What's happened
Oklahoma City Thunder are heavily favored to win the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, with significant betting activity reflecting this trend. A $1.05 million bet on the Thunder highlights their status as historic favorites, despite mixed public sentiment on the series outcome.
What's behind the headline?
Betting Landscape
- Heavy Favoritism: The Thunder are currently at -700 odds, indicating strong confidence from professional bettors, who have placed 88.2% of the handle on them at ESPN BET.
- Public Sentiment: Contrarily, only 22.2% of tickets are on the Thunder, suggesting a divide between professional and casual bettors.
Historical Context
- Comparison to Past Finals: The Thunder's odds are the second-shortest since 2005, only behind the 2017-18 Warriors, who swept the Finals.
- Franchise History: Oklahoma City seeks its second title, having previously won as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979.
Series Dynamics
- Potential for Competition: Analysts like CBS SportsLine's Bruce Marshall suggest the Pacers could make the series competitive, especially given their strong away performance (6-2 on the road).
- Player Focus: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a key player to watch, favored for Finals MVP at -600, reflecting his significant impact in the playoffs.
What the papers say
According to the New York Post, a $1.05 million bet on the Thunder at MGM highlights their status as favorites, with 94% of bets on the Pacers at BetMGM. The South China Morning Post notes that professional bettors are avoiding the Thunder's money line due to the high odds, instead focusing on player propositions. AP News emphasizes the Thunder's historical context, comparing them to the 2018 Warriors and noting their playoff dominance, while also highlighting the Pacers' potential to challenge them.
How we got here
The Thunder enter the NBA Finals as the biggest favorites since the 2018 Golden State Warriors. They have performed strongly in the playoffs, winning several games by large margins, while the Pacers have shown resilience, particularly in away games.
Go deeper
- What are the odds for the Pacers?
- How has the Thunder performed in the playoffs?
- Who are the key players to watch in the Finals?
More on these topics
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The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City. The Thunder compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division.
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Tyrese John Haliburton (born February 29, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed Hali, and "the Haliban", he is a two-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA Third
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Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.