After a long hiatus, the NBA Finals are set to kick off this Thursday, featuring the underdog Indiana Pacers against the powerhouse Oklahoma City Thunder.

Both teams have traversed starkly different roads to reach the finals. The Pacers began the season sluggishly, sitting at 10-15 early on, which cast doubt on their playoff viability. Nevertheless, they rebounded to clinch the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference.

On the other hand, the Thunder have positively crushed expectations, entering the finals with a staggering 80-18 overall record – a season marked by setting records for double-digit wins.

Oklahoma City not only recorded 54 wins by 10 or more points, but they’ve also triumphed in twelve games by margins of 30 points or more.

According to Sportsoddshistory.com, betting odds seemed heavily against the Pacers before the season, with them at 25-1 to win the East and 66-1 overall. Given their rocky start, their path to the finals is truly remarkable.

Do the Pacers have a shot against the Thunder?

Indy’s head coach Rick Carlisle leads a team that thrives on up-tempo play. However, such a style may not be ideal against a younger and more adept Thunder squad, which excels at fast-paced matches.

Oklahoma City has proven to be resilient, especially against teams like the Denver Nuggets, who posed challenges by playing a slower game. This was particularly true due to possessing a three-time MVP like Nikola Jokić.

Ultimately, it seems that the underdog narrative may falter here. The Thunder, with a wealth of dynamic options to counter Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton, are heavy favorites. With the odds reflecting a sweeping victory for the Thunder, many analysts, including those from FanDuel, are making favorable comparisons, anticipating a swift conclusion to the Pacers’ inspiring underdog story.

Final Picks

• OKC to win 4-0 at +290
• Total games Under 5.5 at -135

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