The 2025 NBA Finals series is set to continue with Game 2 on Sunday, June 8th. The action will take place at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, with tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. The Indiana Pacers managed to secure a crucial road victory in Game 1, defeating the Thunder 111-110. Their win was highlighted by a significant fourth-quarter comeback and a game-winning basket in the final seconds by Tyrese Haliburton.
As DFS players prepare for Game 2, Tyrese Haliburton and Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are expected to be prominent figures in the player pool. Other players projected as top daily fantasy options include Jalen Williams, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and Chet Holmgren.
Given that SGA and Haliburton are the highest-priced players on the slate, successfully building NBA DFS lineups for Game 2 will require finding valuable, lower-cost players. Participants will be looking for potential “sleeper” picks and considering which high-ownership players might be strategically “faded” (avoided) in their rosters for this crucial Pacers vs. Thunder Finals matchup.
Insights often come from experienced daily fantasy analysts. For instance, a well-regarded DFS expert, known for winning a significant DraftKings Millionaire Maker contest in 2022, shares strategic advice. This analyst draws upon a background as a former college and professional athlete and a keen ability to spot statistical trends when formulating picks and optimizing lineups. Their resume includes numerous high-value tournament cashes.
Key DFS Picks for Game 2 Analysis
Based on expert analysis for Game 2, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is frequently highlighted as a top DFS play. Despite his high price tag—$12,400 on DraftKings and $16,200 on FanDuel—his performance in Game 1 was exceptional, delivering 38 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. As the recent NBA MVP, SGA consistently led the league in scoring and maintains a playoff average of 30.2 points per game. Analysts favor his matchup potential despite the significant investment required on both platforms.
Another player often included in optimal DFS strategies is Indiana power forward Pascal Siakam. Listed at $9,600 on DraftKings and $1,100 on FanDuel (note: the FanDuel price appears unusually low and might be a typo in the source), Siakam presented matchup problems for OKC in Game 1. He contributed 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and one block. Known for his high energy and ability to consistently threaten a double-double, Siakam is considered a solid core DFS option for Game 2, with expectations for a performance similar to his Game 1 output.
Building Your Game 2 DFS Lineups
DFS strategists are also looking for players who might significantly exceed expectations on Sunday due to favorable matchups. Identifying these potential breakout players can be a decisive factor, potentially making the difference between winning significant prizes in tournaments or cash games and coming up short.
Jasper Hawthorne