Thunder star PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be well-rested tonight after a short series with the Timberwolves. This Thunder team tends to only go as far as SGA takes him, as the league's MVP and their facilitator, scorer, and leader.
Below, we’ll give you the best Shai Gilgeous-Alexander projections and pick and projections for Pacers vs. Thunder tonight in the NBA Playoffs.
Tonight, in a crucial Game 1 of the Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals, the Pacers look for a road victory to take the series lead against the Thunder at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. To defeat the Thunder, they’ll need to try and contain their young superstar and team scoring leader SGA.
On the other side, you can find the top Tyrese Haliburton projections and pick for Game 1 here.
PrizePicks is the easiest way to cash in on the NBA Playoffs. Just pick More or Less on player stats across the NBA — from points to rebounds to 3-pointers, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. New to PrizePicks? Claim a free $50 bonus when you sign up here.
Best Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Projections, Pick vs. Pacers
Here are the best SGA projections and picks for NBA Finals Game 1 vs. the Pacers on Thursday, June 5.
Thunder PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — 33.5 Points
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32 points in the NBA playoffs this season, and in his last five games he’s averaging nearly 36 points. He’s scored fewer than 33 points only once in those games.
SGA draws a rather terrific matchup against the Pacers, who rank 28th in points in the paint allowed to opposing team point guards, 23rd in field goal percentage allowed to opposing team point guards, and 26th in free throws allowed to opposing team point guards — all areas in which SGA excels, drawing fouls from around the paint.
In their previous series matchup, they allowed Knicks PG Jalen Brunson to score 30+ points in four of five games, displaying that they struggle to limit point guards and the opposing team’s best player offensively. In five games against the Indiana Pacers dating back to 2022, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36, 39, 30, 45, and 33 points.
SGA’s ability to elevate in his most recent playoff games will be a major factor in preventing the Pacers from stealing Game 1 on the road.
More Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Projections vs. Pacers
Here are other top SGA projections vs. the Pacers tonight, Thursday, June 5, via the PrizePicks NBA board.
- 5.5 Rebounds
- 7 Assists
- 45.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts
- 56 Fantasy Score
- 12.5 Rebs+Asts
- 1.5 3-Pointers Made
- 1.5 Steals
- 9 Free Throws Mad
- 5 PRA in First 5 Minutes
Pick SGA Projections on PrizePicks Tonight
The Pacers are on the road against the Thunder in an important Game 1, and will look to steal Game 1 in what will be a key matchup between superstars Tyrese Hailiburton and Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
SGA is averaging 29.8 points in the 2025 playoffs, and is coming off a series where he averaged 31.4 points per game vs. the Timberwolves.
We’re down to the final two teams in the NBA Playoffs. There’s no better time to cash in on your NBA knowledge on PrizePicks than tonight’s Pacers vs. Thunder Game 1 in the NBA Finals.
There are many player stat projections to pick from on PrizePicks NBA — from points, rebounds, assists, threes, and combos — so you can build your Lineup however you like. Just pick More or Less on at least two player projections to build your Lineup.
Check out the Playbook daily for more NBA DFS picks and analysis throughout the NBA Playoffs.
