The Oklahoma City Thunder found themselves in Indianapolis on Christmas night, experiencing mixed feelings. They appreciated waking up at home with their families before traveling for a brief road trip. However, they were undeniably frustrated that only ten teams participated in five games on the NBA`s prime holiday schedule, while they were left observing from the sidelines.
Despite leading the league with 57 wins the previous season and featuring one of the top players, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (last season`s MVP runner-up, arguably deserving of a Christmas showcase), the Thunder were conspicuously absent from the Dec. 25th lineup. At that time, they boasted a 23-5 record and were on an eight-game winning streak, making their exclusion seem questionable.
Their opponent for the non-nationally televised game on Dec. 26th was the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers had similarly expressed annoyance four months earlier upon seeing their schedule, which also lacked a Christmas Day game despite reaching the Eastern Conference Finals the prior season. This marked their 20th consecutive year overlooked for the holiday schedule.
Looking back, this moment proved ironic: the two teams destined to compete in the NBA Finals were together on what should have been the league`s most celebrated day, embodying the spirit of small-market contenders.
Their Dec. 26th meeting turned out to be an excellent game, one fans would eagerly anticipate seeing again over the subsequent two weeks. At the time, the Pacers were a .500 team, still navigating early-season injuries and inconsistency. Yet, they led for most of the game, by as much as 16 points, despite their star guard, Tyrese Haliburton, scoring only four points.
The Thunder, showcasing relentless precision, limited themselves to only three turnovers, effectively neutralizing Indiana`s strategy of capitalizing on opponent mistakes. Gilgeous-Alexander tied his career high with 45 points, 16 of which came in the fourth quarter. He sealed the victory with a clutch three-pointer in the final minute over Bennedict Mathurin, leading OKC to a 120-114 win.
This contest would have been a tremendous spectacle had it received a national spotlight. Instead, it serves as an interesting footnote to the fact, highlighted by a Yahoo Sports report, that the Pacers and Thunder are the first teams since 2007 to reach the NBA Finals without playing on Christmas Day. The league had its reasons and justifications, as the Christmas 2024 schedule produced several exciting games and strong television ratings, viewed as a success for the NBA. However, it didn`t diminish the oversight. These two teams consistently proved to be among the league`s best throughout the season, confirming their status with similar, dominant playoff runs over the preceding six weeks.
Both teams feature brilliant point guards, exceptional depth, tenacious defenses, lethal transition play, astute coaching strategies, diverse star power, dramatic finishes, demonstrations of resilience, and overall dominance. Dismiss them as small-market teams, predict low ratings, or critique their cities` nightlife or travel logistics; underestimating the Thunder and Pacers has been a flawed perspective throughout the season.
The season`s most anticipated matchup was there all along, even visible on Christmas, hidden in plain sight.
Road to the Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder
Following one of the most impressive regular seasons in NBA history, the 68-win Thunder successfully navigated a tough challenge against a proven championship contender in the second playoff round. Aside from that series, they advanced quickly through the Western Conference bracket. After sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, Oklahoma City lost a double-digit lead in Game 1 against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, trailing 2-1 after three games. The Thunder viewed this adversity as a growth opportunity.
`I knew that they were going to bring greatness out of us,` commented Thunder reserve Alex Caruso, the only player on the roster with a championship ring, prior to Game 4 in Denver. `Denver is a smart, experienced team. I knew this challenge would push us towards greatness.`
Led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder secured close victories in the next two games, silencing doubts about their ability to perform in clutch situations after dominating 54 regular-season games by double digits. Oklahoma City decisively beat the Nuggets in Game 7, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 35 points in a commanding 32-point win.
Oklahoma City needed just five games to eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, concluding that series with a 30-point blowout. This was the Thunder’s fourth victory by 30 points or more in this playoff run, the most by any team in a single postseason according to ESPN Research.
While Gilgeous-Alexander is exceptional offensively, averaging 29.8 points and 6.9 assists this postseason, the Thunder`s success is anchored by their defense. Oklahoma City finished the regular season with the top-ranked defense and elevated their performance further in the playoffs, lowering their defensive efficiency to 104.7 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Thunder have forced 18.0 turnovers per game and converted them into 23.8 points during the playoffs, improvements upon their league-leading regular-season numbers (17.0 turnovers, 21.8 points).
Five Oklahoma City players—Caruso, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, and Luguentz Dort—have averaged over a steal per game in the playoffs, while Chet Holmgren averages 2.0 blocks. The Thunder’s defense is a remarkable combination of constant pressure, swift help defense, elite playmaking, and cohesive teamwork.
`Fifteen puppets on one string,` was how Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards described Oklahoma City`s defensive synchronicity.
Indiana Pacers
It might have been easy to overlook the Pacers at the start of the postseason, but after an exciting run as underdogs through the Eastern Conference, they command attention. The Pacers won 50 games and entered the playoffs as a No. 4 seed, yet a slow start to the season obscured their true contender capabilities. This wasn`t fully evident when they dispatched new rival the Milwaukee Bucks in five games in the first round. However, by making a 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers team look ordinary, the Pacers firmly established themselves as conference elite, transitioning from young up-and-comers.
