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NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers - David vs. Goliath!
NBA Finals 2025: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers. Small town teams fight for their first title. Game starts June 5th.
NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers - David vs. Goliath!
The highly anticipated NBA Finals begin on Friday, June 5, 2025, with the Oklahoma City Thunder taking on the Indiana Pacers. The opening game kicks off at 2:30 a.m. CEST, and it's a matchup that has taken the basketball world by surprise. Both teams, which are considered “small market” teams, enter the ring apart from the big NBA clubs. While the Thunder have had a dominant season, the Pacers are the underdogs turning heads.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished the regular season in first place in the West, are the clear favorites for the title. In the playoffs, the team demonstrated its strength by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies, the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Key players for the Thunder are MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz “Lu” Dort, whose performances have made a decisive contribution to the success of their team.
A surprising finale
The Indiana Pacers, on the other hand, are celebrating their return to the finals after 23 years. They mainly stood out for their discipline and few ball losses. Coach Rick Carlisle calls the Thunder the best team and describes the situation as a “magical ride.” The Pacers were able to surprise top team Cleveland in the playoffs, but in order to be successful in the final against Oklahoma City, they will have to play a near-perfect series.
This series will particularly focus on the duel between Tyrese Haliburton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Haliburton, who has been compared to Dirk Nowitzki, is essential for the Pacers to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. His performance is expected to be crucial to the Pacers' success.
Economic impact and competitive balance
Oklahoma City and Indiana's participation in the Finals is viewed by both experts and fans as a positive for professional basketball. Andrew Zimbalist, professor emeritus at Smith College, explains that the NBA salary cap helps ensure that small-market teams are not disadvantaged. This promotes a competitive balance that is pleasing for fans in smaller markets. Still, financial realities could play a role in these smaller markets, as the league may see less ticket sales compared to larger cities like New York or Los Angeles.
The series is described as “David versus Goliath,” with the Pacers considered the “Hoosiers.” Given that the Thunder won both regular-season games against the Pacers - 120-114 in Indiana and 132-111 in Oklahoma City - the challenge for Indiana will be steep. NBA.com predicts the Thunder will probably win the title in five games.
A new chapter in NBA history will be written when the two small markets meet on Friday. Regardless of the outcome, a new NBA champion will be crowned. Here is an overview of the game dates for the finals:
| Game | Date | Time (EST) | transmitter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Thursday June 5th | 8:30 p.m | ABC |
| Game 2 | Sun June 8th | 8:00 p.m | ABC |
| Game 3 | Wed. June 11th | 8:30 p.m | ABC |
| Game 4 | Fri. June 13th | 8:30 p.m | ABC |
| Game 5 | Mon June 16th | 8:30 p.m | ABC |
| Game 6 | Thu. June 19th | 8:30 p.m | ABC |
| Game 7 | Sun June 22nd (if necessary) | 8:00 p.m | ABC |
The basketball community can expect an exciting finale in which the balance of power between small and large markets will once again become apparent. The games promise not only sporting brilliance, but also interesting economic impulses for the league. Marketplace analyzes the potential impact on the NFL and the future of smaller teams in the league.