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The Pacers have claimed the Bob Cousy Trophy after emerging victorious in the Eastern Conference.
Now, with the Larry O’Brien Trophy just four wins away, the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV will commence on June 5 at 8:30 EST on ABC, featuring Indiana against Oklahoma City.
**5 HEADLINES IN TODAY’S ISSUE 🏀**
June 1, 2025
**Pacers Triumph in the East:** Indiana defeats New York, marking their return to the Finals for the first time since 2000.
**Depth of Talent:** The Pacers showcase their roster strength in a decisive Game 6 victory.
**Championship Preview:** The top two teams of 2025 are set to clash for the title.
**A Glimpse at History:** Exploring the similarities between the 2025 Thunder and the last Oklahoma City team to reach the Finals.
**Voices from the Team:** Insights from the Thunder as they gear up for the NBA Finals.
**BUT FIRST … ⏰**
The countdown is on: only four days remain until the 2025 NBA Finals kick off…
The 2025 NBA Finals are ready to begin, featuring the Western Conference champion Thunder and the Eastern Conference champion Pacers in a best-of-seven showdown starting on Thursday.
1. **PACERS OVERCOME KNICKS, RETURN TO FINALS AFTER TWO DECADES**
While the venue may have changed, the outcome was familiar.
For only the second time in franchise history, the Indiana Pacers are headed to the NBA Finals, having dispatched their longtime rivals, the New York Knicks, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Final Score: Pacers 125, Knicks 108. Key contributions came from Pascal Siakam (31 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks) and Tyrese Haliburton (21 points, 13 assists, 3 steals), leading a dominant second half performance (67-54) to wrap up the series in six games. |Recap| |5 Key Points|
**Gregory Shamus/Getty Images**
**Turning Point:** After a competitive first half, Indiana closed it on a 7-4 run to take a four-point lead into halftime, then opened the second half with the first nine points, establishing a double-digit lead for the first time in Game 6.
**Justin Casterline/Getty Images**
**Knicks’ Season Concludes:** For the second consecutive year, the Knicks’ playoffs end with a loss to the Pacers, although this year it came a round later.
**Next Steps:** The Eastern Conference champions will travel to Oklahoma City to face the Western Conference champions, the Thunder, with Game 1 scheduled for Thursday (8:30 ET, ABC).
2. **PACERS’ DEPTH KEY TO SERIES-ENDING VICTORY**
**Justin Casterline/Getty Images**
In what has been the most critical game of the season, the Pacers received substantial support beyond their All-Star stars, Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, to secure a home victory against the Knicks on Saturday.
– Obi Toppin: Entering Game 6 with a modest average of 7.2 points per game, the former Knick scored a series-best 18 points, including two three-pointers after previously hitting only one throughout the first five games.
– Andrew Nembhard: While applying pressure defensively on Jalen Brunson all night, Nembhard contributed 14 points, his highest since scoring 15 in Game 1.
– Thomas Bryant: After totaling just four points in the first three games, Bryant made an impact by sinking two of his three three-point attempts during a crucial 9-2 run in the third quarter, energizing Caitlin Clark and Pacers fans.
– Aaron Nesmith: A barometer for the series, Nesmith scored 10 points in Game 6, and Indiana was undefeated (4-0) when he reached double figures, highlighted by his Game 1 shooting spree that sparked their comeback.
– Myles Turner: Despite facing foul difficulties and clocking only 21 minutes, the veteran netted 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting including two triples, creating space for Haliburton and others.
**Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images**
In a tightly contested series decided by just 11 points (Pacers 701, Knicks 690), the Pacers outscored their opponents by a remarkable 93 points from the bench (210-117).
“I’m incredibly proud of this team.” – Haliburton on the contributions throughout the roster during this pivotal game.
3. **PREVIEW: THUNDER VS. PACERS IN THE 2025 NBA FINALS**
“It’s two teams and it’s one goal.”
Seven concise words from Pacers coach Rick Carlisle summarize the stakes of the upcoming NBA Finals after his squad secured the Eastern title, setting the stage for a face-off with the Thunder on Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Unlike a typical 1 versus 4 matchup, the Thunder and Pacers have emerged as the two strongest teams in the league since the start of 2025.
Oklahoma City swept the regular season two-game series, coming back from a 15-point deficit with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander netting 45 points on December 26, and later winning by 21 points with SGA contributing 33 points on March 29.
Central to this contest is the matchup between the All-NBA point guards: OKC’s SGA and Indiana’s Haliburton.
**Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images**
Both are the catalyst for their offenses, which rank among the top three in the playoffs leading into the Finals.
In the days leading up to Game 1, we’ll analyze every detail of this series.
4. **PARALLELS BETWEEN OKC’S 2025 AND 2012 FINALS TEAMS**
**Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images**
When the final buzzer sounded at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, it became official—the Thunder had returned to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012.
Much has altered in the past 13 years.
The Thunder come back to the Finals with an entirely restructured roster and coaching staff, developed primarily through the NBA Draft, alongside crucial trades and free-agent acquisitions over the last six years.
While the key players have changed—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren stepping in for Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden—some notable similarities remain.
These parallels extend beyond personnel changes, as the talent on the roster has translated into impressive court performance.
Similar to 2012, the 2025 Finals will commence in Oklahoma City (8:30 ET, ABC). In 2012, the Thunder won Game 1 with KD scoring 36 points, but ultimately lost in five games to the Miami Heat.
The 2025 Thunder aim to achieve one crucial distinction from their predecessors—securing the first championship in the franchise’s Oklahoma City era.
5. **WHAT’S BEING SAID: OKC GEARING UP FOR THE FINALS**
Having secured their Finals berth on Wednesday, the Thunder now enjoy a full week to prepare.
Before their matchup with the Pacers for the championship, the Thunder held a media session on Saturday to reflect on their journey to the Finals, reminisce about the last time they competed on this stage, and emphasize the importance of their home crowd as they prepare for Game 1.
