The NBA Finals have begun in a dramatic showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed, and the underdog Indiana Pacers, who are vying for their first-ever NBA championship. The Thunder, led by star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, aim to secure their first title since moving to Oklahoma in 2008, while the Pacers, making their first Finals appearance since 2000, seek to end a 25-year drought. The Thunder, with a 68-14 regular-season record, have shown impressive defensive prowess, but they will face the resilient Pacers, who have defied odds in the playoffs with three last-minute comebacks. The series will be played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, starting in Oklahoma City with Games 1 and 2 on Thursday and Sunday, followed by Games 3 and 4 in Indianapolis.
Despite the Pacers’ 18-game regular season deficit, their 50-32 record secured them a fourth-place finish in the East, and they have made a remarkable postseason run. The Pacers, who have had three last-minute comebacks this season, have made history in the playoffs. In nearly 1,500 playoff games since 1997, only four teams have ever come back to win after trailing by seven-plus points in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime— the Pacers have won three of those games this season alone. A win would be their first NBA title, but they did win three ABA championships in the early 1970s.
The Thunder, meanwhile, have had a difficult journey to the Finals. They swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, then defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals in five games. They had a tough time with the Denver Nuggets, beating them in a seven-game series in the second round. However, they have had no problem with their more recent opponents, and their best defensive rating in the league has made them a formidable challenge. The Thunder, though, have had a difficult road to the Finals, having struggled in recent years after the departure of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. However, this team, with its solid core, is their best since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008, and a title would mark their first since the Seattle SuperSonics claimed the championship in 1979.
As the series begins, fans are eager to see how these two teams will fare. The Thunder’s dominance in defense and their high regular-season ranking make them strong favorites. However, the Pacers’ resilience and ability to come from behind could make for an exciting and unpredictable series. The Finals will be broadcasted live with Games 1 and 2 in Oklahoma City on Thursday and Sunday, followed by Games 3 and 4 in Indianapolis next Wednesday and Friday. If the series goes to a seventh game, it will be held back in Oklahoma on June 22. With such a high-stakes matchup, the outcome of the Finals could shape the future of both teams and the NBA landscape for years to come.