The Oklahoma City Thunder held a strong position throughout the regular season, consistently leading the Western Conference standings and steadily building their lead. In contrast, the Indiana Pacers never reached the top of the Eastern Conference, struggling to maintain a winning record early in January.
Different journeys, yet the same goal.
This culminates in the NBA Finals kicking off in Oklahoma City on Thursday night, featuring two teams that have taken distinct paths this season.
“At this stage of the season, it’s all about two teams with one objective, so it’s all or nothing,” remarked Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. “We recognize the caliber of our competition. Oklahoma City has been a powerhouse all year long. The word ‘dominant’ is spelled with capital letters. They have historically been excellent defensively and boast a lineup filled with scoring talent.”
The preparation started in earnest for both teams on Sunday, right after the Pacers secured their Eastern Conference title by defeating New York in six games. Indiana took a breather before resuming practice on Monday, while the Thunder continued their training in Oklahoma City.
“We often discuss human nature in the locker room, and the prevailing thought is ‘4 wins, 4 wins,'” said Thunder guard Jalen Williams on Sunday. “You have to build up victories, so that’s our focus now: prepare for Game 1 and proceed from there.”
The Pacers faced their 14th loss of the regular season in early December, matching the Thunder’s count of 14 regular season losses this year. This might seem like an improbable matchup.
However, since December 13, combining both regular season and playoff performances, the Thunder have an impressive NBA record of 61-13. The second-best team during the same five and a half months? That would be Indiana, achieving a record of 52-21.
“We expected to be here, and this outcome isn’t surprising to any of us given our goals,” said Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton. “Of course, we experienced a turning point in December or January, but we’ve focused on the present rather than dwelling on the past. Staying grounded is key.”
Now, it’s the NBA Finals. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Pacers were considered mid-tier contenders at the start of the season, sitting at 50-1 preseason odds to win the championship. The Thunder began the season 9-1, facing tough competition from Boston and New York in the East. Denver and Minnesota were the two teams the Thunder eliminated during the playoffs in the West this season.
“We’ve learned a lot,” said Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein. “We’ve had to navigate various situations, and I believe this experience is helping us now.”
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Source: apnews.com