Last updated Jun 3, 6:27pm ET

  • The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012.
  • Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers advanced to the Finals for the first time in 25 years.
  • These squads last played on Mar. 29, with the Thunder claiming a 132-111 victory.

Thursday’s NBA slate features the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Which team takes the opener in our Thunder vs Pacers Game 1 pick?

Thunder Coming Off 4-1 Series Win Against Minnesota

The Thunder closed out their conference finals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a dominating 124-94 win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded the offense with 34 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds on 14-for-25 shooting from the field.

Chet Holmgren finished with 22 points and seven rebounds. Jalen Williams added 19 points, eight boards, and five dimes. OKC made sure this one was over early, outscoring Minnesota 26-9 in the opening stanza and led 65-32 at the break.

The Timberwolves nearly doubled their first-half output in the second half, but it was not nearly enough to prevent OKC from rolling to its first NBA Finals appearance since 2012.

Pacers In The Finals For The First Time Since 2000

Meanwhile, the Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks from the playoffs for the second straight season with a 125-108 win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton guided an offense in which seven players reached double figures, including all five starters. Siakam scored a game-high 31 points, along with five rebounds and three assists.

Haliburton had a solid all-around game, finishing with 21 points, 13 assists and six rebounds.

Indiana led by four points at intermission before opening the second half with a 9-0 run. New York answered with eight consecutive points, which closed the deficit to 78-71.

However, the Pacers responded with anoter 9-0 burst for their biggest lead of the contest, forcing the road team to play from behind the rest of the way.

Thunder vs Pacers Game 1 Pick

Following their 30-point win over Minnesota, the Thunder enter this matchup as a 9.5-point favorite, according to BetOnline. Here are a few betting trends to consider for both teams ahead of Game 1.

  • The Thunder are 7-0 straight-up (SU) in their last seven games against Central Division opponents.
  • OKC is 9-0 against the spread in its previous nine outings against teams in the Eastern Conference.
  • The Pacers are 10-3 overall in their last 13 contests.
  • Indiana is 6-1 ATS in its previous seven road matchups.

OKC is ranked third in postseason scoring, while Indiana holds down the No. 2 spot. Defensively, the Thunder are No. 4 in points allowed, while the Pacers are 13th.

Furthermore the Thunder are first in overall opponent shooting (42.5 percent) and fourth in opponent 3-point efficiency (33.1 percent). If defense wins championships is a real thing, look for OKC to land the first punch when these teams square off on Thursday night.

Pick
Oklahoma City Thunder
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James Tillman
James Tillman

Betting Preview Analyst/Contributor

James blends 16 years of freelance writing with his ing acumen, specializing in sports betting. He expertly crafts picks for ATS, over/under, and player props, providing valuable insights for bettors at all levels.

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