{"id":136617,"date":"2025-06-30T12:55:24","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T12:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/136617\/"},"modified":"2025-06-30T12:55:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T12:55:24","slug":"will-thunder-or-pacers-win-first-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/136617\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Thunder or Pacers win first title?"},"content":{"rendered":"

LIVE UPDATES:\u00a0Follow The Oklahoman’s live coverage of\u00a0Thunder vs. Pacers in Game 7<\/a>\u00a0of the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n

They are the two best words in all of sports. GAME. SEVEN<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For the 20th time in league history and the first since 2016, there will be a Game 7<\/a> in the NBA Finals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By the end of Sunday night, either the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> or Indiana Pacers<\/a> will hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy<\/a> for the first time as confetti rains down on them.<\/p>\n

Here’s how writers and editors from The Oklahoman<\/a> and Indy Star<\/a> predict Game 7<\/a> to play out:<\/p>\n

Pre-order our new book on Thunder’s run to NBA Finals<\/a><\/p>\n

REQUIRED READING: How do OKC Thunder players view their own adversity compared to past NBA champions?<\/a><\/p>\n

\u220e\u00a0Nathan Baird, IndyStar:\u00a0Pacers<\/p>\n

I love taking the Pacers and the points here. I\u2019m less excited about picking them to win outright. But I will, because the team of destiny vibe that built over the first three rounds has never dissipated.<\/p>\n

\u220e\u00a0Dana Hunsinger Benbow, IndyStar:\u00a0Pacers<\/p>\n

After six games of deep analysis, the Pacers have OKC figured out. Pacers win. Proving home court advantage at this point doesn’t mean squat. And finally winning one for Herbie means everything.<\/p>\n

\u220e\u00a0Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman: Thunder 101, Pacers 95<\/p>\n

It won’t be easy. Who would think otherwise at this point? But fueled by the Paycom Center madness, the Thunder defense will be much better than Game 6. That will lead to better offense, easier baskets and just enough cushion to win a title.<\/p>\n

\u220e\u00a0Dustin Dopirak, IndyStar:\u00a0Pacers 111, Thunder 109.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I honestly have no idea what’s going to happen in this game. But the most fitting thing considering the way these playoffs have gone would be for the Pacers to win on a Tyrese Haliburton game-winning 3. So let’s go with that.<\/p>\n

\u220e\u00a0Gregg Doyel, IndyStar:\u00a0Pacers<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve got the Pacers winning game seven, because I think the Pacers are better. Don\u2019t ask me why one team won 68 games but the team I think is better won 50. But that\u2019s what I think.<\/p>\n

\u220e\u00a0Matt Glenesk, IndyStar:\u00a0Pacers 108, Thunder 104<\/p>\n

I’ve picked the Pacers throughout the playoffs, so I’m not about to stop now. After Game 6, you feel there’s real belief among the Pacers. And after OKC’s dud in Game 6, you’d imagine there’s some doubt within the Thunder. It’s been a great series, and it’s only fitting we get a Game 7.<\/p>\n

CARLSON: Thunder, Pacers have ‘a privilege’ in basketball’s holy grail \u2014 NBA Finals Game 7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u220e\u00a0Justin Martinez, The Oklahoman: Thunder 111, Pacers 107<\/p>\n

After a shaky Game 6 performance, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will show why he\u2019s the league\u2019s Most Valuable Player. And OKC will show why it\u2019s the league\u2019s best team with a defense that\u2019\u2019ll disrupt Indiana\u2019s high-octane offense.<\/p>\n

\u220e\u00a0Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman: Thunder 108, Pacers 100<\/p>\n

OKC\u2019s homecourt advantage can\u2019t be overstated. Indiana keeps it close, but the Thunder\u2019s defense controls the game. SGA wins Finals MVP.<\/p>\n

\u220e\u00a0Nat Newell, IndyStar:\u00a0Thunder 115, Pacers 109<\/p>\n

Thunder will be ready for a less mobile Tyrese Haliburton but this all comes down to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The MVP can\u2019t turn in another lackluster performance \u2026 and he won\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u220e\u00a0Zach Osterman, IndyStar:\u00a0Pacers<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City has unloaded its arsenal on the Pacers, and they\u2019re still kicking. If anything, they showed OKC its weakness in Game 6 in a way nobody else really has in these playoffs. Confidence is a dangerous thing, and Indiana has it in abundance. Pacers win close, late.<\/p>\n

\u220e Jeff Patterson, The Oklahoman: Thunder 117, Pacers 111<\/p>\n

Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams said on on the eve of Game 7 that the energy in Paycom Center will “the hair on your arms stand up.” I’m not going to dispute that. The Thunder got its clunker of the series out of the way in Game 6. Now it’s time to watch out as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. celebrate in confetti with OKC’s first NBA title.<\/p>\n

MUSSATTO: Thunder has won its ‘must-win’ games. Now comes Game 7, biggest test of all.<\/a><\/p>\n

Date:\u00a0Sunday, June 22Time:\u00a07 p.m. CT<\/p>\n

The Thunder vs. Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals starts at 7 p.m. CT Sunday from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n

More: NBA Finals Game 7 is a different beast, but Lu Dort has shined in a Game 7 before<\/a><\/p>\n

Where to watch Thunder<\/a> vs\u00a0Pacers<\/a>\u00a0in NBA Finals Game 7<\/p>\n

The Thunder vs. Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals will be broadcast on ABC.<\/p>\n

More: Why Thunder homecourt advantage vs Pacers may be an understatement in Game 7 of NBA Finals<\/a><\/p>\n

Jeff Patterson is the sports editor for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jeff? He can be reached at jpatterson@oklahoman.com or on X\/Twitter at\u00a0@jeffpattOKC. Support Jeff’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a\u00a0digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LIVE UPDATES:\u00a0Follow The Oklahoman’s live coverage of\u00a0Thunder vs. Pacers in Game 7\u00a0of the NBA Finals. They are the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":136618,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3774],"tags":[2126,273,7,212,311,274,2127,1501,623,257,2125,113,126,3866,54,79,70,85,6,1220,62,67,310,179,61,81,114,65,622,209,66,285,83,55,2128,64,312,63,82,256,278,272],"class_list":{"0":"post-136617","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-indiana-pacers","8":"tag-ai","9":"tag-and","10":"tag-basketball","11":"tag-betting","12":"tag-city","13":"tag-disclaimer","14":"tag-enabled","15":"tag-finals","16":"tag-gilgeous-alexander","17":"tag-haliburton","18":"tag-highlights","19":"tag-indiana","20":"tag-indiana-pacers","21":"tag-indianapacers","22":"tag-modular","23":"tag-modular-story","24":"tag-national","25":"tag-national-sports","26":"tag-nba","27":"tag-nba-finals","28":"tag-neutral","29":"tag-news","30":"tag-oklahoma","31":"tag-oklahoma-city-thunder","32":"tag-overall","33":"tag-overall-neutral","34":"tag-pacers","35":"tag-point","36":"tag-shai","37":"tag-shai-gilgeous-alexander","38":"tag-sports","39":"tag-sports-betting-widget-and-disclaimer","40":"tag-sports-news","41":"tag-story","42":"tag-story-highlights-ai-enabled","43":"tag-the","44":"tag-thunder","45":"tag-to","46":"tag-to-the-point","47":"tag-tyrese","48":"tag-tyrese-haliburton","49":"tag-widget"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136617"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136617\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/136618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=136617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=136617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}