Al Jazeera logo
The Guardian logo
USA TODAY logo
12 articles
·1M

Indiana Pacers to Face Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025 NBA Finals

The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder will compete for the NBA Championship, marking the Pacers' first Finals appearance since 2000.

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 125-108 to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. Led by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, the Pacers overcame a challenging playoff path, including a significant upset over the Cleveland Cavaliers. They will face the Oklahoma City Thunder, who had the best regular season record at 68-14. The Finals begin on June 5, 2025, with both teams seeking their first championship title.

Content generated by AI—learn more or report issue.

Pano Newsletter

Get both sides in 5 minutes with our daily newsletter.

Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

  • The articles celebrate the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder reaching the NBA Finals, highlighting their achievements and excitement.
  • Key players like Pascal Siakam are recognized for their contributions, enhancing the positive narrative around the teams.
  • Fans are filled with anticipation and pride, marking a significant moment for both franchises in the championship journey.

Articles (12)

Compare how different news outlets are covering this story.

Center (6)

"…Siakam was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP after the Pacers downed the New York Knicks, 125-108, in Indianapolis on Saturday to clinch the series 4-2 and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000."

Pascal Siakam named Eastern Conference finals MVP after Pacers down Knicks in Game 6
USA TODAYUSA TODAY·1M·
Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.

"…The Pacers are underdogs. But with the Knicks behind them, they’re not just relieved or overjoyed to be there."

Small-market Pacers party down in big way with NBA Finals trip
USA TODAYUSA TODAY·1M·
Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.

"…The Pacers advanced to the NBA Finals on Saturday, defeating the New York Knicks 125-108 in Game 6 of their conference finals matchup."

Pacers defeat Knicks in 6 games, advance to NBA Finals to face Thunder
NBC NewsNBC News·1M·
Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.

FAQ

Dig deeper on this story with frequently asked questions.

For the Indiana Pacers, key players include Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands out, as he is also favored to win the NBA Finals MVP award.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are heavily favored, with odds ranging from -750 to -800, while the Indiana Pacers are major underdogs with odds around +525 to win the NBA Championship.

Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals is scheduled to tip off in Oklahoma City on Thursday, June 5.

Oklahoma City Thunder had the NBA's best regular season record (68-14) and demonstrated consistent dominance, which is reflected in their heavy betting odds and strong playoff performance.

The Indiana Pacers upset the Cleveland Cavaliers and defeated the New York Knicks 125-108 to advance, while Oklahoma City swept the Memphis Grizzlies on their way to the Finals.

History

See how this story has evolved over time.

  • This story does not have any previous versions.