Thunder or Pacers: Game 7 Expert Picks and Predictions

As the Thunder and Pacers get ready for a huge Game 7, basketball fans everywhere are counting down the hours. This is the final game of the NBA Finals, and it will decide who takes home the championship trophy. After six intense matchups, both teams have shown how badly they want to win, and now it all comes down to one last battle. The Oklahoma City Thunder had a great season and are playing at home, which gives them a slight edge. But they struggled in Game 6, turning the ball over too many times and missing a lot of shots from outside. If they want to bounce back, they’ll need MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to lead the way and get help from key players like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. The Indiana Pacers, on the other hand, are feeling confident. They had a decisive win in Game 6, where their defense looked sharp, and their bench players stepped up quickly. Tyrese Haliburton is injured but still playing smart and steady basketball. Fans can expect a fast-paced, high-energy game with big plays and emotions. Game 7s are always special; with these two hungry teams, it’s anyone’s game. So, stay tuned to get exclusive coverage of all the important NBA matches on our site.

Thunder vs. Pacers: Road to Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals

The Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder have made it this far in the 2025 NBA season. It has been a great thrill to watch both teams fight hard to clinch victory. To date, six games have been completed, with the Pacers winning three matchups and the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the other three. This has built up great excitement to see who will win the last and final battle of the 2025 NBA season, which will decide the champion. Let’s take a quick look at how both teams have performed in the first six games of the NBA Finals.

March 29, 2025 – Thunder 132, Pacers 111

Oklahoma City delivered a dominant performance at home, shooting 51.1% from the field and hitting 17 three-pointers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 29 points and 10 assists, while Chet Holmgren added 18 points and nine rebounds. The Thunder’s ball movement and perimeter shooting overwhelmed Indiana’s defense. The Pacers struggled to keep up, committing 17 turnovers that led to 24 Thunder points.

December 26, 2024 – Thunder 120, Pacers 114

In a tightly contested game, the Thunder edged out the Pacers thanks to clutch shooting in the fourth quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander posted 31 points and seven assists, while Jalen Williams chipped in 22 points. Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton had 25 points and 11 assists, keeping the Pacers in the game with his playmaking. However, OKC’s 13 made threes and strong rebounding edge (45 total boards) proved decisive.

April 5, 2024 – Pacers 126, Thunder 112 

Indiana bounced back with a strong offensive showing, shooting nearly 49% from the field. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 28 points and eight rebounds, while Haliburton added 20 points and 10 assists. The Pacers outscored the Thunder 38–24 in the third quarter, creating separation. OKC’s defense faltered, and their 15 turnovers hurt their rhythm.

March 12, 2024 – Pacers 121, Thunder 111 

The Pacers controlled this game from the start, with Myles Turner dominating inside (24 points, 10 rebounds) and Haliburton orchestrating the offense with 18 points and 12 assists. The Thunder struggled from deep, hitting just 14-of-37 (37.8%), and couldn’t contain Indiana’s fast-paced attack. Despite a 50-rebound effort, OKC’s 12 turnovers and defensive lapses proved costly.

March 31, 2023 – Pacers 121, Thunder 117

In a high-scoring affair, Indiana edged out OKC behind a balanced effort. Haliburton and Siakam combined for 45 points, while the Pacers shot 85.3% from the free-throw line. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points, but the Thunder’s 13.3% shooting from three (4-of-30) was a significant setback. Indiana’s ability to close out possessions and convert at the line sealed the win.

NBA Championship History: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers are two well-known teams in the NBA, each with a unique journey through basketball history. While both have had strong seasons and memorable playoff runs, their success in winning NBA championships has been quite different.

Oklahoma City Thunder Championship History

The Thunder franchise originally began as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1967. It wasn’t until 1979 that the team won its first and only NBA championship while still based in Seattle. That year, they defeated the Washington Bullets in a five-game series, with Dennis Johnson earning Finals MVP honors for his standout performance.

