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    NBA Finals: Check ways to watch, betting odds, and other details

    Synopsis

    The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are set to clash in the NBA Finals, with Game 1 tipping off Thursday in OKC. The Thunder swept their regular-season series, fueled by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's dominant performances, who also won the MVP award. Oklahoma City is heavily favored, but Indiana, yet to face elimination this postseason, looks to defy the odds.

    NBA Finals guide: When the games are, how to watch, what the odds areAP
    The stage is set for the NBA Finals, with the Oklahoma City Thunder taking on the Indiana Pacers.

    The Pacers punched their ticket to the Finals with a Game 6 win over the New York Knicks on Saturday night, sealing the Eastern Conference title.

    Oklahoma City holds the edge in their regular-season meetings, having swept both games against Indiana. Game 1 of the Finals tips off Thursday night in Oklahoma City.

    Recapping the OKC-Indiana series - Dec. 26: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 45 points and the Thunder erase an early double-digit deficit, pulling away in the second half to beat the Pacers 120-114. Andrew Nembhard scores 23 for Indiana, while Tyrese Haliburton is held to four points.

    - March 29: Gilgeous-Alexander scores 33 and the Thunder win 132-111. Haliburton leads the Pacers with 18, and both teams have six players finish in double figures.

    SGA is the MVP A recof Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's winning of the NBA MVP award.

    The story: Gilgeous-Alexander tops Jokic for MVP award

    The reaction: SGA tears up when talking about his wife

    Steve Nash speaks: Canada's 1st MVP thrilled to see SGA follow him

    The notebook: Jokic finishes top-2 again, Giannis' streak ends, LeBron gets votes

    What are betting odds?
    Betting odds Oklahoma City (-700) is a big favorite to win the NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Indiana's odds are set at +500.

    The Thunder are an early 9.5-point favorite over Indiana for Game 1.

    NBA Finals schedule All games of the NBA Finals will be aired on ABC.

    June 5 - Game 1, Indiana at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m. EDT

    June 8 - Game 2, Indiana at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m. EDT

    June 11 - Game 3, Oklahoma City at Indiana, 8:30 p.m. EDT

    June 13 - Game 4, Oklahoma City at Indiana, 8:30 p.m. EDT

    June 16 - Game 5, Indiana at Oklahoma City, if necessary, 8:30 p.m. EDT

    June 19 - Game 6, Oklahoma City at Indiana, if necessary, 8:30 p.m. EDT

    June 22 - Game 7, Indiana at Oklahoma City, if necessary, 8 p.m. EDT

    Check upcoming dates
    Key upcoming events June 25 - NBA draft, first round.

    June 26 - NBA draft, second round.

    Stats of the day - Indiana is the only team yet to face elimination in these playoffs.

    - This is the second time a No. 1 seed (Oklahoma City) has met a No. 4 seed (Indiana) in the NBA Finals. Both previous times were Lakers-Celtics matchups, one in 2010 and the other in 1969. Both went seven games, both saw the Lakers as the No. 1 seed out of the Western Conference (or division, as they were called in 1969), the Celtics won in 1969 (Bill Russell's final game as a player and 11th championship) and the Lakers won in 2010 (Kobe Bryant's fifth and final title).


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