The NBA Finals begin on Thursday, June 5, as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers. The Thunder owned the best record in the regular season at 68-14, while Indiana is off its first 50-win season since 2014.
The Thunder finished off the Timberwolves in five games of the Western Conference Finals and are seeking their first NBA championship. In the East, the Pacers needed six games to eliminate the Knicks and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.
Below we’ll take a look at some of the key matchups to keep an eye on heading into this intriguing NBA Finals matchup between the Thunder and Pacers.
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Tyrese Haliburton vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
In a matchup between former lottery picks who were traded early in their careers, these two point guards are the biggest difference makers in the NBA Finals.
Starting with Gilgeous-Alexander, the league MVP led the NBA in scoring at 32.7 points per game in the regular season. It marked the third consecutive season that SGA averaged at least 30 PPG in Oklahoma City.
However, he finished a tick below that number in the playoffs at 29.8 PPG in leading the Thunder to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012. SGA torched the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals with three games of 34 points or more.
Haliburton remained close to his scoring average from the regular season to the postseason for Indiana, but he did score over 30 points in two of the six games vs. the Knicks. Haliburton averaged 18.6 points per game in 73 regular season contests, followed by 18.8 PPG in 16 playoff outings.
In the first matchup between these teams in Indianapolis on December 26, the Thunder erased a 15-point deficit to knock off the Pacers, 120-114. But here’s the key number that stuck out from that night. SGA went off for 45 points, while Haliburton was limited to four points in 35 minutes.
In the second meeting in Oklahoma City, the Thunder cruised past the Pacers, 132-111, led by SGA’s 33 points. Haliburton played better in that game, scoring 18 points, but he attempted only two free throws in the two matchups with OKC.
Pascal Siakam vs. Jalen Williams
Thunder PF Pascal Siakam captured the Eastern Conference Finals MVP after averaging 24.8 points per game against the Knicks. In the Game 6 clinching victory, Siakam posted 31 points, his third performance of at least 30 points against New York.
Williams has turned into an up-and-coming star in Oklahoma City, finishing off his third season and averaging 21.6 PPG. In the two playoff series against Memphis and Minnesota, Williams averaged 22.6 PPG.
Williams struggled from the floor in the first matchup with the Pacers, shooting 8-of-22, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range. He finished with 20 points, but shot better in the second matchup, hitting 7-of-14 from the floor for 18 points.
Siakam had two drastically different outputs against Oklahoma City this season. In the home matchup in December, Siakam scored 22 points, including hitting five 3-pointers. But he struggled in the second meeting in OKC, scoring 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting from the floor.
Thunder Defense vs. Pacers Offense
Oklahoma City may have the leading scorer of the league on its team, but the Thunder soared to the top of the NBA thanks to their defense. OKC led the NBA in defensive field goal percentage at 43.6% and 3-point defensive field goal percentage at 34.2%.
In the postseason, the Thunder have limited opponents to 42.5% shooting from the floor. On the flip side, the Pacers are shooting 49.7% from the field in the playoffs, which is the best in the league.
Four of Indiana’s starters are converting on at least 40% of their 3-point attempts with Haliburton struggling at 33.3% from downtown. Pacers SF Aaron Nesmith has hit 43-of-86 (50%) of his tries from 3-point land in the playoffs, including five games of at least four 3-pointers.
Who led the Pacers in scoring in two matchups with the Thunder this season? That’s right, it’s PG Andrew Nembhard, who averaged 19.5 points per game, while dishing out seven assists in each of the two losses.
Make NBA Finals Picks on PrizePicks
The Pacers are set to meet the Thunder in the NBA Finals, starting on Thursday, June 5, with Game 1. Think you know how the Finals will play out? You can win real money by making predictions on the NBA Finals on PrizePicks.
Just pick More or Less on player stat projections like points, rebounds, assists, and more, and lock in your Lineup. If you picks are right, you’ll win cash.
Check out the Playbook throughout the remainder of the NBA Playoffs for more analysis for your PrizePicks and NBA DFS Lineups.
