NBA Finals Showdown 2025: Key Matchups, Game-Changing Stats & How to Watch Live

The stage is set for the 2025 NBA Finals, and hoops fans are already circling June 5 on their calendars. The Oklahoma City Thunder, West champions for the first time since the Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook era, will battle the upstart Indiana Pacers in a best-of-seven showdown that could redefine both franchises. Tip-off details and full series schedule • Game 1 – Thursday, June 5, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC, Paycom Center) • Game 2 – Sunday, June 8, 8:00 p.m. ET (ABC, Paycom Center) • Game 3 – Wednesday, June 11, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC, Gainbridge Fieldhouse) • Game 4 – Friday, June 13, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC, Gainbridge Fieldhouse) • *Game 5 – Monday, June 16, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)* • *Game 6 – Thursday, June 19, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)* • *Game 7 – Sunday, June 22, 8:00 p.m. ET (ABC)* (*Games 5-7 if necessary*) How to watch and stream All games air on ABC and stream live on the ESPN app and YouTube TV. International fans can catch every minute on NBA League Pass, with select local carriers offering 4K feeds. Key storylines to follow 1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP sprint The All-NBA guard averaged 29.8 points on 51 % shooting in the postseason and enters the Finals with a week of rest. His pick-and-roll chemistry with rookie sensation Nikola Topić has been lethal, producing 117.1 points per 100 possessions. 2. Tyrese Haliburton vs. Thunder’s length Haliburton is averaging 9.8 assists and orchestrates the Pacers’ league-leading pace. Oklahoma City’s trio of Lu Dort, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren presents the longest collection of switchable defenders he has seen all spring. 3. Pascal Siakam’s championship DNA Fresh off a 31-point closeout performance and an Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy, Siakam gives Indiana a proven closer who already knows what it takes to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy. 4. Bench depth battle Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace give OKC instant offense, but Indiana counters with Obi Toppin’s rim-running energy and Andrew Nembhard’s on-ball pressure. Whichever second unit controls the non-star minutes could flip momentum in tight fourth quarters. Latest betting odds Early lines list the Thunder as heavy favorites at –750, while the Pacers sit at +700 to win the series, according to Caesars Sportsbook via CBS Sports. Game 1 spreads opened at OKC –7.5 with an over/under of 226.5. Historical context • Oklahoma City last reached the Finals in 2012, falling to Miami in five games. • Indiana is in the Finals for the first time since the Reggie Miller-led squad of 2000. • No franchise has won the title after opening as a +700 underdog or longer since the 2011 Mavericks. Matchup X-factors • Chet Holmgren vs. Myles Turner: The battle of stretch centers will dictate paint protection and three-point spacing. • Turnovers: The Pacers force 15.4 per game, but the Thunder rank third-best in ball security. • Clutch time: OKC is 9-2 in games decided by five points or fewer this postseason, largely due to Gilgeous-Alexander’s 61 % true-shooting in the final five minutes. Injury report Both teams enter healthy; OKC’s Kenrich Williams (knee) was cleared for contact Monday, while Indy’s Bennedict Mathurin remains out for the year after March shoulder surgery. Why fans should tune in • Two top-five offenses clash, promising track-meet tempos and deep-range fireworks. • Rising superstars could shift the league’s balance of power for the next decade. • Every game airs in prime time with zero direct overlap against NHL competition, maximizing national spotlight. With fresh legs, contrasting styles, and legacies on the line, the 2025 NBA Finals promise must-watch basketball from opening tip to potential Game 7 drama in late June.