The 2025 NBA Finals started dramatically with a thrilling Game 1 finish. The Indiana Pacers, known for their comebacks, stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder to grab a 1-0 series lead heading into Sunday`s Game 2. Indiana overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter, sealed by Tyrese Haliburton`s game-winning shot with just 0.3 seconds left, securing a 111-110 victory for OKC. This marks Haliburton`s fourth game-winner with under two seconds remaining in the 2025 playoffs. Despite the loss, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an impressive Finals debut with 38 points, the most since Allen Iverson`s 48 in 2001.
With the Thunder now potentially facing an 0-2 hole on their home court, the odds for Game 2 have shifted. A presumably more desperate Oklahoma City team is now favored by 11 points, increased from the initial 9.5-point spread. Sunday`s Game 2 is set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The total points line (over/under) is currently set at 228.
Indiana`s remarkable resilience has been evident all season and especially in the postseason. Prior to Game 1, they had already come back from 17-point deficits four times in the 2025 playoffs – the most in a single postseason since play-by-play data began in 1997. Their Game 1 victory against the top-seeded Thunder on the road involved erasing a 15-point gap, with the final 0.3 seconds being the only moment Indiana held the lead. It was a historic win, as teams trailing by nine or more points in the final three minutes of a Finals game were previously 0-182 since 1971.
Thanks to the growing popularity of sports betting, basketball fans across the country can engage with the NBA Finals, even if they aren`t direct supporters of the competing teams. Sportsbooks offer various types of wagers, including player-specific bets for key players like Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton, in addition to standard bets like point spreads and total points.
While Pacers and Thunder fans have a clear rooting interest, the surge in sports betting allows general basketball enthusiasts to become more invested in the series, extending their engagement beyond team loyalty.
If you`re new to sports wagering and feel intimidated, don`t worry. This guide covers some fundamental basketball betting concepts to help casual fans navigate the options and enjoy the 2025 NBA Finals even more.
Basketball Betting Basics
New bettors should always start by exploring different sportsbooks. They often provide attractive sign-up promotions such as deposit bonuses or bonus bets. Comparing odds across platforms is crucial. One sportsbook might set the total for the next Thunder vs. Pacers game at 230, while another has it at 232. Shopping around for the most favorable numbers is a key strategy for NBA betting.
Taking advantage of introductory offers can add bonus funds to your account, providing a starting point for basketball betting.
Once you`ve chosen a sportsbook, it`s time to understand the different types of bets. NBA betting pages typically feature the next game`s odds with positive (+) and negative (-) pricing. Plus-money odds (+250) show the profit on a $100 bet ($250 profit for $100 wager). Minus-money odds (-300) indicate how much you need to bet to win $100 ($300 bet for $100 profit).
These odds are applied to three main types of bets:
- Spread: This is the point margin the favorite must win by to “cover” the spread. If a favorite is listed at (-5.5), they must win by 6 points or more. The underdog (+5.5) covers if they win outright or lose by 5 points or fewer.
- Total (Over/Under): This number represents the predicted combined score of both teams. If the Over/Under is 227.5, an Over bet wins if the total score is 228 or higher, while an Under bet wins if it`s 227 or lower.
- Moneyline: This is a straightforward bet on which team will win the game outright, without considering the point difference.
Expert NBA Betting Advice
For insights on betting the Thunder vs. Pacers series, consider tips from experienced analysts. Here are some general expert tips for NBA betting:
In the NBA Finals, betting lines are very refined. Focus on a few wagers where you have the strongest conviction, rather than betting on numerous markets like quarters, halves, and multiple props in every game.
If you want to stay engaged throughout the series, consider placing a series bet. You can bet on which team wins the series overall or predict the exact number of games the series will last (e.g., Team A wins in 6 games).
Series-long prop bets are also available, such as wagering on which player will lead the Finals in total points, assists, rebounds, or three-pointers. Betting on the three-point leader can be an interesting market for potential underdogs due to shot variance.
Thunder vs. Pacers Prop Betting
Prop bets add excitement to NBA wagering with options related to teams, individual players, and specific game events.
Player props are very popular and cover various statistics. A common one is the points prop, where you bet Over or Under a set number of points for a specific player (e.g., Player X Over/Under 26.5 points). You can also bet on combinations of stats, such as a player`s total points, rebounds, and assists combined.
Team props allow bets on team performance. Examples include predicting the type of the first basket scored by a team (e.g., 3-pointer), the total points a team will score, or which player will lead a specific team in rebounds.
Game props offer bets on events within the game itself. These can include whether the game will go into overtime, the number of dunks within the first few minutes, or which team will reach a certain point total (e.g., 20 points) first.
Thunder vs. Pacers Parlay Bets
Parlays are a popular betting type where a user combines multiple individual wagers into a single bet. To win a parlay, every single bet within it must be correct. This makes parlays more difficult to win than single bets but offers higher potential payouts.
An example of a parlay could be:
- Team A Moneyline (+150)
- Game Total Over 220.5 (-110)
- Player X Under 25.5 points (-120)
All three outcomes must happen for this parlay to be successful. During the NBA Finals, Same-Game Parlays (SGPs) are particularly common, allowing you to combine multiple bets from the same game. Be aware that each sportsbook may calculate SGP odds differently.
NBA Futures Betting
Futures bets involve wagering on outcomes that will be decided later, often at the end of a season or competition. For the 2025 NBA Finals, most futures bets will pertain to the *next* 2025-26 season, such as betting on who will win the 2026 NBA Championship.
Team futures include bets on winning the NBA championship, conference titles, exceeding or falling short of a set number of regular-season wins, or making the playoffs. Player futures include bets on winning MVP or other awards, or averaging specific statistics. One futures bet still relevant for the ongoing 2025 Finals is predicting the Finals MVP award winner. While the regular-season MVP is often a contender, historically, the Finals MVP has come from the winning team since 1971.
How to Bet on the NBA Finals
Odds for future NBA Finals (like the 2026 series) are posted well in advance and fluctuate over time, allowing bettors to find favorable odds at different points. Betting on the current NBA Finals is similar to regular-season betting, but includes specific options for the series outcome, such as betting on which team wins the series or predicting the exact number of games the series will last.
Thunder vs. Pacers Live Betting
Live betting allows users to place wagers on NBA games while they are in progress. The odds for live bets constantly change based on the current score, remaining time, fouls, momentum, and other game factors. Live betting can be beneficial if you prefer to observe the game`s initial flow before committing to a bet, especially if there are uncertainties like player injuries.
Tips and Advice for Betting the NBA Finals
The NBA playoffs can be unpredictable, as demonstrated by unexpected teams reaching late rounds. Simply betting on the favored team to cover the spread is not always the best strategy. Here are some additional expert tips for betting on the NBA Finals:
Analyze Playoff Trends: When betting on the Finals, focus on the teams` performance and player rotations during the current playoffs rather than relying heavily on potentially unrepresentative regular-season matchups. Team statistics like pace and defensive rating from the season can still offer valuable insights.
Consider Home Court Advantage for Role Players: Remember that bench and role players often benefit significantly from the energy of their home crowd, potentially performing better at home than on the road.
Focus on Star Player Props: In high-stakes Finals games, star players are central to their team`s performance, playing extensive minutes and having high usage rates. Betting on prop markets for these key players is often more predictable than betting on less involved role players.
With an understanding of these NBA betting basics for the Thunder vs. Pacers matchup, you are better equipped to explore your wagering options.
Jasper Hawthorne