The 2024-25 NBA season has led to an unlikely Finals matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. The Thunder rolled through the West, knocking out the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games behind MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominant scoring. Now they seek their first NBA title since relocating from Seattle in 2008.
The Pacers, led by Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton, clinched the East by defeating the New York Knicks in six games and are aiming for their first NBA championship after winning multiple ABA titles in the 1970s.
While the Thunder enter the series as heavy favorites, not everyone is counting out the Pacers. WNBA legend and ESPN analyst Candace Parker broke down exactly what Indiana must adjust to pull off an upset.
How Indiana Pacers Can Slow OKC Thunder’s Fast Break: Blueprint for NBA Finals Success
During a June 3 appearance on ESPN’s “First Take,” Parker pinpointed one area the Pacers must address: Ball security. The Thunder thrives on creating chaos in the open court, and turnovers could quickly bury Indiana.
“The dynamic of the way they’ve won in the East of playing fast… they haven’t played the Thunder,” Parker explained. “The Thunder just [flourish] in the open court. I think the Pacers, being deliberate about ball security, and sometimes that may be passing up playing fast in that secondary to make sure you control because Thunder come at you in waves.
“They do it from the guard position, and they flourish in the open court off of your turnovers. I think there’s definitely going to be some type of conversation by coach [Rick] Carlisle about taking care of that ball.”
.@Candace_Parker thinks the Pacers may have to adjust their style of play in order to beat OKC 👀
“The way that they’ve played all year has been fast. But they haven’t played the Thunder.” pic.twitter.com/5sDUr4TTNv
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 3, 2025
Parker’s insight is grounded in how Oklahoma City plays. The Thunder compiled a 54-26-2 record against the spread this season and hit the over in nearly 60 percent of home games. Their ability to turn defense into fast-break scoring, primarily through Gilgeous-Alexander (32.7 points, 6.4 assists per game) and Jalen Williams (21.6 points, 1.6 steals), is unmatched.
OKC was 29-1 against East teams this season — the best cross-conference record for any team to reach the NBA Finals since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976-77, as NBA insider Marc Stein noted.
Indiana, meanwhile, enters the Finals as a team that likes to push the pace (pun intended). But the Pacers also ranked in the middle of the pack with just 37 wins against the spread and have struggled with turnovers at times this postseason.
Haliburton (9.2 assists per game) and Siakam (20.2 points) give Indiana offensive versatility, but careless possessions will feed directly into OKC’s transition attack. If Indiana can limit live-ball turnovers and control tempo, it could slow Oklahoma City’s momentum and force a more half-court game.
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Statistically, both teams favor high-scoring contests. Pacers games hit the over in 53.7 percent of opportunities this season, mirroring OKC’s 44 total overs. The betting line for Game 1 reflects that expectation, with the Thunder favored by 9.5 points and an over/under set at 231.
Indiana enters the series as clear underdogs, but Parker’s blueprint offers a path forward. If the Pacers can value each possession and dictate tempo, an upset is not out of the question.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips off Thursday, June 5, at 8:30 p.m. on ABC and ESPN, as Indiana travels to Oklahoma City to open the series.