`They’re up here, guys,` Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson stated, raising his hand towards his head for emphasis, after his top-seeded team was eliminated. `I know from the data, I know from watching film, they’re up here and they can sustain it. I commend them greatly for maintaining that level of intensity for such a duration.`
This set up a conference finals clash with Indiana’s historic rival, the New York Knicks, the same franchise the Pacers defeated in their only prior Finals appearance in 2000. Indiana’s potent offense overwhelmed the Knicks in six games. Key contributors included Tyrese Haliburton, who had a breakout playoff performance averaging 18.8 points, 9.8 assists, and 5.7 rebounds, along with delivering crucial clutch shots; Pascal Siakam, named Conference Finals MVP after scoring 30-plus points three times in the series; and coach Rick Carlisle, a champion with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, whom Haliburton calls a `savant.`
The Pacers have posted the second-best offensive efficiency in the playoffs at 117.7 points per 100 possessions. They possess deep bench strength and maintain a fast pace for the entire 48 minutes, which has enabled them to execute three highly improbable comebacks during this run. They trailed by seven points with under 40 seconds left in Game 5 against the Bucks. They were down by seven again with less than 50 seconds remaining in Game 2 against the Cavaliers. And in Game 1 against the Knicks, they faced a 14-point deficit with 2:51 to play. Indiana managed to win each of these games.
`It’s how we constructed this team,` said Pacers center Myles Turner, the team`s longest-tenured player. `It’s not the flashiest or sexiest team. We just produce results.`
Last Time They Met
The Thunder, who achieved a historic 29-1 record against the Eastern Conference, won both head-to-head matchups this season. However, their victory in Indianapolis on December 26th required a comeback in the fourth quarter. Trailing by four with 3:42 left after a 7-0 Pacers run, Oklahoma City responded with eight consecutive points to take control, with Jalen Williams scoring half of that sequence. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was still the dominant force, scoring 45 points on 15-of-22 shooting, including four of five three-pointers and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.
There was far less drama when the Thunder hosted Indiana on March 29th. Oklahoma City built a 22-point lead after three quarters. The Thunder made 17 three-pointers, with Lu Dort hitting six and Isaiah Joe adding five off the bench.
Future of the Thunder Core
While the NBA is experiencing peak parity with the prospect of a seventh different champion in seven seasons, the Thunder possess potential for a sustained run. This is the second-youngest team (average age: 25.6 years) to reach the Finals, only trailing the 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers championship squad, according to Elias Sports Bureau. A deep Thunder roster is anchored by a 26-year-old MVP candidate in Gilgeous-Alexander, a 24-year-old All-NBA caliber player in Williams, and a 23-year-old potential future Defensive Player of the Year in Holmgren. Furthermore, General Manager Sam Presti has accumulated 13 first-round draft picks over the next seven years. The Thunder`s previous Finals team, featuring MVPs Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, serves as a cautionary tale that future success is never guaranteed in the NBA. However, the Thunder enter the Finals as significant favorites, and it`s easy to envision them becoming regular contenders in June.
Can Indiana Win a Strength-Versus-Strength Battle?
The Thunder`s defense represents the most formidable challenge the Pacers have faced – a healthy, swarming, and elite unit possessing the youth and speed to match, and perhaps even excel in, Indiana`s fast-paced style. The Pacers have seemingly benefited throughout the playoffs by surprising opponents with their speed, forcing teams onto their heels and into uncharacteristic playstyles and errors. Indiana enters the series with more experience, and coach Carlisle will aim to dictate the terms of the series, as he has in the previous three rounds. However, the perceived gap between the top of the Western and Eastern Conferences has seemed wide for much of the season, which is why Oklahoma City is the heavy favorite. The Pacers have thrived in their underdog role throughout the postseason. Can they pull off one more significant upset?
Key Matchup for the Series
Tyrese Haliburton vs. Luguentz Dort
This matchup pits the All-NBA guard against a first-team All-Defense stopper. Haliburton is the primary facilitator for the Pacers` offense, but he has struggled against Dort previously. Over the past two seasons, Haliburton averaged only 12 points per game against the Thunder, his lowest against any opponent. According to GeniusIQ tracking, he attempted shots at a lower rate when guarded by Dort compared to any other defender.
If the Thunder can limit Haliburton’s effectiveness, as they have in regular-season meetings, and consequently disrupt Indiana’s offense, this series may conclude quickly. Conversely, if Haliburton can overcome Dort`s physical defense and keep the Pacers` high-powered offense flowing, Indiana has a legitimate chance to shock the basketball world and upset the title favorites.
How the Thunder Can Win the Championship
Oklahoma City can secure the championship by continuing their consistent performance from the regular season and playoffs. A Finals victory would cap a historic season for the Thunder, who posted the best regular-season point differential ever (plus-12.9 PPG) and currently have the best point differential (plus-10.8) entering the Finals since both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors in 2017.
More specifically, the Thunder will likely win this series if they maintain control of the turnover differential, which has been a crucial statistic throughout the playoffs. Oklahoma City is forcing significantly more turnovers than any other team (18.0 per game) while committing fewer turnovers than any team that advanced beyond the first round (11.6). This differential of 6.4 per game would be the highest for a team that played multiple series since the league began tracking team turnovers in 1973-74.
How the Pacers Can Win the Championship
Indiana`s path to claiming the Larry O`Brien Trophy involves a three-step strategy.
First, the Pacers must avoid losing the turnover battle by the significant margin that other Thunder opponents have. There are positive signs here: Haliburton is among the league`s guards with the lowest turnover rates, and Indiana ranked third in both the regular season and postseason for lowest turnover percentage. Protecting the ball will prevent Oklahoma City from generating their demoralizing, game-changing transition opportunities.
Second, the Pacers need to win the three-point shooting contest by a substantial margin. Again, there is reason for optimism, as Indiana leads all playoff teams with a 40.1% success rate from beyond the arc, while Oklahoma City`s shooters have collectively struggled (33.6% this postseason).
Finally, the Pacers must win close games. The Thunder are dominant enough that they are expected to secure one or two blowout victories in the Finals; they have won at least one game by 30 points or more in every series so far. However, if Indiana can consistently win the tightly contested matchups, an upset becomes possible. The Pacers hold an impressive 7-1 record in clutch games during the playoffs.
