What began as a season of quiet excellence for two overlooked franchises has now resulted into an NBA Finals matchup.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, two small-market teams shut out from Christmas Day spotlight, will now square off for basketball’s ultimate prize.
This is the first Finals meeting between two teams not featured on Christmas Day since 2007, considering how dominant their journeys have been.
On December 26, when they quietly met in a non-televised clash in Indianapolis, few imagined they were watching a Finals preview.
Now, it’s clear that the league’s most complete teams were hiding in plain sight.
From Underrated to Unmissable
While flashy big-market teams dominated Christmas broadcasts and regular-season headlines, the Thunder and Pacers quietly built juggernauts defined by elite guard play, gritty defense, and impeccable team chemistry.
Both teams have spent the postseason dismantling higher seeds, outlasting stars, and rising to every challenge.
Oklahoma City: A Young Dynasty in the Making
The Thunder finished the regular season with a league-best 68 wins — the third-most in NBA history.
Led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (29.8 PPG, 6.9 APG in the playoffs), the Thunder play with surgical precision, suffocating defense, and jaw-dropping efficiency.
Their postseason journey began with a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies, followed by a dramatic comeback against the defending champion Denver Nuggets, including a 35-point masterclass from Gilgeous-Alexander in a Game 7 rout.
They then dispatched the Timberwolves in five games, including a 30-point blowout in the clincher.
Their defense, the league’s best, has only gotten better in the playoffs, holding opponents to just 104.7 points per 100 possessions.
OKC has five players averaging over a steal per game and leads the playoffs in turnover differential.
Indiana: The Resilient Road Warriors
Indiana’s 50-win regular season might’ve flown under the radar, but their postseason has been anything but quiet.
The Pacers bulldozed the Bucks in five games, exposed Cleveland’s flaws in the semifinals, and reignited their classic rivalry with the Knicks in a dominant six-game conference finals win.
Behind All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and two-time champion Pascal Siakam; the latter of whom was named East Finals MVP, Indiana has thrived in late-game chaos.
The Pacers pulled off three separate playoff comebacks from 7+ point deficits in the final 50 seconds, stunning fans and opponents alike.
Key Matchup: Haliburton vs. Dort
This series could hinge on whether Haliburton can finally shake free of Luguentz Dort, the defensive ace who has held him to his lowest production of any opponent the past two seasons.
Reports have it that GeniusIQ tracking revealed Haliburton shoots and passes less frequently when defended by Dort than against any other player.
If Dort dominates this battle, OKC’s defensive grip could end the series quickly, but if Haliburton adapts and unlocks the Pacers’ pace-and-space offense, Indiana could shock the world once again.
Finals Forecast: Clash of Styles
This is a true strength-on-strength duel:
Thunder – Defensive juggernaut, elite in turnover margin (+6.4), surgical execution
Pacers – High-octane offense (117.7 offensive rating), depth, speed, and composure
Oklahoma City dominated interconference play (29–1 vs East) and won both regular-season matchups vs Indiana, including a 45-point SGA explosion on Boxing Day and a 22-point blowout in March.
Still, the Pacers have thrived in their underdog role all season — and with Carlisle’s tactical nous, Indiana is the last team the Thunder should take lightly.
Game 1 Schedule
Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
Time: 8:00 PM ET, ABC
Date: June 6, 2025
