2024/25 NBA Finals - Pacers at Thunder (Game 5)
The NBA finals between the Pacers and Thunder are all square at 2-2 and Game 5 is this Tuesday morning. Who will take the upper hand and move within 1 win of NBA glory? Here is a preview of the massive Game 5 clash when the Thunder host the Pacers on their home court.
Pacers at Thunder (Series tied 2-2)
The Pacers head to Oklahoma City for Game 5 of the NBA Finals with the series perfectly balanced at 2-2. After splitting the first four games, the Pacers will look to reclaim control and steal another road victory — something they’ve already proven capable of during this remarkable playoff run.
This Indiana team wasn’t expected to be here, but they’ve consistently beaten expectations all postseason. They stunned the league by knocking off Boston and Milwaukee en route to the Finals, and their underdog mindset continues to fuel them. Despite being +9.5 underdogs in Game 5, the Pacers have already proven they can win in OKC, doing just that in Game 1 with a dramatic buzzer-beater.
All eyes are on Tyrese Haliburton, and he’s answered the call. After a historic triple-double in Game 1 and a 26-point outing in Game 3, Haliburton remains the engine of this Pacers team. His ability to control pace, create shots for others, and knock down big-time threes has been essential. So far this series, Haliburton is averaging: 21.3 points, 9.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds. He’s the heartbeat of Indiana’s offence and has shown the poise and creativity needed to survive in hostile territory.
The Pacers’ frontcourt has quietly done its job. Pascal Siakam brings playoff experience and versatility, contributing on both ends with his size and midrange game. Myles Turner continues to stretch the floor while protecting the rim, knocking down timely threes and helping contain Chet Holmgren inside.
In Game 4, Indiana was outplayed physically late in the game, but that’s exactly what Siakam and Turner will be looking to correct. Expect both to play more aggressively in Game 5, especially in transition and on the offensive glass.
Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin have brought energy off the bench and provided shooting support. Nembhard’s defence on SGA has been critical, and Mathurin’s confidence attacking the rim gives Indiana a scoring punch when Haliburton rests.
Despite being large underdogs, the Pacers have been competitive in every game this series. They’ve covered the spread in 2 of the 4 games so far, and their ability to hit timely threes and stay composed on the road gives them value in this spot.
Indiana has shown they’re not just happy to be here — they believe they can win the championship. If Tyrese Haliburton continues to play like a superstar and the Pacers can match OKC’s energy, Game 5 could go down to the wire again. They’ve already won once in Paycom Centre. Doing it again would put them one step away from one of the most unexpected NBA titles in recent memory.
The NBA Finals are all square at two games apiece, and the Oklahoma City Thunder now return home for the most pivotal game of the series. With home-court advantage back in their favor, the Thunder have a golden opportunity to tilt the Finals in their direction with a Game 5 win over the Indiana Pacers.
Everything runs through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — and rightly so. The 2025 NBA MVP has been nothing short of sensational during this postseason, and his Finals performance has lived up to the billing. He's averaging 29.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds, and his composure late in games has become a trademark.
In Game 4, SGA led the fourth-quarter charge with a mix of midrange mastery, foul-drawing savvy, and elite playmaking. His ability to control tempo while still playing at a high-octane pace gives OKC the edge in crunch time. He’s also been rock solid defensively, making life difficult for Haliburton and Indiana’s guards. If SGA stays hot, the Thunder will be hard to beat in front of a raucous home crowd.
While Gilgeous-Alexander gets the headlines, the Thunder's success has hinged on timely contributions from role players. Caruso has been one of the surprises of the series. Known mostly for his defence and hustle, he’s stepped up offensively, dropping 20 points in Game 4 and averaging 15+ points across the Finals. He’s also providing crucial rebounding and transition play, giving the Thunder a spark off the bench. Holmgren had a scare with an ankle injury in Game 4, but reports confirm he’s good to go for Game 5. His interior defence and rim protection have been vital.
The Thunder use him as the last line of defence in their switch-heavy scheme, and he’s held up well against Indiana’s drives and cutters. Dort continues to take on the toughest defensive assignments, spending time chasing Haliburton, Hield, and Siakam. While his scoring has been streaky, his effort and physicality on defence have been consistent and important.
The Thunder head back home, where they’ve been dominant. OKC is 8-3 against the spread (ATS) at home this postseason, and the crowd has played a real role in their energetic, fast-paced style of play. The Thunder thrive off the noise and chaos — it fuels their defence and helps create transition scoring opportunities. Historically, Game 5 in a 2-2 series is the swing game, and OKC will look to ride the wave of home support to grab the upper hand.
The Thunder enter Game 5 in a strong position. They’ve got the MVP, the crowd, and the momentum after a bounce-back win. But this Pacers team is no pushover — they’ve responded to every loss with a win this postseason. Still, if OKC can dictate tempo, continue to get production beyond SGA, and feed off the energy of their fans, they’ll be in prime position to move one win away from an NBA championship.
Stadium Record
Oklahoma City is 7-1 in its last 8 games at home. Indiana are 2-2 in their last 4.
Head to Head Record
It's tied 5-5 in the last 10 and the NBA finals are level at 2-2.
Best Bet
Once again, the Pacers are massive underdogs and I'll be taking them to cover in Game 5. They've already won a game on the road in the NBA finals so playing at this venue shouldn't be an issue. They're also 7-2 against the spread on the road, proving they don't mind being road underdogs.
Same Game Multi
The Under has been a trending bet in the NBA finals, it's saluted in 11 of the last 12 games. The Pacers are now 6-3 against the Under in their last 9 and it's also 4-1 in the Thunder's last 5. Even if it's low scoring, SGA to get 30+ pts seems like a safe bet. He's scored 30+ in 4 of his last 5 games. In the NBA finals at home, Shai has scored 38 and 34 pts in the first two games of the series against the Pacers.
Pacers +9.5 / Under 224.5 pts / Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 30+ pts = $5.50
