2025 NBA Finals Odds and Prediction: Thunder Historical Favorites over Pacers

2025 NBA Finals Odds and Prediction: Thunder Historical Favorites over Pacers

The NBA Finals 2025 betting odds suggest that the best regular-season team will also take the title home! The flying OKC Thunder are strong favorites to go all the way. However, the Indiana Pacers have been underdogs twice already this season and are still going strong!

Are the Thunder ready for glory, or is there an upset brewing? Continue reading to find the 2025 NBA Finals odds, analysis, and my predictions!


2025 NBA Final Odds – OKC Overwhelming Favorites

The following 2025 NBA Finals odds are courtesy of Bovada:

TEAMSERIES WINNERSERIES SPREADSERIES TOTAL GAMES
Oklahoma City Thunder-675-2.5 (-130)Over 5.5 (-105)
Indiana Pacers+460+2.5 (EVEN)Under 5.5 (-125)

It should come as no surprise that NBA betting sites are leaning towards the Thunder (-675), who enter the series with an implied chance to win of 87.1%! The Thunder are the biggest favorites in the NBA Finals since Golden State in 2018 when the Warriors were -1075 favorites over Cleveland. The Warriors swept the Cavaliers in that matchup.

In the last 25 years of NBA Finals odds, only the aforementioned Warriors (2018) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2022) were bigger, or equal favorites. The teams expected to win did so on all four occasions.

It should be said the 2025 NBA Finals odds have shifted a bit since opening, and the odds I’m discussing are as of Monday, June 2, 2025.

The Pacers (+460) are going to try to make it tough on the Thunder, and they come into the series with an implied win chance of 17.9%. Indiana knows they have a long road ahead of them, but you can’t overlook the Pacers, whose high-octane offense goes up against the stingiest defense in the league!

You can find these 2025 NBA Finals odds at Bovada by going to Sports > Basketball > NBA Series Prices. You can also click the “Series Props” tab for more betting markets ahead of Thursday’s Game 1.

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Oklahoma City Thunder (-675): One Step Away from a Historical Season

  • Head Coach: Mark Daigneault
  • 2023-24 Record: 57-25 (Lost in Conference Semifinals)
  • NBA Titles: 1 (as Seattle Supersonics)
  • Key Players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams

The Thunder won the most games in the regular season, and are rolling through the postseason. They swept Memphis easily in four games in the first round. OKC needed seven games to beat Nikola Jokić and Denver, and then took down Minnesota in five games in the Western Conference finals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his first NBA MVP award, and has averaged 29.8 points throughout the playoffs, adding 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds. Jalen Williams has come up big when the Thunder required him, averaging 20.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. Chet Holmgren has improved throughout the playoffs, posting 16.4 points, 8.6 boards, and 2.0 blocks.

This big three is doing well offensively, but OKC’s defense has smothered their opponents, posting a 104.7 defensive rating, by far the best in the playoffs. Alex Caruso has been brilliant on that end of the floor, especially in the second round when Caruso played Jokic in many matchups. Lu Dort continues to be one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.

There’s not a single negative defender in Thunder’s nine-man rotation. They just throw defenders at the opposition and eventually, they wear them out.

The Thunder are the fourth-youngest team to reach the Finals, with an average age of 25.33. That might be the biggest weakness they have. However, while OKC has looked immature at times, they usually bounce back, especially in the seven-game series against Denver. They learn from their mistakes, and the Thunder are deserved favorites in the NBA Finals odds.

Indiana Pacers (+460) – Another Upset on the Cards?

  • Head Coach: Rick Carlisle
  • 2023-24 Record: 50-32 (Lost in Conference Finals)
  • NBA Titles: 0
  • Key Players: Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakim, Myles Turner

The Pacers have been very impressive throughout the postseason, beating Milwaukee and Cleveland both in five games. They needed six games to take out the New York Knicks, and like the Thunder, Indiana is a deep team that relies on nine players.

Tyrese Haliburton has gotten most of the attention, averaging 18.8 points, 9.8 assists, and 5.7 rebounds, along with a massive shot in Game 1 against the Knicks. But Pascal Siakim won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, averaging 24.8 points and 5.0 boards. Against the Knicks, Siakim shot 52.4% from the field, and 50% from three-point land!

The Pacers are second in the postseason in offensive rating, just ahead of OKC. They’ll have to tighten up on defense, where they are ninth in defensive rating. Indiana is also lauded for their high pace of play, but they’re actually third behind OKC. I worry because the Pacers have won so far, due partly to that pace. But not only can OKC play that way offensively, they can keep up the intensity of defense.

It’s not impossible for the Pacers to overcome these 2025 NBA odds to win the Finals. But they’ll need everyone on the team to step up. OKC will definitely key in on Haliburton and Siakim, so Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and the rest of the roster have to contribute.


NBA Finals 2025 Prediction and Betting Pick

Now, for my NBA Finals prediction between the Thunder and the Pacers! Indiana reached their second consecutive Eastern Conference finals. This is their first NBA Finals since losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in 2000. They were up against a juggernaut in Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant in that series. Once again, they’ll have to do it against the best team in the league.

I’ve said it all postseason: defense travels. The Thunder has proven in a couple of instances, notably a 92-87 win over Denver in Game 4 of the second round, that they can win when their shots aren’t falling. They have held opponents under 100 points six times in the playoffs. The Pacers have been held to 100 points or fewer twice, both in the last series against New York. Indiana has lost both games.

The Thunder are -675 to win the series, which again, is a historic number. But I can’t recommend an NBA Finals betting pick on that because the odds are way too low.

Instead, I’m going with Oklahoma City in five games, and you can find odds of +210 for OKC winning in five games. You could also go with over/under number of games played in the series, with Over 5.5 at -105, and Under coming back at -125. The under is my safer picjk, but if you want a bigger return, take OKC in five.

The Thunder been the best team in the league all season long, and they’re ready for the moment. They should be your NBA Finals betting prediction and pick to wrap up the season!

The Bet
Main Bet: OKC in Five Games
The Bet
Second Bet: Under 5.5 Games


Where to Bet on the 2025 NBA Finals?

NBA betting for the 2024-25 campaign is in full swing as the Finals get underway, so make sure to get your future wagers in now! Take advantage of the 2025 NBA Finals odds with the best prices at Bovada.

Place your NBA picks at one of the most reputable and highly-rated online sportsbooks! In addition to 2024-25 NBA finals odds, Bovada will have prices for every game, live betting, and an assortment of prop bets available!

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About the Author
Finn Archer profile picture
Finn Archer
Editor, Sports and Casino
Finn is a writer with 4+ years of experience publishing articles under the pseudonym Phil Bowman. He’s also a longtime sports enthusiast and bettor with a strong passion for soccer. That said, he’ll dabble in anything involving a ball, bat, or boxing gloves! His writing mainly focuses on helping bettors learn from their mistakes and gamble responsibly. Finn currently lives in Europe.
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