Game Date: June 8, 2025Time: 8:00 PM ESTLocation: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OKTV: ABC

Series: Pacers lead 1-0

The Skinny:

The Indiana Pacers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, stealing home-court advantage. Now, the Thunder look to respond in Game 2 and avoid falling into a 0-2 hole. The Pacers, led by Pascal Siakam, are playing with confidence and will aim to continue their strong play on the road. Can the Thunder and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounce back, or will the Pacers take a commanding lead?

The Numbers:

• Point Spread: Thunder -11
• Over/Under: 228.5

Keys for the Pacers:

• Siakam’s Continued Dominance: Pascal Siakam was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP for a reason. He needs to continue his aggressive play and scoring.
• Defensive Intensity: The Pacers need to maintain their defensive intensity to disrupt the Thunder’s offensive flow and force turnovers.
• Bench Production: A strong performance from the Pacers’ bench will be crucial to giving the starters rest and maintaining a consistent level of play.

Keys for the Thunder:

• SGA Must Be Better: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an uncharacteristically quiet Game 1. He needs to be more assertive as a scorer and playmaker.
• Defensive Adjustments: The Thunder must make defensive adjustments to contain Siakam and the Pacers’ other offensive threats.
• Home Court Advantage: The Thunder need to feed off the energy of their home crowd and establish a dominant presence at Paycom Center.

Prediction:

The Thunder are a resilient team, and it’s hard to imagine SGA having two subpar games in a row. Expect the Thunder to come out with a renewed sense of urgency and intensity. They’ll make the necessary adjustments to slow down Siakam and increase their defensive pressure. However, the Pacers are a confident and well-coached team. Expect a hard fought game, but the Thunder will cover the -11 spread and win by 12-15 points.The final score will be close to but above the over/under: Thunder 121, Pacers 107. Take the over.

Finals Prediction (Updated): Now that Pacers have Game 1 I think Thunder win the series in 6.

Sources:
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