Bettors like the Indiana Pacers to cover the spread in Game 1 of the NBA Finals but the line has moved towards the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder are 9.5-point favorites to win Thursday night’s game (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) after opening as 8.5-point favorites. The line shifted a point in the Thunder’s favor despite Indiana getting 66% of bets and 63% of the money against the spread at BetMGM.
Bettors are clearly counting on a 20-year trend to not go the Thunder’s way.
Game 1 favorites in NBA Finals of at least 6 points have won all 10 games (9-1 ATS) over the last 20 years.
The Thunder are currently 9.5-point home favorites in Game 1.
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) June 3, 2025
Oklahoma City is -700 to win the series and is one of the biggest Finals favorites ever. Since 1996, only six teams have had lower odds to win the Finals. The biggest Finals favorite in that span was the 2001 Lakers, who were -2000 to take down the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers won Game 1 by six before the Lakers won four straight to clinch the series.
The over/under for Game 1 hasn’t changed and still sits at 230.5 points. Just over half of the bets and 60% of the money are on the over given how strong each team’s offense is and the quick tempo the game is likely to be played at. In addition to having the best defensive rating in the NBA during the regular season, the Thunder had the third-best offensive rating and averaged over 120 points per game. The Pacers had the ninth-best offensive rating in the league and scored just over 117 points per game.
The most-bet props ahead of Game 1 are unders for Pacers guard Tyrese Hailburton. The top ticket is under 9.5 assists for Haliburton (-145) and the second-most bet prop is under 27.5 points (-120). In two games vs. Oklahoma City this season — both Thunder wins — Haliburton had a combined 22 points and 11 assists.
Bettors are also counting on a six-game series going in the Thunder’s favor. The most-bet series prop so far is the Thunder in six games at +425, though the exact outcome betting trends differ. The bettors who don’t think the series will go six games are liking the idea of the Thunder winning the first two games, losing the third game and then winning two more games to close the series out in five games at +625.
Bettors like the Indiana Pacers to cover the spread in Game 1 of the NBA Finals but the line has moved towards the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder are 9.5-point favorites to win Thursday night’s game (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) after opening as 8.5-point favorites. The line shifted a point in the Thunder’s favor despite Indiana getting 66% of bets and 63% of the money against the spread at BetMGM.
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Bettors are clearly counting on a 20-year trend to not go the Thunder’s way.
Oklahoma City is -700 to win the series and is one of the biggest Finals favorites ever. Since 1996, only six teams have had lower odds to win the Finals. The biggest Finals favorite in that span was the 2001 Lakers, who were -2000 to take down the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers won Game 1 by six before the Lakers won four straight to clinch the series.
The over/under for Game 1 hasn’t changed and still sits at 230.5 points. Just over half of the bets and 60% of the money are on the over given how strong each team’s offense is and the quick tempo the game is likely to be played at. In addition to having the best defensive rating in the NBA during the regular season, the Thunder had the third-best offensive rating and averaged over 120 points per game. The Pacers had the ninth-best offensive rating in the league and scored just over 117 points per game.
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The most-bet props ahead of Game 1 are unders for Pacers guard Tyrese Hailburton. The top ticket is under 9.5 assists for Haliburton (-145) and the second-most bet prop is under 27.5 points (-120). In two games vs. Oklahoma City this season — both Thunder wins — Haliburton had a combined 22 points and 11 assists.
Bettors are also counting on a six-game series going in the Thunder’s favor. The most-bet series prop so far is the Thunder in six games at +425, though the exact outcome betting trends differ. The bettors who don’t think the series will go six games are liking the idea of the Thunder winning the first two games, losing the third game and then winning two more games to close the series out in five games at +625.
