After an exciting Game 1 and another miraculous comeback and win for the Pacers this post-season, we are about to see if the Thunder can punch back in Game 2, which they will once again host. Game 2 will be played on the night between Sunday and Monday, at 1 am.
In this article, I will take a closer look at the NBA Finals odds and provide you with my favourite Thunder vs Pacers Game 2 predictions and tips.
So, let's take a better look at this game and what we can expect from it.
OKC Thunder vs Indiana Pacers predictions
Handicap
Indiana Pacers to win (+11)
10/11
Tyrese Haliburton total points
Over 16.5
5/6
Chet Holmgren total points
Under 14.5
10/11
All odds for my Thunder vs Pacers tips were taken from Bet365 and are subject to change at any time.
Indiana Pacers to win with a handicap (+11)
As I said in my preview for Game 1, the Pacers are once again underestimated by the bookies. The spread for that game was 9.5 points, so it looks weird that the Thunder are now even bigger favourites after losing Game 1.
With that in mind, I have to once again back up Indiana. Like I said before, I don't expect them to win, although they did do that in Game 1, but I can see them covering the spread. Their ability to erase double-digit leads quickly would have me confident in this bet at any point in the fourth quarter, unless the Thunder can go up by like 30 points, which I don't see happening.
Tyrese Haliburton over 16.5 total points
For Game 1, I predicted that Haliburton wouldn't reach 10 assists and I was right, but Tyrese also struggled with his shooting and only scored 14 points in the game. That didn't stop him from hitting a game-winner though, so his confidence going into Game 2 has to sky high.
With that in mind, I expect to see a better shooting performance from him. Yes, Thunder's perimeter defence is probably the best in the league, but Haliburton has the quality to rack up points. After all, he has averaged 18.5 ppg these playoffs, so I can certainly see him reaching 17 points in Game 2.
Chet Holmgren under 14.5 total points
Holmgren only played 24 minutes in Game 1 as Thunder went with one big for the entire game. Usually, both Holmgren and Hartenstein start Thunder's games, but they decided to go small in Game 1 since Pacers' bigs Turner and Siakam have the ability to stretch the floor and don't really have a good post game.
If this trend continues in Game 2, which we expect it will since Thunder did lead for nearly the entire 48 minutes in Game 1, Holmgren likely won't get too many chances to reach 15 points, so betting on him to again go under the total points line sounds like a smart bet.
Thunder vs Pacers preview – teams news, injuries, and predicted lineups
OKC Thunder preview and latest news
After winning 68 games in the regular season, the Thunder were the main favourites to win the title even before the start of the playoffs, but as a very young team, many questioned their experience. Led by the new MVP of the league, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder proved that the regular season record was no fluke and they are deservedly in the NBA Finals.
In Game 1, the Thunder had control for the entire game, but Indiana's surge late in the fourth gave the Pacers a chance to win, which they took. OKC now have to respond or they'll go down 2-0 after hosting both games, which will be a nearly impossible hole to dig out of.
Thunder are missing the rookie Nikola Topic, who has been out this entire season with an ACL tear.
- Regular season record: 68-14
- Playoff record: 12-5
Thunder starting lineup: Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort, Williams, Holmgren, Hartenstein
Indiana Pacers preview and latest news
Going into the playoffs, Indiana were the fourth seed in the East and not many people saw them repeating their last season's feat when they reached the Conference Finals. However, the Pacers managed to do even better and reach the NBA Finals.
The Pacers struggled in Game 1 and they were down double-digits in the fourth quarter in Oklahoma, but we saw them get back into games in such situations more than a few times these playoffs. So, right on cue, the Pacers went on a run in the fourth quarter and stole the home-court advantage from the Thunder with another game-winning shot by Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton scored the go-ahead basket with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock, which is how long the Pacers led in Game 1 and still managed to get the win.
The Pacers will again be without injured Jarace Walker and Isaiah Jackson.
- Regular season record: 50-32
- Playoff record: 13-4
Pacers starting lineup: Haliburton, Nembhard, Nesmith, Siakam, Turner
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