Indiana Pacers’ Stunning Playoff Surge: Inside the Comeback Making NBA History

The 2025 NBA Finals tip off tonight as the Indiana Pacers travel to Paycom Center to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of a series that promises up-tempo offense, generational star power and a clash of two franchises hungry for their first championship in decades. Tip-off, TV & streaming details • Date & time: Thursday, June 5, 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT • Arena: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City • National TV: ABC • Live stream: YouTube TV, ESPN App, Sling, fuboTV (free-trial options available) Search interest around “how to watch Pacers vs Thunder” has spiked 540 % this week as fans look for cord-cutting solutions—expect those numbers to climb right up to opening tip. Why Indiana believes its pace can crack OKC’s code Rick Carlisle’s squad led the league in possessions per game during the regular season and hasn’t slowed in the playoffs, averaging 108.7 field-goal attempts through three rounds. The Thunder, meanwhile, boast the NBA’s No. 1 half-court defense. “We practice against a team that plays at warp speed every day,” Carlisle insisted at media day, brushing off concerns that OKC’s lanky frontcourt could bog down Tyrese Haliburton’s turbo-charged offense. Key matchups to watch 1. Tyrese Haliburton vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Two All-NBA guards who create at three levels. Whoever wins the paint-touch battle likely wins the game. 2. Myles Turner vs Chet Holmgren – Turner’s rim protection against Holmgren’s pick-and-pop range could swing the rebounding margin. 3. Ben Mathurin’s second unit scoring vs OKC’s bench depth – Indiana needs a quick-hitting punch when Haliburton rests. Injury tracker The Pacers upgraded Aaron Nesmith (ankle) to probable, but rookies Jarace Walker (foot) and Tony Bradley (thumb) remain out, thinning Indiana’s front-court rotation. Oklahoma City lists no new injuries, giving coach Mark Daigneault his full 10-man playoff rotation. Trending stats & fast facts • Indiana is 6-2 on the road this postseason, scoring 121.6 points per game away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. • The Thunder have not lost at Paycom Center since March 14, a streak of 13 consecutive home wins. • Both franchises last appeared in the Finals during the early 2010s; neither has lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy since relocating/rebranding. What the betting market says Sportsbooks opened OKC as 5.5-point favorites with a 231.5 over/under. Early action has pushed the total to 233 as bettors anticipate a track-meet opener. Indiana is +175 on the moneyline, the longest Finals Game 1 underdog odds since 2020. Coaches’ corner Carlisle emphasized transition defense in Wednesday’s closed practice, telling reporters the first three seconds after a miss “will decide this series.” Daigneault countered that controlling defensive rebounds is “non-negotiable” to unleash Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey in the open floor. Fans on the move Indianapolis travel agencies report a 70 % surge in last-minute flight searches to Oklahoma City since Monday. Meanwhile, ticket-exchange platform data show Pacers supporters purchasing roughly 18 % of available Game 1 seats, signaling a blue-and-gold invasion amid OKC’s trademark sea of orange. Bottom line Game 1 historically sets the tone—teams winning the opener have captured 72 % of NBA Finals series. If the Pacers can dictate tempo and steal home-court advantage tonight, the narrative could flip from “underdog” to “team of destiny” before the confetti falls in Indy next week.