NBA Championship Showdown OKC/IND: Could Oklahoma City Thunder Dominate Indiana Pacers?
Revamped Write-up on NBA Finals Preview:
Are the Pacers, a team that initially stumbled but surged their way into the playoffs, set to lose against the heavy-favored Thunder in the NBA Finals? The Pacers, with a series price of +488 and the Thunder at -670,$, according to BetOnline, shock the world by reaching this stage. Can they repeat the magic?
Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder: AHTTP
Elite from the get-go, the Thunder (12-4 in playoffs) are on the cusp of capturing their first-ever NBA Championship. Prior to the series, the Pacers were 29-1 against Eastern Conference teams. However, the Thunder handed them both regular-season losses, with Chet Holmgren missing both matches. Although they may lack reasons to build confidence, the Pacers are admirable, with a 21-10 record against Western Conference opponents.
Interestingly, the Pacers performed effectively as away underdogs, securing 17 wins out of 29 attempts. They also boasted a 18-11 ATS as away underdogs, with only the Thunder's superior performance of 66.7% as road underdogs.
Come back all week for updated odds and analysis at Betting News!
Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Stat Analysis
| Fast Break Points per Game | OKC: 17.8 (1st in 2025 Playoffs) | IND: 15.5 (3rd) || ----------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | -------------------- || Opponent Fast Break Points per Game | OKC: 9.3 (1st) | IND: 9.4 (2nd) || Points Off Turnovers per Game | OKC: 23.8 (1st) | IND: 18.5 (2nd) || Opponent Points Off Turnovers per Game | OKC: 12.6 (2nd) | IND: 12.5 (1st) |
source: Underdog NBA @UnderdogNBA on Twitter
NBA Finals Prediction: Length of the Series
Despite their underdog status, the Pacers have defied expectations by making it to the Finals. If you're considering placing a wager on this series, BetOnline offers a unique market for you. You can bet on the number of games in the best of 7 series:
- 4 Games (+300)
- 5 Games (+175)
- 6 Games (+300)
- 7 Games (+325)
Unique Offerings by BetOnline
Beyond traditional betting options, BetOnline presents an array of props that add an extra layer of excitement to the 2025 NBA Finals. Such offerings include historical records being broken and correct series outcomes. To explore these exotic markets, head on over to BetOnline.
For instance, you can bet on Stephen Curry breaking his single-quarter points record, with odds of (+450) if someone scores 22 points or more during a quarter. Another intriguing wager is '1+ Game Winning Buzzer Beater FGs in Series - YES (+1200)'.
A Loose Thunder Squad
The Thunder have been known for their relaxed atmosphere throughout the season, with Shai and the team maintaining a playful spirit.
NBA Finals Trends
As underdogs in this NBA Finals contest, the Pacers confront heavy odds stacked against them. Since 1985, only 30 out of 33 teams who were -400 series favorites or higher in the Conference or NBA Finals were able to claim victory.
Winning underdogs in the NBA Finals are relatively rare. The only instances of this taking place within the last 50 years include:
- 2023 Eastern Conference Finals: Heat over Celtics
- 2009 Eastern Conference Finals: Magic over Cavaliers
- 2004 NBA Finals: Pistons over Lakers
Although the Thunder are favored at approximately -700, they mark the 11th team with odds of -600 or higher in the NBA Finals over the past 50 years. Ten of these teams have subsequently lifted Larry. The sole exception is the 2004 Detroit Pistons, who defied long odds with Chauncey Billups leading them to victory over Shaq & Kobe.
Game 3 will take place on Wednesday, June 11th. If you're unfamiliar with this phenomenon, take a moment to learn about "Humpday Holmgren".
Canadian Basketball Representation
With four participants from the Canadian basketball program competing in the 2025 NBA Finals, this marks the second consecutive season featuring such representation. Last year, Oshae Brissett, AJ Lawson, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, and Dwight Powell all participated but were reserved or minor contributors to their respective teams. This year, however, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Bennedict Mathurin, and Andrew Nembhard will all be vital contributors during the series.
BetOnline Series Leaders Props
BetOnline offers various intriguing props, such as:
- Blocks Leader in Series: Myles Turner (-115), Chet Holmgren (-105), or Isaiah Hartenstein (+1800)
- Points Leader in Series: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-2500), Jalen Williams (+2000), or Pascal Siakam (+2500)
- Rebounds Leader in Series: Chet Holmgren (-175), Isaiah Hartenstein (+350), or Pascal Siakam (+600)
- Steals Leader in Series: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+350), Alex Caruso (+400), or Jalen Williams (+500)
Key Insights from Outlier.Bet
- The Pacers' road games frequently surpass the total, with 10 out of the last 14 resulting in overs.
- The Pacers present a winning record as away underdogs, with a 6-1 ATS in the last 7 games.
The Indiana Pacers, despite their underdog status in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, have a strong 18-11 ATS record as away underdogs. Intriguingly, they have effectively secured 17 wins out of 29 attempts as away underdogs.
The Thunder, with a 12-4 playoff record, are on the brink of capturing their first-ever NBA Championship. However, history suggests that winning as a heavy favorite is challenging, as only 30 out of 33 teams who were -400 series favorites or higher in the Conference or NBA Finals since 1985 have managed to claim victory.
