Pacers vs Thunder Betting Guide: 3 Player Props and Best Bet for Game 1

When the NBA Finals wrap up this year, one franchise will hang a banner for the first time in more than five decades. The Oklahoma City Thunder last won a title as the Seattle Supersonics in 1979 while the Indiana Pacers have never won an NBA title since joining the league in 1977.

The Pacers have earned their shot at the city’s first title, however. Indiana dispatched three of the Eastern Conference’s best teams by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the New York Knicks.

After sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies, the Thunder nearly squandered the Western Conference’s top seed for a second consecutive season against the Denver Nuggets. Oklahoma City won that series with a dramatic Game 7 rout, and the Thunder rolled over the Minnesota Timberwolves en route to the Finals.

Will the Pacers continue their surprising run on Thursday and upset the Thunder in Game 1? We’ll cover that and give bettors our top three player prop bets for the NBA Finals series-opening contest.

Thunder PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander UNDER 33.5 Points

The league’s MVP has looked the part in the postseason. Oklahoma City point guard Shai Gilgeous Alexander has averaged 29.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 16 playoff games thus far.

Oddsmakers have settled on 33.5 points for his over/under scoring total for the initial game. While that would be a stretch for most players, it’s not for SGA. Against the Pacers this season, SGA scored at least 33 points in both contests, including a 45-point performance in December.

Can he replicate that magic in Game 1? The trends point against him. In three playoff series-openers, SGA has not eclipsed 33 points. He’s only hit 34 or more points six times thus far in the postseason, pointing to him failing to cover this player prop wager.

Pacers PG Tyrese Haliburton UNDER 26.5 Pts + Ast

The Pacers have relied on a magical Haliburton run to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. Against New York, the guard posted 21.0 points, 10.5 assists, and 6.0 rebounds to defeat the Knicks in six games.

There’s no doubt Indiana will lean on him to make the offense run, but he was abysmal against Oklahoma City in two regular season outings. Haliburton averaged 11 points and 5.5 assists, including an outing where he finished with four points and eight assists. Expect him to fall short of this combo prop bet on Thursday.

Pacers PF Pascal Siakam OVER 25.5 Pts + Reb

Indiana power forward Pascal Siakam is one of only three players on either roster to have appeared in an NBA Finals game before this season. Siakam helped the Toronto Raptors win the franchise’s only title in 2019 before joining the Pacers.

The 6-foot-8 player will need a big series for the Pacers to win their first NBA title. Siakam had a strong series against the Knicks, averaging 24.6 points and 5.0 rebounds to help Indiana defeat New York.

Siakam had strong outings against the Thunder this season, finishing with a double-double in both games. Expect him to continue that trend in Game 1, posting at least 26 combined points and rebounds to cover this combo prop bet.

Best Bet: Oklahoma City (-9)

The Thunder have won both games against the Pacers this season, claiming a 120-114 victory on the road as well as blowing out Indiana in late March. Indiana has been blazing hot since that last loss, however. The Pacers have reeled off 19 wins in their past 24 outings, including the postseason.

Still, Oklahoma City has won seven of its nine home playoff games by double-digit margins. Only the Nuggets have won a game inside Paycom Center during the postseason. Expect the Thunder to continue these trends, winning by 10 or more points on Thursday.