The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers tip off Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, with both teams chasing their first-ever championship in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.
Oklahoma City, OK. (WE) — The stage is set for a historic NBA Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are ready for Game 1 on Thursday in Oklahoma City. Neither team has ever won an NBA championship. One of them will change that in 2025.
This series is a new chapter in NBA history. Both franchises took years to build their rosters. Now, they are one step away from glory. Oklahoma City hasn’t reached the Finals since 2012. Indiana’s last trip came in 2000.
“I haven’t really wrapped my head around the fact that I’m in the Finals,” said Jalen Williams, one of the Thunder’s rising stars. “It’s a blessing we’re here, but we still have a job to do.”
The teams share a key link — Paul George. His moves shaped both rosters. In 2017, Indiana traded George to the Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. Five years later, Indiana flipped Sabonis for Tyrese Haliburton, now their franchise leader.
George later asked to leave Oklahoma City. In 2019, the Thunder traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers. That deal brought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the draft pick used to select Williams. Both have turned into stars.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in scoring and won NBA MVP this season. In the playoffs, he has averaged 31.6 points over 12 wins. But his impact goes beyond scoring.
“He has an ‘I’m-gonna-get-it-done’ mentality,” Williams said. “It’s rubbed off on all of us.”
The Thunder dominated the regular season. They went 68–14 and breezed through the Western Conference. Their defense set the tone. During the playoffs, they’ve posted a league-best 104.7 defensive rating.
Indiana’s path was different. The Pacers were under .500 in early January. They stayed focused and finished as the No. 4 seed in the East.
“We started rocky,” said Pascal Siakam, who joined Indiana at the trade deadline. “But we kept being ourselves. We got better.”
The Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, then toppled the Cleveland Cavaliers — the East’s top seed — also in five. In the conference finals, they outlasted the New York Knicks in six games. It’s their first Finals since Reggie Miller led them 25 years ago.
Indiana’s offense has impressed. They’ve averaged 117.7 points per 100 possessions — third-best in the playoffs. Only Cleveland and Oklahoma City rank higher.
“There’s no shortcuts to beating this team,” Haliburton said about the Thunder.
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During the regular season, Oklahoma City swept the series. Their most recent win was a 132–111 blowout on March 29. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points. Indiana struggled on both ends.
But the Pacers have grown since then. Haliburton has taken more control. Siakam has become the team’s emotional leader. Role players like Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin, and Myles Turner have made big plays.
Indiana’s trip to Oklahoma was anything but smooth. Storms forced their plane to stop in Tulsa before landing late Tuesday night.
“Not ideal,” said head coach Rick Carlisle. “But we’re here, and that’s what matters.”
Oklahoma City’s crowd will be loud. Fans are hungry for a title. The team hasn’t been back to the Finals since the Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden era.
This time, the stars are younger. They’re homegrown. And they’ve embraced the moment.
“There’s something special about doing this with guys you came up with,” said Chet Holmgren. “We’ve grown together. Now we have a chance to win it all.”
Indiana also believes it can finish the job. Haliburton, just 24, has turned into a superstar. His vision and confidence have fueled Indiana’s run.
“When Ty’s out there, anything feels possible,” said Nembhard.
Coaching could be a key factor. Carlisle has Finals experience. He led the Dallas Mavericks to a title in 2011. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is making his Finals debut.
“He’s like a scientist,” Williams said. “He’s always prepared and always adjusting.”
The series promises to be intense. Oklahoma City has the best defense. Indiana has one of the best offenses. Game 1 could come down to execution.
Thunder fans believe this is their time. So do Pacers fans. Both teams have waited decades for a shot at a championship.
The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC and streams on ESPN+. Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m.
Whether it’s the Thunder’s youth movement or Indiana’s unexpected rise, a new NBA champion will soon be crowned. After all these years, one city’s wait is almost over.
