Inside Game Two of the 2025 NBA Finals: Will OKC Recover Against the Pacers?
Game Two of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder is set for Sunday at 8:00 p.m. EST on ABC. The Thunder will be looking to shake off their previous 111–110 heartbreaking Game One loss after Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers’ fourth-quarter spectacle shocked the Paycom Center. OKC enters Sunday as heavy 10.5-point favorites according to ESPN Bet. No stranger to the underdog role, Indiana looks to spoil the party once again and head back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a 2–0 series lead.
What Does Oklahoma City Need to Change for Game Two?
The Thunder held the lead in the game for 46 minutes and 26 seconds, and only trailed for 0.3. While they played far from their best basketball, their defensive game plan appeared to be working, as Indiana committed a postseason-high 25 turnovers. However, OKC was only able to score 11 points off those turnovers, and their offense struggled throughout the game, shooting just 39% from the field in Game One. As they move towards Game Two, they will need Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams to contribute more offensively and capitalize on their fast-break opportunities. Holmgren shot just two-for-nine and totaled a mere six points in Game One as the Indiana game plan neutralized him. Other players on the Thunder will need to step up and help regular-season MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder won't want to change their game plan too much, they will just need to make adjustments to prevent a cold stretch in the final minutes of the fourth quarter that happened in Game One.
Even Though They Won, Indiana Needs to Play Better
Indiana was able to sneak out a miraculous Game One victory, however, they will need to play much better if they want to capture their first NBA Championship. Despite his game-winning shot, Tyrese Haliburton scored just 14 points on only 13 shots. As their leader and superstar, Indiana will want him to be more aggressive in Game Two. At the same time, the Pacers will be looking to replicate their team scoring efforts. Every player who played scored from the field, and six players finished in double figures. Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam scored a team-high 19 points in Game One, and his aggressiveness will be a key factor in the outcome of Game Two for Indiana.
A Pivotal Game Two for Both Teams
Indiana hopes to improve on their 7–2 road record this postseason and steal Game Two to give them a 2–0 lead heading back home. For Oklahoma City, no team has ever come back in the NBA Finals after dropping the first two games at home, and a 2–0 hole would put their historical season in jeopardy. OKC’s Game One loss was just their second home defeat of this postseason, and Game Two seems to be a necessary victory to get them back on track in this series. As we inch closer to a first-time NBA Champion, Game Two will be a critical test for both teams.
