The 2025 NBA Finals proceed on Sunday evening after a surprising ending in Recreation 1. The underdog Indiana Pacers have a 1-0 collection lead in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder after Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning jumper capped a 15-point comeback within the fourth quarter on Thursday evening. The Pacers led Recreation 1 for 0.3 seconds, and now they lead the NBA Finals and are three wins away from the primary NBA championship in franchise historical past.
Regardless of Indiana’s Recreation 1 win, OKC remains to be closely favored at FanDuel to win Recreation 2 at house (-600) and take the collection (-300).
Powered by NBA MVP Shai GIlgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma Metropolis received a league-best 68 video games within the common season. They’re 12-5 to this point in these playoffs, and, after needing seven video games to get previous the Denver Nuggets within the second spherical, dispatched the Minnesota Timberwolves in 5 video games to win the West finals.
The Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton, are the underdogs for his or her third consecutive collection. Indiana knocked out the No. 1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers within the second spherical after which took out the Knicks within the Jap Convention finals.
Thunder vs. Pacers: Recreation 2 information
Time: 8 p.m. ET | Date: Sunday, June 8
Location: Paycom Heart — Oklahoma Metropolis
TV channel: ABC | Streaming: fubo (Strive without spending a dime)
Odds (by way of DraftKings): Thunder -11, O/U: 228.5
Thunder vs. Pacers: Recreation 2 finest bets
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have misplaced consecutive video games solely twice this season. As soon as got here in April after they’d already run away with the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention. The opposite got here in November through the transient interval during which Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren had been each injured. Once they misplaced Recreation 1 of the Denver collection at house, they received Recreation 2 by 43 factors. The Thunder have a +220 level differential in 10 house video games this postseason. Each indicator is telling us to anticipate a Thunder blowout in Recreation 2, so that is what we’ll take. The choose: Thunder -11
There was quite a lot of discuss after Recreation 1 about how the Thunder failed to show their turnovers into factors, nevertheless it really makes fairly a little bit of sense on paper. The Pacers allowed the second-fewest fast-break factors within the NBA this season. They’re quick and so they do not overcommit to offensive-rebounding, so their protection off of turnovers is sort of pretty much as good because it will get. However the staff that allowed the fewest fast-break factors this season? The Thunder, who’re even sooner and deeper than the Pacers. If the simple stuff in transition is gone, you are principally betting on outlier capturing to hit the over. The Pacers bought outlier capturing in Recreation 1, making 18-of-39 3-pointers, and this was nonetheless comfortably an underneath. Recreation 2 ought to be as properly. The choose: Beneath 228.5
Isaiah Hartenstein had 9 rebounds in 17 minutes in Recreation 1. His line is considerably decrease, and that is a operate of enjoying time. He was faraway from the Recreation 1 beginning lineup. However contemplating the way in which Recreation 1 went, he is most likely going to be in line for extra minutes even when he stays on the bench in Recreation 2. These simple factors off of turnovers that the Thunder dwell off of may not be accessible, so they may want to emphasise rebounding extra to keep up their dominance within the possession recreation. They bought round 53% of accessible rebounds in Recreation 1 throughout Hartenstein’s minutes, however solely round 39% when he was off of the ground. I am anticipating extra Hartenstein in Recreation 2, so I am going over on his rebounds. The choose: Hartenstein over 6.5 rebounds