The big day of reckoning waits as the NBA finals are here. Two of the best teams this season have made their way to the finals. And as both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers fancy their chances, a detailed analysis might provide insight. Both the teams have had superstars who got into the best forms of their lives. Putting behind daunting teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks, the predictions for the finals look to be a pretty hard one to do.
However, there are certain factors that might surely help in understanding which way the game might tilt. And here are three of them worth discussing listed below.
Superstar Duel: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Tyrese Haliburton
The face-off between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton is undoubtedly going to be the main attraction. First, Haliburton has proven why he is one of the best guards in the league at the moment. His impeccable performances in the playoffs were a fitting reply to all of his fellow NBA mates. All those who voted the Pacers’ guard as the Most Overrated Player in the league. One of Haliburton‘s main USPs is that he not only scores points but also piles up tons of assists to make life difficult for his opponents. Take Game 4 against the Knicks for example. Haliburton not only dropped 32 points but also has 15 points and 12 rebounds to take his team over the line.
CHET HOLMGREN. 🔥🔥🔥
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 29, 2025
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On the flip side will be the star of the NBA for this season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Fittingly winning the Most Valuable Player award, SGA will be using his extremely high game IQ to navigate toward the NBA championship. Unfortunately, there’s no Jaden McDaniels for the Pacers, but Aaron Nesmith can very well be up to the task. Nesmith did prove his worth by chasing down Jalen Brunson in the conference finals. And if he can repeat the heroics, it remains to be seen how Gilgeous-Alexander reacts.
Defensive Matchup: Myles Turner vs. Chet Holmgren
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While the attack looks to be shining for both teams, the defensive matchup will also be crucial. And two names that immediately come to mind are Chet Holmgren and Myles Turner. With Holmgren, he has been a pillar for the Thunder’s defense. Not only that, his versatility has also allowed flexibility in the OKC roster. With his incredible athleticism, Holmgren has been developing his offensive game significantly to aid his strong defense. And this is something that the Pacers might find tough to handle.
🏆 𝗡𝗕𝗔 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 :
— Basket USA 🏀 (@basketusa) June 1, 2025
🔵 𝗢𝗞𝗟𝗔𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗔 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 🆚 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗦 🟡
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However, the big Myles Turner will stand in his way. With his daunting physical power and strong defensive skills, it will not be easy for the Thunder to break into the Pacers’ third. To date, Holmgren has only appeared in two games against Turner. He has averaged a solid 15 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks.
Bench Depth
Apart from the starting 5, the bench needs to be strong in order to clinch games of such high magnitude. An injury or a niggle here and there, and immediately the bench strength comes into play. For the Thunder, the clicking of Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso is of utmost importance. Likewise, for the Pacers, a lot will depend on how the likes of Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard will be playing. Additionally, they would require Bennedict Mathurine to click if the Pacers want to be the team lifting the coveted title.
Thus, with a lot of factors to look at, it will be interesting to see how things pan out in the future.
Also Read: How Does Home-Court Advantage Work In The NBA Finals? Here’s The Rule
