Thunder Send Warning Signal with Blowout Win
If you thought these NBA Finals would go down to the wire, think again. The Oklahoma City Thunder made a serious statement in Game 2 by thrashing the Indiana Pacers 123-107, locking the series at 1-1. That third quarter, where the Thunder outscored the Pacers by 16, left no doubt: OKC has the firepower and depth to take over games in a hurry. A lot of folks were surprised by Indiana's Game 1 upset, but oddsmakers have made it crystal clear—Thunder are now -525 favorites to win the series, and that home-court energy in Oklahoma City is adding even more fuel to their momentum.
Don’t be shocked if a couple more lopsided scores pop up. OKC’s track record at home is almost bulletproof this season. Their bench is deep, their defense is adaptable, and when those three-pointers are dropping, it can get ugly for the opposition fast. Experts like Tim Bontemps are betting the Thunder could wrap this up in just five games, so a string of blowouts wouldn’t be a surprise at all.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Fight for Finals Bragging Rights
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a slow start in Game 1, looking anything but the superstar who dragged OKC through the Western Conference. But in Game 2, he dialed in—controlling tempo, exploiting mismatches, and sparking the Thunder’s explosive offense. People around the league are looking for Shai to grab the spotlight now. His unique ability to attack in the second half and spark runs reminds analysts why he’s been in the MVP conversation all year.
On the other side, the Pacers' run as underdogs may be fading. They pulled off a close win to start the series, thanks to some clutch plays from Pascal Siakam and surprising cold spells from OKC, but keeping up that pace against a balanced Thunder attack feels like a stretch now. Oddsmakers have been quick to flip the script, casting Indiana as heavy outsiders for the rest of the series.
Most experts expect the Thunder to handle business by Game 5 or 6—a fast finish compared to the nail-biters fans love to see in June. The Thunder’s size, speed, and ability to clamp down on defense after making adjustments were on full display in Game 2 and could be their recipe for steamrolling the rest of the series.
The Pacers are hanging their hopes on Pascal Siakam—he tore through OKC’s defense for 19 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1. He’s got a knack for those clutch moments, especially as a scorer when Indiana needs it most. But Thunder coaches were all over him in Game 2, sending double teams and making him work for every bucket. If Indy can’t get more guys going, or if Siakam can’t find answers to those new defensive looks, it’s going to be a short summer in Indianapolis.
Here’s what’s ahead: Game 3 hits June 11, Game 4 on June 13, and if needed, the series could stretch to Game 7 on June 22. For now, oddsmakers like the Thunder in Game 3—OKC is a 5-point favorite, with a projected total of 227.5. While the Pacers have covered the spread before, this Thunder team at home is a different animal, and even the stat heads are predicting a one-sided stretch as the Finals heat up.
