2025 NBA Finals set for rare clash of alpha point guards Thunder vs Pacers

The 2025 NBA Finals will showcase a rare and compelling matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, two teams that defied expectations by reaching the championship without exceeding the luxury tax threshold.

Both teams are led by elite point guards—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the Thunder and Tyrese Haliburton for the Pacers—who have transformed their franchises. Gilgeous-Alexander, averaging an NBA-best 34.2 points per game in 2024-25, and Haliburton, described as a "throwback" with a style reminiscent of John Stockton, anchor their teams' identities.

The Pacers enter the Finals with the highest true shooting percentage in the playoffs at 61.7%, surpassing even the league-best regular season mark set by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their corner three-point shooting has been exceptional, hitting 46.9% of attempts, contributing to their second-best offensive efficiency in the playoffs at 117.7 points per 100 possessions.

Meanwhile, the Thunder boast the league's best defensive rating in both the regular season and postseason, underpinning their historic campaign that included the best point differential ever in the regular season at plus-12.9 points per game.

Both teams share a commitment to stability and trust in their coaching staff's game plans, which has been crucial to their success. The Finals could come down to which team makes fewer mistakes and better exploits the other's errors, with both franchises seeking their first championship banner.

"The Thunder and Pacers are stylistic kindred spirits," noted analysts, emphasizing their depth and identity.

This Finals matchup is also notable as the first since 2007 where neither team played on Christmas Day, highlighting the unique paths these squads took to the championship stage.

As the series approaches, all eyes will be on Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton, the alpha point guards commanding the conversation and poised to lead their teams in this rare and exciting NBA Finals clash.

The 2025 NBA Finals will feature a rare showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, two non-taxpaying teams led by star point guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton. Both teams excel in defense and efficiency, with the Pacers boasting top playoff shooting and the Thunder leading defensively.