The Indiana Pacers were majorly overlooked at the start of the 2025 postseason. Now, one win away from an NBA Finals appearance for the first time in 25 years, they have proven themselves to be true title contenders. Many think the Pacers do not stand a chance against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they continue to defy expectations.
Coming off one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history, many thought Oklahoma City to be unbeatable and expected their road to the Finals to be a breeze. Their series with the Denver Nuggets quickly revealed weaknesses that were previously thought not to exist.
In the end, the Thunder proved victorious in seven games as the Nuggets ran out of steam, mainly due to injuries. This began to raise questions about OKC and whether they truly have what it takes to win a championship.
Having defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistent 30-point scoring affairs have silenced some of the doubters. Their only loss in that series, however, was a glaring 42-point defeat, showing once again there are gaps in their armor.
SGA was overheard explaining the reasons for being down big time to a teammate, “Turnovers early, they were more physical early, and they made shots, and we missed shots.” This may sound simple, but it gives a peek into how the Thunder could be beaten in a seven-game series.
The narrative surrounding the Pacers’ success is that injuries on opposing teams have enabled them to progress as far as they have. While it is true that teams missing key players due to injuries are not as strong, Indy has shown up regardless of who they are playing.
Now, in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers are winning against a healthy Knicks team, putting the injury narrative to rest. So, what has sparked back-to-back ECF appearances for Indiana?
Team basketball is the main driver. The Pacers do not care who scores the points, they care about winning. Any five of the starters are capable of dropping 30+ points on a given night, and their bench can go five deep.
Behind a team-first mentality, Tyrese Haliburton facilitates at an elite level to find the hot hand. This season especially, he has emerged as the Pacers’ “star” player, hitting game-winning shots and taking over when necessary.
Back to the bench. Indiana plays quickly, and being able to pull from a deep bench, they play at that pace until the final buzzer sounds. Teams that run a seven- or even eight-man rotation struggle to go the distance with the Pacers, allowing them to make heroic comebacks.
Many may call it luck, but Indy calls it calculated and relentless. Come time for the Finals, OKC will have a challenge like they have not faced before.
With new defensive hallmarks for Indiana in Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, SGA will have his work cut out for him. The newly-crowned MVP will likely face full-court pressure every night, putting his stamina to the test.
An average of 30+ points per game for the Thunder guard may not be sustainable, forcing others to pick up the slack. Chet Holmgren or Jalen Williams will have to step up in a big way, as there are not many other go-to scoring options for OKC.
On the other side of the floor, expect to see Tyrese Haliburton continue to emerge as a top player, making a case for Finals MVP. Having already made history in the ECF with a never-before-seen stat line, all the momentum is in the young star’s favor.
Another reason the Thunder will be stunned is that the Pacers have turned home-court advantage against teams throughout the playoffs. Indiana holds a 6-2 record on the road, bringing the intensity without a home crowd.
The Pacers are also 6-0 in Games 1 and 2 of the postseason. Should the trend continue, which looks very likely, OKC will be on its heels to start the Finals, giving Indiana a huge window of opportunity.
With the Pacers starting each series strong, they can extend them to six or seven games, playing into their strengths. If an injured Nuggets team can take the Thunder to seven games, then a healthy Pacers team should be able to get the job done in six, if not seven.
It appears that the mainstream sports media is finally starting to acknowledge that Indiana is a good, perhaps even a great, team. Some knew it all along, but the Pacers just needed to show their potential against a healthy contender to gain the respect they deserved. Now it may not be so crazy to say the Pacers will expose OKC in the Finals.
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