The 2025 NBA Finals are just around the corner, with the Oklahoma City Thunder making their first appearance in the championship round in 13 years. They will face the Indiana Pacers, who advanced after a thrilling six-game battle against the New York Knicks. The Finals will kick off on Thursday, June 5th, with the Thunder holding home-court advantage as the top seed in the West, having the best record in the NBA with 68 wins. This marks the Pacers’ first Finals since 2000 and the Thunder’s first since 2012.
Neither team has won the NBA title before. The Pacers have yet to secure an NBA championship, although Indiana claimed three ABA titles in the 1970s. The Thunder franchise won one championship in 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics but has never captured the trophy since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008.
The Finals schedule is as follows, with games airing on ABC and streamed live on Fubo:
– Game 1: June 5 | Pacers vs. Thunder | 8:30 PM
– Game 2: June 8 | Pacers vs. Thunder | 8:00 PM
– Game 3: June 11 | Thunder vs. Pacers | 8:30 PM
– Game 4: June 13 | Thunder vs. Pacers | 8:30 PM
– *Game 5: June 16 | Pacers vs. Thunder | 8:30 PM
– *Game 6: June 19 | Thunder vs. Pacers | 8:30 PM
– *Game 7: June 22 | Pacers vs. Thunder | 8:00 PM
According to Caesars Sportsbook, the Thunder are heavy favorites with odds at -750, while the Pacers are underdogs at +525.
Fan Take: This Finals matchup is a huge deal for basketball enthusiasts as it features two teams hungry for their first NBA title, promising intense competition and memorable moments. It highlights the evolving landscape of the league, where new contenders are rising and the quest for the Larry O’Brien Trophy brings fresh excitement to fans everywhere.