Thunder vs Pacers – Game 7: Tips, Odds, and Match Preview

Game 7. Very few two-word phrases have more ring to them in all sports (pun intended). Nothing is separating OKC and Indiana after six games of high-octane basketball, and the 2025 NBA final is going to the wire for the first time since the Cavs came back from 3:1 against the Warriors.

The Pacers rallied around their star man Tyrese Haliburton to blow out the OKC in Game 6. But OKC has won 78 games at home this season and very few teams survived the Paycom Center with less than a double-digit loss.

Both teams won their last Game 7, though.

Thunder at Home

The Thunder are 2:1 in this final series and 10:2 this postseason in Paycom. Still, they must play a hell of a lot better than yesterday in Indiana.

All eyes will be on the reigning Kia MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to conjure magic as he did in the fourth quarter of Game 4. He’s averaging 30.5 points in the series but had an off night yesterday with 21 points and eight turnovers. However, the chances of repeating the slow night are slim, and we can expect SGA to cook on Sunday.

The Thunder Game 7 credentials are stronger this season. They already went to the wire against the Nuggets and won with aplomb 125:93.

Thunder Team News

Nikola Topic is the only injured player for the Oklahoma City Thunder and has been for the entirety of the season.

Pacers Relishing the Road

As for Indiana, playing on the road doesn’t seem to bother them much. The Pacers are 7:4 this postseason, and I have a sneaky feeling that they actually prefer it that way.

With backs against the wall in Game 6, they blew out OKC with 22 point-advantage at half-time. Obi Toppin gave them 20 off the bench, with four more guys in double digits before garbage time in the closing five minutes. Tyrese Haliburton played through calf pain and scored 14, including some dagger shots from beyond the arc.

Indiana’s last Game 7 was last year against the Knicks in the conference semis. The Pacers took care of business 130:109, you guessed it—on the road.

Pacers Team News

Halliburton played through injury in Game 6 but has done an excellent job of it. The Pacers medical team will have an extra day to patch up his calf, and he should be ready for the biggest stage. Jarace Walker and Isaiah Jackson remain sidelined.

Thunder vs Pacers Prediction

Anything is possible in a one-and-done game, and though OKC is the huge favourite (1.27 at Stake compared to 3.65 for Indiana), the Pacers have shown a remarkable never-give-up attitude that got them this far into the playoffs.

That’s why I’m unwilling to bet on the winner. However, I do expect Thunder to come out flying and win the first quarter. Let history worry about anything that happens afterwards.

CryptoGamba tip: Thunder to win first quarter – 1.49 @RakeBit