Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 2 Prediction (June 8, 2025)
The last time two young bball teams made the Finals, LeBron was still a junior in high school. Maybe he was a senior. That’s not important, but our point is that Indiana’s rotation has five players who are under 25. Oklahoma City has six.
And this is so far from a legacy Finals that some fans were angry about it. You have to hand it to the teams, though! The two front offices built from the ground up, took their time and waited out the market, and had faith in their internal development. The Pacers won Game 1 by controlling the half-court battle in the fourth, which forced OKC into contested jumpers and finally getting something from their bench.
Game 1 was way more exciting than we expected it to be! The Pacers won 111–110 on a last-second jumper from Tyrese Haliburton, and they’ve got a chance to take both games on the road and put serious pressure on a Thunder team that hasn’t had to play from behind. Until now, that is.
Keep scrolling for all of the deets on Game 2, betting odds and lines, and what we think are the four best bets!
Game 2 Details
- Matchup: Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- Series Status: IND lead 1 – 0
- Date & Time: Sunday, June 8, at 8:00 pm ET
- Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
- Broadcast: ABC and streaming on fuboTV
Prediction Breakdown
36.3%
63.7%
According to GamblingSite.com
Game 1 Recap: Pacers’ Stunning Comeback
Oklahoma City was ahead by 15 points early in the fourth and looked like they were set to run away with the opener. Then Indiana tightened up defensively and forced OKC into awkward, late-clock possessions. They finished the game on a 26–10 run.
Haliburton’s 26 points and nine assists looked good all game long, but his late pull-up three with 0.3 seconds left was the gut punch for OKC. Pascal Siakam’s 19 came in important stretches, and Obi Toppin’s 17 off the bench gave Indiana a boost when they needed it. SGA led all scorers with 38 and got to his spots, but the Thunder offense stalled out when the ball wasn’t in his hands.
Team Analysis: Strengths and Strategies
OKC and Indiana stuck to their identities in Game 1, but the Pacers executed better in late-game situations. Oklahoma City will probably make some adjustments with how they defend spacing and close out on shooters.
Indiana Pacers
Indiana’s system depends on movement and spacing, and they’ve consistently found high-quality looks all postseason.
- Haliburton’s passing windows have always been a problem for defenses; he’s able to spot corner shooters and cutters without rushing.
- Siakam plays from the elbow and short corner, pulling defenders into space and forcing help.
- Myles Turner is a super reliable trailer on pick-and-pop looks, and his spacing gives Haliburton a lot more room to work with.
- Bench unit impact matters here: Toppin’s finishing in transition and McConnell’s off-ball awareness give the Pacers value without relying on iso scoring.
Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC wasn’t far off in Game 1, but they’ll need to clean up their late-game possessions and defensive rotations on the perimeter.
- SGA had no issues scoring, but too many of his late possessions were one-dimensional.
- Jalen Williams has to be more aggressive; his first two quarters were bland, and that threw off OKC’s flow.
- Chet Holmgren did his job at the rim, but Indiana’s off-ball actions dragged him out of the paint more than he’s used to.
- Caruso and Dort had some success limiting ball movement, but Indiana adapted. That pressure needs to be constant throughout all four quarters.
Main Matchups to Watch
There’s a contrast in how the teams play, and there are three head-to-head matchups that could tip Game 2 in either direction.
- Haliburton vs. SGA won’t come down to points alone. Haliburton keeps the ball moving and rarely forces the issue. SGA does really well in tight windows and creates off of any hesitation. One prefers spacing, the other breaks down defenders off the dribble. Those styles can lead to very different fourth-quarter possessions.
- Siakam and Turner vs. Holmgren is a structural problem for Oklahoma City. Holmgren is most comfortable rotating from the weak side, not closing out on shooters 25 feet from the basket. If Indiana keeps running their bigs through the corners and above the break, OKC’s rim protection becomes much less relevant.
- McConnell vs. Caruso deserves a lot more attention, in our opinion! McConnell operates in short bursts, forcing quick decisions with off-ball movement. Caruso anticipates well and disrupts the pace without needing to take risky chances. This stretch of minutes, when both benches are active, could be where either side picks up separation.
Betting Odds and Insights
If you’re betting on Game 2, here are the latest odds and lines via BetMGM:
- Game 2 Spread: Thunder favored by 11 points.
- Over/Under: Set at 227 points.
- Series Odds: Thunder at -320, Pacers at +250.
Best Bets for Game 2
Game 1 gave us a ton of real data to move off narrative angles. The Thunder’s slowish start from deep, Indiana’s small-ball looks, and McConnell’s early usage all point to specific player props and totals, not just sides and spreads!
Below are the four angles that we think are the best bets for Game 2:
- Thunder First Quarter / Full Game Double Result (-125) | Oklahoma City led for most of Game 1 before fading late in the fourth. You can expect them to push harder early and concentrate on extending that lead instead of merely managing it.
- Under 227 Total Points | Both teams slowed down in the second half of Game 1. If defensive adjustments stick, and Indiana stays committed to running shooters off the arc? This total could be inflated.
- Aaron Nesmith Over 1.5 Made Threes | He’s been left open in the corners, and Indiana’s ball movement gives him a lot of volume. If he takes four or five shots from deep, this number should hit.
- Jalen Williams Over 20 Points & 5 Rebounds (+100) | He didn’t play much in the opener, so Williams should have a larger role on both ends. He’s a key piece when the Thunder go five-out, and he has matchup advantages over Indiana’s wings.
- T.J. McConnell Over 0.5 First-Quarter Assists (-140) | Indiana usually brings him in before the quarter ends. He gets quick touches in transition and can find shooters early if the Thunder falls apart on drives.
Final Thoughts: Will the Thunder Tie Up the Series?
Our Final Score Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder 114, Indiana Pacers 106
It’ll be competitive, but Game 2 likely belongs to the home team. That’s if the Thunder doesn’t waste another late lead!
Game 1 was a missed opportunity for Oklahoma City, but it didn’t expose any huge gaps in their approach. It was about timing and execution down the stretch, and that’s fixable!
Indiana continues to play loose and connected; when Haliburton is reading the floor cleanly and their shooters are hitting in sync, they’re tough to rattle. But banking on another big change-up in the fourth might be asking a little too much from them.
Oklahoma City should clap back with more pressure at the point of attack and sharper rotations. If Jalen Williams gets going and Holmgren can stay involved offensively, they have the advantage to tie it up at 1-1.
Our experts made their picks—Now it’s your turn. Bet Game 2 here with exclusive welcome bonuses and the best odds.
