Pacers back in the NBA Finals after 25 years – fight for the title!

Pacers back in the NBA Finals after 25 years – fight for the title!

On June 1, 2025, the Indiana Pacers reached the NBA Finals again after 25 years. They secured their place in the finals on Saturday with a convincing 125:108 home win against the New York Knicks. The Pacers won the Eastern Conference finals series 4-2 and now face the challenge of fighting for their first NBA title in franchise history.

In the deciding game, Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 31 points and was voted MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals after winning the split 5-4 over teammate Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton scored 11 of his 21 points in the final quarter and also contributed 13 assists. Both players are crucial to the success of the Pacers, who enter as underdogs against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were already number one in the West in the regular season.

Historical perspective

The Indiana Pacers represent the state of Indiana in the NBA and have not won an NBA championship since entering the league in 1975. The franchise has only reached the Finals once in the last 50 years, in 2000, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. During this time, the Pacers were able to win three championships in the ABA between 1967 and 1975, which gives their sporting history a special significance.

The Pacers have a 1-8 record overall in the Eastern Conference Finals, the worst among teams with at least three appearances. After the successful playoff period in the 1990s, which was characterized by Reggie Miller, the Pacers have celebrated sporadic playoff success in recent years. They last reached the final in 2020 before celebrating their return to the top flight of the league this season.

The outlook for the finals

The NBA Finals begin on the night of Thursday to Friday. The Pacers hope to maintain their winning form to take a step toward the franchise's first title. In the playoffs so far, both Siakam and Haliburton have proven to be indispensable players for the team. The Pacers credited Haliburton with a spectacular buzzer-beater in the first game of the series that sent the game into overtime.

The pressure is on the Pacers as they face the Oklahoma City Thunder as underdogs in the Finals. The Thunder have played impressively this season and represent a strong challenge. The Pacers need to prove their abilities at the highest level.

• Pascal Siakam: 31 Punkte, MVP der Eastern Conference finals
• Tyrese Haliburton: 21 Punkte, 13 Assists
• Pacers: 1-8 Bilanz in Eastern Conference finals

The path to this successful season was marked by crucial trades, including the signing of Siakam and Haliburton. The two players are not only crucial to the team's performance, but have also played a significant role in shaping the Pacers' identity in the current NBA season.

Pacers fans hope that the upcoming Finals series will be a historic event for the franchise, combining an old chapter of football history with a new, victorious conclusion.

Laola1 reports, Yahoo Sports reports, Sporting News reports.