star talent and deep rosters, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers open the NBA Finals on Friday, each trying to bring their city a first-ever crown.
Watch every game of The NBA Finals LIVE with ESPN on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Oklahoma City, fancied by oddsmakers after an NBA-high 68 regular-season wins, will host game one in the best-of-seven championship series.
The Thunder (-700) are the largest NBA Finals favourites since the 2018 Warriors, with one MGM bettor in Las Vegas putting down $1.05 million on the Thunder to win the series at those odds.
Fri, 06 Jun
Friday June 6th
Both teams are fast-paced squads with young star point guards, 26-year-old NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the Thunder and Indiana’s 25-year-old Tyrese Haliburton.
The Pacers seek the first NBA crown in their 58-year history while the Thunder, who moved from Seattle in 2008, took the franchise’s only title as the SuperSonics in 1979.
Oklahoma City’s only prior NBA Finals appearance was in 2012, when Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook lost to LeBron James-led Miami.
Indiana’s only prior trip to the NBA Finals came in 2000, a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Pacers also won three 1970s titles in the American Basketball Association, which sent four teams into the NBA in 1976.
Gilgeous-Alexander could become the first league scoring champion to win an NBA title in the same season since 2000, when Shaquille O’Neal led the Lakers past the Pacers.
SGA averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocked shots a game in leading the Thunder to the NBA’s best regular-season record at 68-14.
MORE NBA FINALS COVERAGE
‘HE WAS THE START’: Why Josh Giddey can’t be forgotten in Thunder’s rise
HALIBURTON HEARTBREAK: How trade left him ‘distraught’ and sparked new NBA ‘blueprint’
STOP THE SGA DISRESPECT: Why a cruel three-word insult hangs over NBA’s new MVP
Knicks fire coach after record season | 00:38
With forwards Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, Gilgeous-Alexander has formed a formidable trio. The Thunder swept Memphis in the first round of the playoffs, outlasted Nikola Jokic-powered Denver in seven games then dispatched Minnesota in five.
The Pacers went 50-32 behind 20.2 points and 6.9 rebounds a game from Pascal Siakam and 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game by Haliburton, who helped the USA win Paris Olympic gold last year.
Indiana eliminated Milwaukee and Cleveland in five games each and took out New York in six.
Oklahoma City beat Indiana twice in the regular season with Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 39 points, eight assists and seven rebounds while Haliburton struggled, averaging 11 points, three rebounds and 5.5 assists.
The Thunder dominate defensively, leading the playoffs with 18 turnovers forced and 10.8 steals a game plus a 42.6% opponent shooting percentage from the floor.
OKC make first finals series since 2012 | 01:30
The Pacers, however, average 117.4 points a game in the playoffs and own the top shooting percentage overall at 49.7% and from three-point range at 40.1%.
Each team helped build their current lineup by trading NBA star Paul George. The Pacers sent him to the Thunder in 2017 for players that were later traded for Haliburton and draft picks that landed Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard.
The Thunder, meanwhile, traded George to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019 in a deal that landed Gilgeous-Alexander and a draft pick that was used on Williams.
Oklahoma City has a player who won an NBA title in Alex Caruso, who helped the Lakers win the 2020 crown, while the Pacers boast Siakam from Toronto’s 2019 title run.
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle won an NBA title guiding the 2011 Dallas Mavericks and could become only the fourth coach to win NBA crowns with multiple teams.
LIVE BLOG
Follow all the latest updates from Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals in our blog below!
Can’t see the blog? Click here!