2025 NBA Finals Overview
In a stunning turn of events during the 2025 NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers managed to pull off a surprising victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder, stealing Game 1. This nail-biting matchup occurred in Oklahoma City on June 6, 2025, with the final score of 111-110 decided by a last-second shot from Tyrese Haliburton. This unexpected win set the stage for a challenging series for the Thunder, who had entered the finals as heavy favorites with odds of -700 at BetMGM.
High Stakes Betting
Adding to the drama, a significant wager of $1.05 million was placed on the Thunder’s success in the series by a gambler in Las Vegas. In a similarly bold move, prominent music figure Jay-Z joined in on the betting frenzy, placing a wager of $1 million at Fanatics Sportsbook. Jay-Z’s bet, which hoped for the Thunder to clinch victory in five games, carried enticing odds of +230 and would have netted him a whopping $3.3 million had it succeeded.
Game Highlights
Following the surprising loss in Game 1, Oklahoma City bounced back with a strong performance in Game 2, winning 123-107. However, the Pacers proved to be a formidable opponent again in Game 3, held on June 11, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, ultimately defeating the Thunder 116-107. With this recent loss, the Thunder now finds themselves trailing 2-1 in the series.
Looking Ahead
As they head into Game 4 on Friday night, the Thunder are once again listed as the favorites with a spread of 5.5 points and a total expected score of 225.5, according to BetMGM. Despite their current series deficit, they remain the -235 favorites to clinch the championship title.
