Will SGA & Thunder beat Pacers for first title?

It’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder against Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. Who will win?

Here’s how The Oklahoman sports staff see the NBA Finals playing out:

Pre-order book on Thunder’s run to NBA Finals

Thunder in 5: I’m on the fence about whether it’ll be five or six games, but I’ll go five out of selfishness for Thunder fans. Winning the title at home would be way cooler than having it happen on the road. The Pacers will be a challenge, no doubt about that. They beat some really good teams in the East. But really good teams in the East aren’t as good as really good teams in the West, and the Thunder has already come through a gauntlet and lost just four playoff games. The reason? A defense that plays like a pack of wolves. It attacks, and the Pacers simply won’t have an answer for it. —Jenni Carlson, Columnist

Thunder in six: If Denver and Minnesota couldn’t do it, I’m not sure Indiana can. You say the injury-riddled Nuggets? Well, yes, the lone team to push the Thunder past five games, perhaps deploying the only player worthy of so much of their attention. You say the one-win Timberwolves? Yes, the best defense OKC has played these playoffs, perhaps with the best individual game of any single Thunder opponent (Game 4) that still ended up in a loss. The Pacers have a lovable identity. Their path here, their core, that they stay true to a play style befitting of their name. NBA fans should enjoy what comes out of this series, which should at least feature one more signature Tyrese Haliburton moment. But I’m willing to bet one is all this stingy Thunder defense will allow. This team known for ball control has yet to face these Oklahoma City thieves. The Pacers have shot well down to their role players, but it’s not like outshooting the Thunder from deep has meant much. I’ll take Indiana in a game, maybe two, just off variance. —Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

Thunder in six: On paper, this is probably a five-game series. The Thunder can blitz Tyrese Haliburton with a wave of elite defenders, and its transition defense can slow down the appropriately-named Pacers. Indiana’s shaky rim protection should also get exploited by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of an OKC offense that drives a ton. But I’m picking the Thunder to win in six games instead of five. The Pacers have an almost-magical quality to them with four 17-point comebacks this postseason, which is the most by any team in a single playoff run since 1998. They find ways to win games, and I think they’ll win two in this series. —Justin Martinez, Staff writer

Thunder in five: You can talk me into the Pacers winning a game, but taking four out of seven from a Thunder team that has lost four games all playoffs? I don’t see it. The Pacers’ offense is great, but it’s not as good as the Thunder’s defense. And for all the talk about the Pacers’ pace, the Thunder has actually played faster in these playoffs. OKC has better top-end talent, more depth and has been the elite team in the NBA all season. The Pacers have little hope of making this a competitive series, much less winning it. —Joe Mussatto, Columnist

Thunder vs Pacers schedule for NBA Finals

Best-of-seven; Games 5-7 if necessary; All times are Central.

BetMGM: OKC (-800) is the favorite to win the NBA Finals series vs Indiana

OKC opened as a -800 favorite to beat Indiana in the NBA Finals.

Will SGA & Thunder beat Pacers for first title?

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