Manuel Chávez
Dailysports's expert
Indiana Pacers
Oklahoma City Thunder
On June 15, Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder will clash in their fourth meeting of the NBA Finals series. Here’s my take on this crucial battle.
Indiana Pacers
Before the season began—and even as the playoffs started—few believed Indiana could actually contend for the championship. Now, the team stands on the brink of claiming its first-ever title, but they'll need to deliver their absolute best in every single game.
Currently, the Pacers are firing on all cylinders, with each player stepping up and seizing their moments. In the previous game, Indiana trailed by five points at home heading into the final quarter, but ultimately rallied to win 116-107. When the Pacers catch fire, they’re unstoppable on offense and nearly impenetrable on defense.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City came into this season with lofty ambitions—they’d already finished atop the regular season standings, but none of that will matter if they don’t capture the title. The Thunder cruised through most of their playoff matchups, with the exception of a tough battle against Denver, which they edged 4-3.
It’s become clear that the Finals haven’t gone according to plan for Oklahoma City, forcing them to play catch-up. In every game of this series, Thunder had a real shot at victory, but twice they let the game slip away in the closing moments.
Head-to-head
Three games into the Finals, Indiana leads the series 2-1, repeatedly pulling off comeback wins.
Match facts
- Indiana has won 7 out of 9 home games in these playoffs.
- Oklahoma City boasts 4 wins in 8 road playoff games.
- Here are the odds for the upcoming clash: Pacers win – 2.92, Thunder win – 1.45.
Prediction
Bookmakers continue to back Oklahoma City, despite the Thunder playing on the road and trailing in the series. Game four could prove pivotal—if Indiana pulls ahead, it’ll be a tall order for the Thunder to string together three straight wins. I’m expecting another nail-biter and am willing to take a risk by betting on the total to go over 225.5 points.
