The NBA Finals are set to begin tonight as the Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Indiana Pacers at 7:30 p.m.
Both Oklahoma City and Indiana are appearing in just the second NBA Finals in franchise history. The Thunder previously made the finals in 2012, while the Pacers are returning for the first time since 2000.
Oklahoma City enters the series as a heavy favorite after finishing with a 68–14 regular-season record and being led by NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander was voted MVP after the regular season, during which he averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. He followed these performances with an average of 29.8 points and 6.9 assists in the playoffs.
The Thunder have relied heavily on their defensive pressure in these playoffs. They lead the playoffs with a defensive rating of just 104.7 while holding their opponents to only 40.9 points in the paint.
On the other side, the Pacers have been led in these playoffs by the duo of Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton.
Siakam was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and has put together averages of 21.1 points and 5.8 rebounds, while Haliburton has averaged an impressive 18.8 points and 9.8 assists across the Pacers’ 16 games.
While the Thunder have utilized their defense in these playoffs, the Pacers have relied heavily on their offensive execution to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks.
Indiana has scored an average of 117.4 points per game in these playoffs and leads all playoff teams in three-point percentage at 40.1, making for a series that could be a clash of play styles.
Games 1 and 2, scheduled for tonight and Sunday, will be played in Oklahoma City after the Thunder finished with the best regular-season record in the league.
Following these two games, the teams will travel to Indiana for Games 3 and 4, which will take place on Wednesday, June 11, and Friday, June 13, at 7:30 p.m.