The Indiana Pacers secured their spot in the 2025 NBA Finals after defeating the Boston Celtics in the sixth game of the Eastern Conference Finals. This matchup promises to be one of the most unexpected in league history.
Despite their differences, both teams have much in common, led by young and dynamic guards. In addition, these will be the first NBA Finals since the implementation of the luxury tax in which neither team is a taxpayer.
The Finals will begin on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
A Starbase Duel
The matchup between point guards will be key in this series. Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton are the first All-NBA point guards to face each other in the Finals since Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving a decade ago.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA in points per game with 32.7, while Haliburton led in assists per game in the 2023-24 season with 10.9.Both players have performed great in the playoffs. Gilgeous-Alexander, after a slow start, has proven his worth as an MVP. Haliburton, for his part, has been fundamental to the Pacers’ success.
Description: 0:50 Legler: OKC has been ‘demoralizing’ its opponents on its way to the Finals. Tim Legler joins Scott Van Pelt to analyze how the Thunder secured their spot in the 2025 NBA Finals.
In theory, the Thunder’s defense is well-equipped to stop Haliburton. However, in the encounters of the last two seasons, Haliburton has averaged only 12 points per game against them.
Haliburton needs to play more aggressively for the Pacers to have a chance in the Finals.Offense vs. Defense: A Clash of Styles
The Finals will pit the Pacers’ second-best offense against the Thunder’s number one defense. Indiana’s offense has been a force, while Oklahoma City’s defense has been relentless.In recent years, this type of matchup has not clearly favored either side, but performance on the non-strong side of the court has been a good predictor.
The Pacers will need to be mindful of the Thunder’s defense, who are third in offensive efficiency in the playoffs.The Three-Point Game: A Key Factor
The Pacers’ accuracy in three-point shots (40%) is notable. However, the Thunder allowed only a 34% effectiveness in long-distance shots during the regular season.
The Thunder tend to cut off shots near the basket, but this allows their opponents to shoot from a distance. The Pacers could capitalize on this weakness if they maintain their high effectiveness.Players like Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam could be key to maintaining the Pacers’ offense.A Fast-Paced Finals
NBA teams tend to play slower in the playoffs, but the Thunder and Pacers show no intention of slowing down the pace. The Thunder average 100.6 possessions per game in the playoffs, while the Pacers average 98.4.
This could result in Finals with a very high pace of play.
A Historical Surprise?
Bookmakers didn’t give the Pacers much chance of reaching the Finals. If they win the championship, they could become one of the least expected champions in history.
If the Pacers win, they would be the first champion that is not a team seeded among the top three or the defending champion.
The Thunder, for their part, could also make history with a large number of regular season and playoff wins.
