BEST BETS: Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers Clash In NBA Finals
The NBA Finals begin Thursday, June 5, in a matchup highlighting two teams with dynamic players.
The Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder, led by 2025 league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, square off in the title series against the Indiana Pacers, winners of the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers are led by forward Pascal Siakam, the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and guard Tyrese Haliburton, who tormented the New York Knicks and Knicks fans during the playoff series that elevated Indiana to the NBA Finals.
Oklahoma City, with the league’s best regular-season record at 68-14, defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves to capture the Western Conference title. Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game over 76 regular-season games played.
NBA Popular With Bettors
For bettors, the NBA in general, and especially the playoffs and title games, are traditionally popular. Although sports betting is illegal in Oklahoma, it is legal in every state that borders Oklahoma except Texas. Sports betting is legal in Indiana.
Nationwide, sports betting is legal and live in 38 states, plus Washington, D.C. Sports betting also is legal in a 39th state, Missouri, but will not go live there until Dec. 1.
Get information on Best NBA Betting Sites & NBA Sportsbooks from Gambling.com.
NBA Finals 2025 Schedule, Viewing
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
- Game 1, June 5: Pacers at Thunder | ABC | 8:30 p.m.
- Game 2, June 8: Pacers at Thunder | ABC | 8 p.m.
- Game 3, June 11: Thunder at Pacers | ABC | 8:30 p.m.
- Game 4, June 13: Thunder at Pacers | ABC | 8:30 p.m.
- Game 5, June 16: Pacers at Thunder | ABC | 8:30 p.m.*
- Game 6, June 19: Thunder at Pacers | ABC | 8:30 p.m.*
- Game 7, June 22: Pacers at Thunder | ABC| 8 p.m.*
Source: USA Today
