The 2025 NBA Finals Game 7. I am completely ecstatic just typing those words out. This is a rarity in sports that needs to be cherished.
Will the Thunder lift Larry or is Pacers ML the move? Let’s talk hoops, baby!
NBA Finals Game 7 Information
- Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK
- #4 Indiana Pacers visit #1 Oklahoma City Thunder
- Previous Matchup: IND 108-91 June 19th, 2025
- Series is tied 3-3
Also, be sure to take a look at the best online sportsbooks filled with lots of NBA Finals odds!
The NBA Finals have been fantastic. We need to cherish this moment as fans!
Indiana Pacers @ Oklahoma City Thunder – NBA Finals Game 7
The ink was drying on their obituaries but the Pacers decided to rise from the dead again. The team that cannot be put down stood up once again. Rick Carlisle and his Indiana team have spoiled us with their tenacity for months now. Their pace and motion offence will be copied plenty going into next season. This is a copycat league and everyone is about to plagiarize the Pacers. It’s not just their play-style – it’s their team building. No matter what happens tonight the headlines should praise the Pacers.
Conversely, Oklahoma City was built up in a similar fashion. As we head into Game 7 it’s important to metaphorically hug both these organizations.
However, the Thunder are unlikely to be in a hugging mood right now. They said all the right things before last game. They knew the job wasn’t done. And yet, they were blitzed into confusion by Indiana’s switching, continued to struggle from three, and simply look beat between the ears on Thursday night. Expect their retaliation to be swift.
I truly do believe we are in for one of the greatest basketball games ever on Sunday night. Kids grow up dreaming about these moments. 24 men are about to live out their dreams participating in an NBA Finals Game 7.
“I’d watch the games and then during timeouts I’d run outside… hoop out there… 3,2,1 pretend its the buzzer, I’d do all that.”
– Chet Holmgren on NBA Finals memories as a kid 🙌 pic.twitter.com/OSfcDUmnIa
— NBA (@NBA) June 21, 2025
Shai is the MVP but he wants to be a CHAMPION.
Recent History of NBA Finals Game 7’s
Since the millennium there have been just four Game 7’s in the association. Sunday night will only be the fifth time in twenty-five years that we have been fortunate enough to witness a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. If you go back 60 years there’s been only 12 Game 7’s. Let’s take a quick look back at some recent ones:
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (3) Detroit Pistons
The 2005 NBA Finals featured Tim Duncan’s Spurs taking on the defending champions. The Detroit Pistons. I compared this Pacers team to that Pistons team earlier in the playoffs. Not in terms of roster construction or play-style, but in terms of committed culture and team mentality. This Game 7 twenty years ago ended up being a physical contest that ended 81-74. In today’s NBA that’s the score at the end of 3 quarters.Tim Duncan had 25 points and 11 rebounds as he claimed his third championship.
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Boston Celtics
In 2010, we got the Celtics losing to the Lakers in another tough physical matchup. Kobe and Pau lead the way and Ron Artest hit one of the most memorable shots in Final’s history. Kobe Bryant also got his fifth and final ring in this one. This one hurt when I was a kid. Luckily, I had just turned 18. So, beers helped take the pain away.
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (1) Miami Heat
LeBron James dropped a cool 37 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat in 2013’s NBA Finals Game 7. LeBron James claimed not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4…but this was his second and final ring in South Beach. They beat a Spurs team that was on the final legs of their dynasty. They would get their revenge the next year winning Duncan’s final title and beating the same Miami team 4-1. I’m sure Parker, Ginobili and the rest of the team still look back and smile at the fact that they ended the Heat’s run.
(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (1) Cleveland Cavaliers
And finally, “Block by James!”
In 2016, the city of Cleveland ended a 52-year championship drought on the back of the returning prodigal son. The King recorded a triple double and simply willed his team to victory over one of the greatest teams ever assembled. A historic 3-1 comeback in the series that will never be forgotten by NBA fans. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.
The Hali-Wagon’s wheels simply won’t fall off.
NBA Finals Game 7 Analysis
As -7.5 favourites this year’s Oklahoma City Thunder will be the biggest Game 7 favourite since the 1966 Lakers were 8 points underdogs to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics did not cover but won the game 95-93 and lifted Larry.
I am not willing to bet against the Pacers on the spread. They’ve shown too much fight in the postseason. Could OKC win by 30? Sure. However, that’s not how I like to wager. It has to be noted though that coming off a loss the Thunder are 12-8-1 against the spread during the regular season.
