Indiana Pacers Playing Fast Will Be Key to Beating OKC Thunder originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers lost only four games in the postseason as they marched to their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years, and they will match up against the Oklahoma City Thunder, another team looking to win its first title.

Now, Gilgeous-Alexander will look to lead the Thunder to their first NBA championship in franchise history. Of course, the Thunder won a title back in 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics, but they gave up their Seattle history when they moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. Game 1 with the Pacers is set for Thursday at 8:30 p.m. EDT.

Seventeen years after the Sonics left town, Oklahoma City’s run to the NBA Finals feels to fans like “they’re making you watch your ex get married.”

Running opponents out of the gym, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been an unstoppable machine at their home gym throughout the 2025 NBA playoffs. Sans a heroic Aaron Gordon game-winner, the first seed has beaten teams by double-digit points in the first three rounds.

Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers advanced to the 2025 NBA Finals when they beat the New York Knicks by a score of 125-108. The Pacers are now going to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder with Game 1 on Thursday night.