The NBA Finals tip off on Friday with the Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder, and it’s the Thunder who are best backed to win.
We have NBA Finals Game 1 expert tips and predictions for the all-important opening game, where the Thunder are –9.5 favourites.
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NBA Finals Game 1 Tips
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The Thunder got through a tricky series against the Timberwolves without much damage, winning 4-1, and scoring an emphatic 124-94 win in Game 5.
They have been the best team in the NBA since the opening game, and that should be rewarded with a win in the NBA Finals. There was some trepidation in early betting markets because of their lack of finals experience, but that goes for most players in the 2025 NBA Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was awarded league MVP, is playing lights out, and we don’t think the Pacers have a player that can defend him. Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton have been solid, but most of what Haliburton has done has come late in the fourth quarter.
The Thunder could be already 20 points ahead at that time, and there is much more depth to the Thunder squad. They have the likes of Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, with the latter averaging a healthy 21.6 points per game.
Indiana is riding the wave of momentum after getting past New York, but the Western Conference is harder, and OKC came through with flying colours.
The opening game can be tough to predict, but our NBA Finals predictions have the Thunder covering the –9.5 spread. They have too many scoring threats on the court, and they also boast one of the best defences in the NBA.
Thunder by 15
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Our top Pacers vs Thunder prop pick is Gilgeous-Alexander over 33.5 points. The All-Star guard had 40 points in Game 4 against the Timberwolves before scoring 34 points to close it out, and based on Indiana’s defence, he should have another big scoring night.
The Thunder are awfully tough to beat at home, and a big reason why is because SGA plays so well at Paycom Center. He should give the home crowd reason to celebrate with a big scoring performance, and he could drop 38-40 points.
We also like Haliburton under 17.5 points. It’s a low line for the Pacers guard, who has made headlines during the playoffs. However, he hasn’t been consistent in the scoring department, and making late buckets is good in the clutch, but they need him to score earlier in the game.
He could struggle to find his shot on Friday, so we’re including the under in our NBA Finals Game 1 multis.
Punters get good value for method of first bucket markets, and although they’re tough to predict, the odds are worth it. We think Jaylen Williams could start the game with a three-pointer, which pays $15. He has been excellent from beyond the three-point line in the playoffs, and SGA could look to get his teammates involved early.
The odds are too juicy to pass up, and although Gilgeous-Alexander “other” pays $10.50, which means he can make a two-point jump shot or three-pointer, is good value as well, we’re backing Williams to come up big early.
