From the moment the 2024-25 NBA season commenced in October, the path was set towards June and the grand stage of the NBA Finals. After seven months of intense regular-season competition and a thrilling postseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers have emerged as the final two contenders.
The Thunder secured their place by overcoming the Minnesota Timberwolves in a dominant five-game Western Conference Finals series. NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a key factor, surpassing the 30-point mark in four of those victories. This appearance marks the Thunder`s second trip to the NBA Finals and an opportunity to win their first championship since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008 (the Seattle SuperSonics franchise, which became the Thunder, won a title in 1979).
In the Eastern Conference, the Pacers clinched their Finals berth with an exciting six-game series triumph over the New York Knicks. Their push was spearheaded by Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam and a particularly memorable Game 4 performance from Tyrese Haliburton. This is the second Finals appearance for the Pacers franchise, and they are aiming to capture their inaugural NBA title.
Ahead of Game 1, which is scheduled for Thursday evening, a panel of NBA experts shares their predictions for how the series between the Indiana Pacers (the 4th seed) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (the 1st seed) will unfold.
Expert Predictions
- Victoria Arlen: Thunder in 6
- Jerry Bembry: Thunder in 6
- Tim Bontemps: Thunder in 5
- Chris Canty: Pacers in 7
- Evan Cohen: Thunder in 5
- Freddie Coleman: Pacers in 6
- Courtney Cronin: Thunder in 6
- Ian Fitzsimmons: Thunder in 6
- Joe Fortenbaugh: Thunder in 5
- Emmett Golden: Thunder in 6
- Freddie Harry: Thunder in 6
- Chris Herring: Thunder in 5
- Zach Kram: Thunder in 5
- Bobby Marks: Thunder in 5
- Myron Medcalf: Thunder in 5
- Dave McMenamin: Thunder in 6
- Q Myers: Thunder in 6
- Gabe Neitzel: Thunder in 5
- Neil Paine: Thunder in 5
- Kevin Pelton: Thunder in 5
- Omar Raja: Thunder in 5
- Jay Reynolds: Thunder in 6
- Michelle Smallmon: Thunder in 6
- Ramona Shelburne: Thunder in 5
- Andre Snellings: Thunder in 7
- Marc Spears: Thunder in 7
- Amber Wilson: Thunder in 5
- Jeremy Woo: Pacers in 7
- Michael C. Wright: Thunder in 6
- Clinton Yates: Thunder in 5
- Ohm Youngmisuk: Thunder in 6
- Jonathan Zaslow: Thunder in 4
Prediction Summary
The final count of expert picks is heavily skewed: Oklahoma City is predicted to win the series by 29 experts, while 3 experts predict an Indiana victory.
