It will be the Indiana Pacers against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals.
The Pacers polished off the New York Knicks on Saturday, winning 125-108 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals after a third-quarter rally. It will be their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, back when Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose starred while Larry Bird coached.
Game 1 of Pacers-Thunder is scheduled for Thursday in Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
The Pacers entered Gainbridge Fieldhouse decked out in all black, a shot at the Knicks doing the same last year, and fulfilled their promise of a funeral. They shot lights out, going 17 of 33 (51.5%) from 3-point range, and punished nearly all of the Knicks’ mistakes, with 34 points off 17 turnovers.
The Indiana offense was once again a beautiful machine, continuing a postseason in which the Pacers have outraced the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and now the Knicks. The epic comebacks will be better remembered, but it’s the Pacers’ ability to explode at any moment that has made them so different. It’s what happened in the third quarter, when the team jumped out to a 16-point lead they never relinquished.
Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 31 points on 10-of-18 shooting with five rebounds and three assists, while Tyrese Haliburton shook off a slow first quarter for 21 points and 13 assists. The Pacers’ biggest two-way impact came from Andrew Nembhard, who had 14 points, 8 assists and 6 steals.
Tyrese Haliburton has the Pacers in the NBA Finals. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Gregory Shamus via Getty Images)
OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points.
Thunder heavily favored over Pacers in NBA Finals
As good as the Pacers looked in this series, sportsbooks are taking the other team by a significant margin.
The Thunder opened as -800 favorites (bet $800 to win $100) at BetMGM to win their first title in OKC.
The Finals schedule also is set:
Game 1: IND@OKC, June 5 (8:30 p.m. ET)
Game 2: IND@OKC, June 8 (8 p.m. ET)
Game 3: OKC@IND, June 11 (8:30 p.m. ET)
Game 4: OKC@IND, June 13 (8:30 p.m. ET)
Game 5: IND@OKC, June 16 (8:30 p.m. ET)*
Game 6: OKC@IND, June 19 (8:30 p.m. ET)*
Game 7: IND@OKC, June 22 (8 p.m. ET)*
* = if necessary
Pascal Siakam tops Tyrese Haliburton for East finals MVP
Haliburton might be the breakout star of this postseason, but it was Siakam who was named Eastern Conference finals MVP after Game 6. He beat out Haliburton five votes to four.
Siakam torched the Knicks in Games 2, 4 and 6, playing a key role in every Pacers win after their miracle comeback in Game 1.
The Pacers acquired Siakam in a blockbuster trade with the Toronto Raptors in January 2024, with the hope that a star big man with postseason bona fides would give them a championship core. So far, so good.
Pacers’ win wasn’t without injury
The Pacers have reached the NBA Finals, but it’s another question whether they will be 100% for Game 1.
Jarace Walker and Aaron Nesmith both left the game with injuries in the fourth quarter. Walker had to be helped to the locker room after appearing to severely sprain his ankle, then Nesmith left minutes later after an ugly collision with Karl-Anthony Towns.
Nesmith would be the bigger loss if he’s not ready for Game 1 of the Finals. He was Indiana’s hero in Game 1 of the conference finals and has overall been enjoying a breakout postseason as a member of the Pacers starting lineup. Fortunately, he and Walker have five days of rest now.
Read the full article here