Indianapolis (AP) – The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder feature two of the NBA’s top offenses.
This season, however, their championship aspirations may hinge on other aspects. Which team boasts superior defense?
Both squads have made significant improvements from their rosters last year in the conference finals and semifinals. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who led Dallas on its title run in 2010-11, understands the challenge of competing against Oklahoma City.
“Their depth in great defenders is remarkable,” he remarked, listing names off the top of his head. “Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) is not only a fantastic scorer, but also a fierce competitor. There’s Jalen Williams, (Lu) Dort, (Alex) Caruso, and many more like (Aaron) Wiggins and Cazon Wallace who are all excellent competitors. They also have rim protection that complements their defense excellently.”
This strong combination helped the Thunder secure a league-high 68 regular season wins and clinch the top seed in the Western Conference for the second consecutive year.
It appears that was merely a warm-up. The Thunder’s scoring defense has been even more formidable during their first finals run since 2012, allowing only 106.3 points per game—down from 107.6 during the regular season—and limiting opponents to under 100 points in half of their 12 postseason victories.
While Indiana may not match those impressive stats, they successfully eliminated three teams: New York, Cleveland, and Milwaukee. Throughout 16 playoff games, they held those three teams below an average of 11 points.
As expected, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault is taking notes.
“Looking at this playoff run, you can see how tough they are for their opponents and how their defense contributes to their team identity. It’s not just about scoring,” he explained. “Their defensive philosophy is very much aligned with their offensive approach, creating a unique type of pressure when they play against teams. Competing against them is a challenge, evident from the way they’ve advanced to this point.”
Their rosters were constructed similarly, as well.
Both teams are youthful, relying on deep benches to exhaust and outmaneuver their opponents, capitalizing on turnovers. The Thunder averages the highest points off turnovers in the playoffs at 21.3, with the Pacers close behind at 18.5.
However, defense can easily be overshadowed amid a focus on high-scoring, fast-paced offenses.
Last year, Indiana allowed 120.2 points per game during the regular season. This year, that number has dropped to 115.1, and even further to 113.3 in the postseason.
What accounts for this change?
Indiana’s top three defenders—Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and Miles Turner—are relatively healthy this season.
Nesmith previously missed 2.5 months due to a sprained left ankle but returned to form. After spraining his right ankle during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, he played in the last three games.
Nembhard also faced near-month-long recovery from left knee tendonitis earlier in the season, while Indiana’s rim protector, Turner, has navigated through various persistent injuries.
After being swept by Boston in 2024, Indiana shifted its focus.
“Last year, all everyone said was that we couldn’t win because we didn’t protect the rim, and we just tried to drive people away,” remarked two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton. “As a group, we made a significant leap on the defensive side, and I believe that step is why we’re here.”
Both Carlisle and Daigneault likely won’t disclose their defensive matchups heading into Game 1, particularly against Gilgeous-Alexander, this season’s MVP, and Williams. Conversely, Oklahoma City might deploy two All-NBA defenders, Williams and Dort, against Halliburton and Nembhard.
Regardless of the challenge, this matchup between the two squads is widely regarded as a crucial determinant of who will emerge as the next NBA champion.
“Every test presents a thrilling opportunity, especially on the biggest stage we’ve ever played,” Williams said. “This is going to be an exhilarating challenge. Obviously, they’re in the finals for a reason—getting to the finals isn’t easy.”
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Oklahoma City AP sports writer Cliff Brandt also contributed to this report.
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Source: apnews.com