Fast Breaks and Tough Defenses: Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals

The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are set to face off in the 79th edition of the NBA Finals, with both teams having clinched their spots through impressive playoff runs. The Pacers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in six games to advance to the Finals, while the Thunder defeated the Boston Celtics in five games. Here are three things to know about this year's NBA Finals:

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Tyrese Haliburton: Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the second point guard to win MVP since Russell Westbrook won the award for the Thunder in 2017. He is a surgical superstar, averaging 33.1 points per game in the regular season and 31 points per game in the playoffs. In the other corner is Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, a supreme playmaker who has been every bit as good in these playoffs. Haliburton averaged 19.2 points and 10.3 assists per game in the regular season and has increased his production in the playoffs, averaging 20 points and 11 assists per game. No two players have been more valuable to their teams in this postseason than Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton, and their contrasting styles will be on display opposite each other on an NBA Finals stage.

2. Indiana's offense vs. Oklahoma City's defense: Indiana is known for its fast-paced brand of basketball, which has generated 118 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs. The Pacers play fast and efficiently, a deadly combination, which means they rarely turn the ball over. Oklahoma City's defense, however, has forced more turnovers than any other team in the NBA, both in the regular season and the playoffs. Their pressure is relentless, and they have Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jalen Williams, a pair of stars who've taken to defense. The Thunder are a wagon on defense, holding opponents to 105.2 points per 100 possessions, second-best in the NBA.

3. Battle of the small markets: Few NBA teams are in smaller media markets than the Pacers of Indianapolis and the Thunder of OKC. The television ratings will not be a referendum on the popularity of the league, nor will they do much to impact the league's bottom line, as the NBA's new TV rights package is set to begin next season. We should be concerned with whether we get to see competitive basketball at the league's highest level, and this has a chance to be that. The Thunder are favored to win the series according to BetMGM, but do not underestimate Indiana's hard-hat guys - Nembhard