The 2024-25 NBA Finals commence on Friday, June 6th with Game 1 between the OKC Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. The Thunder finished with the best record in the NBA and have the honour of hosting the first game of the finals, with tip-off set for 10:30am AEST. We bring you our full preview, best bet, and Same Game Multi for Game 1 below!
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Thunder vs Pacers: NBA Finals Game 1 Predictions & Tips
Road to the Finals
The 2025 NBA Finals kick off with a fascinating matchup as the youthful, dominant Oklahoma City Thunder host the resilient and high-powered Indiana Pacers for Game 1. The Thunder, boasting the league's best regular-season record (68-14) and an MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, arrive as considerable favorites. Their journey through the Western Conference playoffs included a hard-fought seven-game series win over the Denver Nuggets and a convincing 4-1 dispatch of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Indiana, on the other hand, defied expectations to emerge from the Eastern Conference. Led by the dazzling playmaking of Tyrese Haliburton and the two-way play of Pascal Siakam, the Pacers navigated a tough playoff road, overcoming the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks. Their potent offence, which ranked among the league's best, will face a stern test against a formidable Thunder defence that was statistically one of the stingiest in recent NBA history.
Recent H2H & Players to Watch
The Thunder swept the regular-season series 2-0 against the Pacers, with Gilgeous-Alexander delivering stellar performances in both contests. Oklahoma City's home-court advantage at the Paycom Center has been significant throughout the playoffs, where they are currently 9-1. Furthermore, the Thunder enter Game 1 with a slight rest advantage, having concluded their conference finals three days earlier than the Pacers.
The Pacers, however, have proven their mettle as road underdogs, securing crucial away victories in their series against both Cleveland and New York. Their ability to push the pace and potent three-point shooting, particularly from the corners, will be critical to challenging the Thunder's defence. Key matchups to watch include the individual brilliance of Gilgeous-Alexander against the Pacers' perimeter defenders and how Indiana plans to counter the interior presence and versatility of Chet Holmgren, who was absent in the regular-season meetings.
Who Takes Game 1? Here’s Our Thunder vs Pacers Tip
The betting line for Game 1 has Oklahoma City as a -9.5 point favorite. While Indiana has consistently outperformed expectations and possesses an offence capable of explosive nights, the Thunder's all-around excellence, coupled with their home-court dominance and MVP-caliber leader, positions them strongly. Expect a charged atmosphere in Oklahoma City as the Thunder aim to make an early statement in these NBA Finals. Look for Gilgeous-Alexander to set the tone, and with their disciplined defence and efficient offence clicking, the Thunder have a strong probability of not only winning but also covering the -9.5 point spread to take a 1-0 series lead.
Thunder –9.5
$1.92 (1.5 Units)
Thunder vs Pacers Same Game Multi
SGA 30+ Points: It’ll be a fast-paced game so there will be plenty of shots to go around. SGA will want to assert his dominance in Game 1 and will take 25+ shots en route to 30+ points.
Siakam 20+ Points: He lamented his passiveness in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, so I expect him to make a point of being aggressive right from the tip in Game 1 of the Finals.
Turner 2+ Threes: Gets the Hartenstein matchup who prefers to sit in the paint on defence. There will be opportunities for Turner to get some threes up here it’ll just come down to whether he makes them or not.
Thunder vs Pacers Game 1 Betting Odds & Match Info
Date: Friday, 6th June
Time: 10:30am AEST
Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
Odds: OKC Thunder ($1.24) vs Indiana Pacers ($4.25)
Line: OKC Thunder -95
Points: 230.5
Where to Watch the 2025 NBA Finals?
You can watch every game of the 2025 NBA Finals live on Kayo Sports.
Tail our Thunder vs Pacers Tips at Dabble!
