From the second the 2024-25 NBA season tipped off in October, it was all resulting in June and the NBA Finals. After seven months of regular-season basketball and an electrifying postseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are the final two groups left standing.
The Thunder soared previous the Minnesota Timberwolves within the Western Convention finals, profitable the sequence in 5 video games — 4 of which featured 30-plus level outings from NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That is the Thunder’s second Finals look, and it could be their first NBA championship because the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. (The Seattle SuperSonics franchise relocated to Oklahoma Metropolis in 2008 and gained a title in 1979.)
The Pacers, led by Jap Convention finals MVP Pascal Siakam and a historic Sport 4 efficiency from Tyrese Haliburton, clinched the East with an entertaining six-game sequence towards the New York Knicks. That is the franchise’s second Finals look, and if it prevails, it could be its first NBA title.
Forward of Sport 1 of the Finals on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC), our NBA specialists make their picks.
Schedule and results | Offseason guide
NBA Finals
Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
Jerry Bembry: Thunder in 6
Tim Bontemps: Thunder in 5
Chris Herring: Thunder in 5
Zach Kram: Thunder in 5
Bobby Marks: Thunder in 5
Dave McMenamin: Thunder in 6
Neil Paine: Thunder in 5
Kevin Pelton: Thunder in 5
Omar Raja: Thunder in 5
Ramona Shelburne: Thunder in 5
Andre Snellings: Thunder in 7
Marc Spears: Thunder in 7
Jeremy Woo: Pacers in 7
Michael C. Wright: Thunder in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Thunder in 6
Remaining tally:
Oklahoma Metropolis 14, Indiana 1