The Pacers come in as decided underdogs against the team that had the NBA's best record this season (68-14). These teams met twice in the regular season, with the Thunder winning both ( 120-114 on Dec. 26 in Indianapolis; 132-111 in March 29 in OKC).

The seeds for the 2025 NBA Finals began getting planted unknowingly in 2017, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was about to enroll at Kentucky and Tyrese Haliburton was getting ready for his senior year of

What are the most important matchups? What history is at stake? Zach Kram and Kevin Pelton take an early look at Thunder-Pacers.