In 2008, the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. Since then, they’ve built a new identity with stars like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder reached the NBA Finals in 2012 but lost to the Miami Heat. They are still chasing their first NBA title under the Thunder name, though they came close again in the 2025 Finals, which went to a dramatic Game 7.

Indiana Pacers Championship History

The Indiana Pacers have won three ABA championships in 1970, 1972, and 1973. However, since joining the NBA in 1976, the Pacers have yet to win an NBA title. Their closest NBA Finals appearance came in 2000 when they were led by Reggie Miller and coached by Larry Bird. They faced the Los Angeles Lakers and lost in six games. In 2025, the Pacers made another deep run, reaching the Finals and pushing the Thunder to a decisive Game 7.

Where to Watch the 2025 NBA Finals?

The 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers are being broadcast across multiple channels and online platforms, allowing NBA fans worldwide to watch and enjoy every exciting moment. Let’s take a quick look at which channels have the streaming rights.

The 2025 NBA Finals will be broadcast exclusively on ABC in the United States. Fans can stream the games live through Sling TV, FuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream.

TNT Sports and Discovery+ will be streaming the 2025 NBA Finals in the United Kingdom, ensuring UK fans can watch the entire showdown and enjoy the thrilling NBA matchups.

In India, people can watch the 2025 NBA Finals live on NBA League Pass, streaming the games online. Additionally, the NBA’s official YouTube channel in India will provide a free live stream, allowing fans to enjoy the matches without paying for a subscription.

Australian fans can watch the entire 2025 NBA Finals on ESPN Australia and Kayo Sports, allowing them to fully experience the battle between the Thunder and Pacers without interruption.

DAZN will provide coverage of the 2025 NBA Finals in Germany, Italy, and Japan, ensuring that fans from these countries can engage with the games from the start to the final moments of victory in the 2025 NBA Finals.

Sky Sports holds the broadcasting rights for New Zealand fans, so people from across the country can tune in and watch the Finals without missing a single exciting moment. This allows basketball enthusiasts from all over the world to enjoy the grand showdown.

NBA Finals Game 7 – Match Details:

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers

Date: June 22, 2025 (Sunday)

Time: 08:00 PM EST | 07:00 PM GMT-5 (Local) | 05:30 AM IST (Next Day)

Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. 

Predictions for the Game 7:

With the series tied 3-3, everything comes down to this final showdown at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Both teams have traded blows throughout the series, and now only one will walk away as the 2025 NBA Champion. Oklahoma City Thunder enters Game 7 with the best home record in the league this postseason (10-2). Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2025 NBA MVP, the Thunder will look to bounce back after a rough Game 6 where SGA was held to 21 points and committed eight turnovers. Expect a strong response; he’s averaged over 30 points per game in the playoffs and rarely has back-to-back off nights. Jalen Williams has also been a key contributor, putting up 21.5 points per game in the postseason, including a 40-point outburst in Game 5. If the Thunder can clean up their turnovers and rediscover their three-point rhythm at home, they’ll be tough to beat.

On the other side, the Indiana Pacers have defied expectations all postseason. Despite being underdogs in every game of the Finals, they’ve pushed the Thunder to the brink. Even while managing a calf injury, Tyrese Haliburton has been the engine of Indiana’s offense, averaging 17.7 points and nine assists per game in the playoffs. Pascal Siakam has brought veteran leadership and consistent scoring, averaging nearly 21 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Indiana’s strength lies in its depth; six players are averaging double figures this postseason, and their ability to share the ball and defend as a unit has kept them in every game. The key to Game 7 will be composure. The Thunder have the edge in star power and home-court advantage, but the Pacers’ balanced attack and fearless mentality make them a real threat. If Oklahoma City can limit turnovers and get big nights from SGA and Williams, they will likely secure their first NBA title since relocating from Seattle. Therefore, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a slight edge due to their dominant home record and MVP-caliber leadership.