Pacers and Thunder NBA Finals is better than it’s ‘small-market’ billing
USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the star-studded NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sports Pulse
This was supposed to be a deciding NBA Finals victory for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Or so many experts predicted.
The Thunder, the No. 1 overall seed after a 68-win season, are quick, play a suffocating defense and have the league MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Indiana Pacers, who upset the No. 1 seed in the East in Cleveland — albeit playing without some of its stars because of injuries — and squeaked by the New York Knicks on come-from-behind victories, were not seen as the complete package. Still a year or two away.
Well, the Pacers are ready now. They’re two wins from the franchise’s first NBA championship with Game 4 on Friday, June 13, at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
USA TODAY Sports’ experts make their NBA Finals Game 4 picks for Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers:
NBA Finals Game 4 picksScooby Axson: Pacers 118, Thunder 108Cydney Henderson: Thunder 108, Pacers 106Jordan Mendoza: Thunder 109, Pacers 102Lorenzo Reyes: Thunder 106, Pacers 97Heather Tucker: Thunder 103, Pacers 90James Williams: Pacers 110, Thunder 104Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder 111, Pacers 99NBA Finals 2025: Full schedule, times, TV channel, live streaming
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
(Indiana leads series 2-1)
Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107Game 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107Game 4, June 13: Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.Game 5, June 16: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.Game 6, June 19: Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.*Game 7, June 22: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8 p.m.*