The 2025 NBA Finals championship series is drawing near, and the two competing teams have been confirmed. The Oklahoma City Thunder have reached the Finals for the first time in 13 years, thanks in part to the stellar play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Their opponent is the Indiana Pacers, who earned their spot by defeating the New York Knicks in an exciting six-game series.
The 2025 NBA Finals are set to commence on Thursday, June 5th. Oklahoma City will hold home-court advantage against Indiana, a benefit earned by having the league`s best regular-season record (68 wins) and securing the top seed in the Western Conference. This appearance marks the Pacers` return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, while it`s OKC`s first trip since 2012.
Interestingly, neither franchise has claimed an NBA championship under its current name. The Indiana Pacers have never won an NBA title (though they did win three ABA championships in the 1970s). The Oklahoma City Thunder franchise previously won a championship as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979, but the team has not lifted the Larry O`Brien Trophy since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008.
2025 NBA Finals Schedule and Dates
- Game 1: Thursday, June 5 | Pacers vs. Thunder | 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 2: Sunday, June 8 | Pacers vs. Thunder | 8 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 3: Wednesday, June 11 | Thunder vs. Pacers | 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 4: Friday, June 13 | Thunder vs. Pacers | 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- *Game 5: Monday, June 16 | Pacers vs. Thunder | 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- *Game 6: Thursday, June 19 | Thunder vs. Pacers | 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- *Game 7: Sunday, June 22 | Pacers vs. Thunder | 8 p.m. ET, ABC
* denotes if necessary
2025 NBA Championship Odds
- Oklahoma City Thunder: -750
- Indiana Pacers: +525
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
Jasper Hawthorne