The 2025 NBA Finals are set to begin on Thursday night, featuring a matchup between two 'small-market' teams: the Oklahoma City Thunder (Western Conference's No. 1 seed) and the Indiana Pacers (Eastern Conference's No. 4 seed). The Thunder, led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, had a 68-14 regular season record and a strong defense. The Pacers, making their first Finals appearance since 2000, had a 50-32 record and have achieved multiple miraculous playoff comebacks. The series format is 2-2-1-1-1, with Games 1 and 2 in Oklahoma City.
NBA Finals begin with Thunder hosting underdog Pacers in battle of small markets
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The 2025 NBA Finals are set to begin on Thursday night, featuring a matchup between two 'small-market' teams: the Oklahoma City Thunder (Western Conference's No. 1 seed) and the Indiana Pacers (Eastern Conference's No. 4 seed). The Thunder, led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, had a 68-14 regular season record and a strong defense. The Pacers, making their first Finals appearance since 2000, had a 50-32 record and have achieved multiple miraculous playoff comebacks. The series format is 2-2-1-1-1, with Games 1 and 2 in Oklahoma City.
Trending- 1 Early 1970s: Pacers won three ABA championships
- 2 1979: SuperSonics won NBA title
- 3 2000: Pacers last in Finals, defeated Knicks
- 4 2008: Thunder moved from Seattle
- 5 Thunder's previous Finals appearance (with Durant, Westbrook, Harden)
- 6 This postseason: Pacers defeated Bucks, Cavaliers, Knicks
- 7 This postseason: Thunder defeated Grizzlies, Nuggets, Timberwolves
- 8 Thursday: NBA Finals Game 1 (Thunder host Pacers)
- 9 Sunday: NBA Finals Game 2
- 10 Next Wednesday: NBA Finals Game 3
- 11 Next Friday: NBA Finals Game 4
- 12 June 16: NBA Finals Game 5 (if necessary)
- 13 June 19: NBA Finals Game 6 (if necessary)
- 14 June 22: NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)
- One team will win the NBA title
- Pacers seeking first NBA title (since ABA)
- Thunder seeking first title since moving from Seattle
What: The 2025 NBA Finals are beginning, featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Indiana Pacers.
When: Thursday night (Game 1); Games 1 and 2 on Thursday and Sunday; Game 3 and 4 next Wednesday and Friday; Game 5 (if necessary) on June 16; Game 6 (if necessary) on June 19; Game 7 (if necessary) on June 22. Pacers' last Finals appearance was in 2000. Thunder's last Finals appearance was when Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden played.
Where: Game 1 and 2 in Oklahoma City; Game 3 and 4 in Indianapolis.
Why: The Finals represent the culmination of the NBA season, pitting the top teams from each conference against each other for the championship. This particular matchup highlights two 'small-market' teams that have proven their worth.
How: The series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 format.