Both Teams ATS in Playoff Games:
- Oklahoma City Thunder 10-12 (45.5%)
- Indiana Pacers (14-8) (63.6%) – Best in the Playoffs
The Pacers were pacing last game and the Thunder simply could not keep up on the road. Inside the friendly confines of Gainbridge Fieldhouse the Pacers play their best basketball. “We just wanted to protect home court,” Haliburton said. “We didn’t want to see these guys celebrate a championship on our home floor. … Total team effort.” Their path to victory is another team effort.
Mark Daigneault pulled his starters when they went down 30. He likely wished to cut the deficit a little more, but the Pacers didn’t take their foot off their throat. Carlisle was calling timeouts just to refocus his team. The Pacers path to victory is to win second chance points. It is the Thunder’s achilles heel and has been all year aside from their rebounding. They’ve won the battle in that category in all their wins.
In wins in the playoffs, the Pacers leading 2nd chance points scorers are; Pascal Siakam (2.3 ppg), Myles Turner (2.0), and Bennedict Mathurin (1.6). So, if you believe in the boys in the Blue & Gold then these could be good point scoring targets.
Indiana’s 2nd Chance Points in their Wins:
- Game 1: 12-11
- Game 3: 13-7
- Game 6: 14-6
If the Thunder want to lift Larry they’ll need to do damage from distance and not just a little rumbling. They need a full on storm. I’m talking property damage level.
Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins combined for seven threes off the bench in Game 5 and that’s what they’ll need. They won Game 4 hitting only 3 threes but that is an anomaly and no way to win a NBA game in 2025. Luguentz Dort lead the team in makes at 2.1 per game. If they lift Larry then Dort, Wallace, Wiggins, and even Joe will need to be taking and making shots from distance.
For example, Aaron Wiggins averages 32.8% from three in losses and 39.6% in wins. As good as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is, you still need the other guys to keep the defences rotating, and guessing — look at all the pressure Aaron Nesmith creates for the opposition. After he hits one it feels like he’s about to hit another. The Thunder need shooters to shoot.
Finals MVP Odds at BetOnline
BetOnline has you covered with Finals MVP odds:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-225)
- Pascal Siakam (+325)
- Tyrese Haliburton (+1000)
- Jalen Williams (+1200)
- T.J. McConnell (+7500)
Key Outlier.Bet NBA Insights
- The Oklahoma City Thunder are 8-1 in their last 9 games at home. Paycom Center is one of the best home court advantages in the association. We saw them show their youth in the last game but this is still the best team in the league on paper.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has failed to exceed 2.5 turnovers in 17 of his last 19 games at home. This could be a cheeky thing to add to your parlays if you believe the Thunder are about to lift Larry.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has exceeded 2.5 steals + blocks in 7 of his last 8 games at home. He had zero stocks last game which is out of character for the Canadian MVP.
- Aaron Nesmith has exceeded 15.5 PR in 10 of his last 11 games on the road. He’s been averaging 21.6 PR on the road and we’ve seen how crucial he is to Carlisle’s gameplan.
- Cason Wallace has exceeded 0.5 blocks in 5 straight games at home. He is a very good defender and at +250 for one this could be a fun sweat if you’re into that sort of thing.
- Myles Turner has exceeded 12.5 points in 5 of his last 6 games on the road (13.2 points/game average). They really need him if they’re going to win. He could step up big. 16.9 points per game in wins and 13.4 in losses.
NBA Finals Game 7 Best Bet: Myles Turner o12.5 Points (-115)
The veteran Pacer has hit this in every game inside of Paycom Centre. He’s coming off a game where he went 1-9 with just three points. After bad games Turner usually bounces back the next game. He had 15, 16, and 13 on the road in this series. I don’t know why but my gut is telling me win or lose Turner should play well. His stocks at plus money on some books is very enticing as well.
Join BetOnline to get 50% Welcome Bonus + 100 FREE SPINS!
Like the Analysis? Check out our Outlier.Bet review!
Thanks for Reading!
Bonus for Peepin’ the Scribs: Pascal Siakm 2+ Threes (+145) 0.5 Units
Also, get the best odds & all the up to date lines right here at Betting News!
Follow us at Betting News for all of our sports betting content & streams on Twitch every day as well!
Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly
Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER
Additionally, looking for a great promo for a new sportsbook? Check out all the various sign-up bonuses & reviews we have for numerous sportsbooks, available everywhere!