The NBA Finals continues this week as the Oklahoma City Thunder travel totake on the Indiana Pacers in game three of their best-of-seven game series.
So far in this series the teams are level 1-1, with Oklahoma responding well in game 2 to a surprising defeat in the opening game, with both teams having completed excellent regular season campaigns to be crowned Conference champions.
We’ll take a look at the upcoming series and provide you with our best free NBA betting picks as we try to earn you some extra cash while you take in the action on the court.
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The Pacers enjoyed an excellent regular season campaign that saw them go 50-32 and earn a place in the playoffs, with Tyrese Haliburton leading the charge.
Their opening playoff series saw them take on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks, and a fantastic start saw them claim a 2-0 lead in the series thanks to 117-19 and 123-15 victories. Milwaukee made it 2-1 in Game 3, but the Pacers turned it up in Game 4 and 5 and sealed their place in the Conference semi-finals with an overtime win.
There, they took on the Cleveland Cavaliers and it was another familiar story as they cruised to another 4-1 series win. Indiana won Game 1 and Game 2 once again via 121-112 and 120-119 scorelines, before suffering defeat in Game 3 at home. But Pascal Siakam and Haliburton turned it up in Game 4 and 5 to secure victory in the Conference finals.
The New York Knicks were their next opponents, and a closely contested series was to follow. The Pacers won Game 1 138-135 in overtime , before a 114-109 win in Game 2 gave them a familiar cushion. But the Knicks responded in Game 3 once again, winning 106-100, before a Game 4 win for Indiana put them on the brink of success.
New York refused to go down without a fight though and claimed a 111-94 win to take it to Game 6, but Siakam hit 31 points and Haliburton registered 13 assists to take a 125-108 win.
In Game 1 of the NBA finals against Oklahoma it was a late Haliburton bucket that secured them the victory, before the Thunder secured a dominant win in Game 2 to level the series up.
Oklahoma have had their best season in years in 2024/25, and they reached the NBA playoffs thanks to a 68-14 regular season record, handing them the number one seed in the process.
Their first-round playoff series came against the Memphis Grizzlies, where they claimed a dominant sweep in a 4-0 series win. A 51-point win in Game 1 set the tone for what was to come, before another big win in Game 2. MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander hit 31 points in Game 3 and 38 points in Game 4 to cement himself as the best player in the league this season too.
The Thunder then took on the Denver Nuggets in the conference semi-finals, and as expected, it was a razor-close series. Nikola Jokic did his best as the teams won three games each to set up a Game 7, where SGA hit 35 points and pulled his team through to the Conference Finals in impressive fashion.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were the opponents there, but once again Gilgeous-Alexander was the standout performer as Oklahoma claimed a sensational 4-1 series win, with Jalen Williams also shining as the NBA’s best team this season reached the finals.
The home advantage in Indiana will no doubt make this a really tricky game, but the Thunder have shown their ability and quality all season and they have already proven they have more individual quality within their roster too.
In Game 2 the Thunder secured control of the glass, registering 43 rebounds compared to Indiana’s 38, and that certainly helped them to secure the result. They also had big points coming off the bench with Aaron Wiggins and Alex Caruso, who combined for nine 3-pointers on the night.
A similar approach in Game 3 should be expected, and if they do it to the level we know they’re capable of then a victory should follow too. It should also be noted that the Pacers lost every Game 3 in the playoffs so far this year, although that may just be a coincidence.
Regardless, Oklahoma are the better basketball team and after success in the last game they now have the blueprint to victory. At -210, there is excellent value on a straight moneyline bet, so take it while you can.
Check out our review for Bovada sports betting here.
The points total for this game is currently set at 228, and that’s a number that should be deemed as move than achievable for betting purposes.
So far in this series we’ve seen 221 points and 230 points hit, but it’s the rest of the playoff games that make this bet look good.
11 of Indiana’s 18 playoff games so far this year have seen the total go above 228 points, while five of Oklahoma’s 18 games have done the same. With the attacking set up of both sides, and the fact the series is level, expect lots of points and take the Over at -110.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
About the Author
Daniel is a football writer who has a great thirst for the Premier League and other major European leagues. A lover of the beautiful game and a firm believer that the eye test is better than statistics. Also an avid MMA fan.
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