RealGM Basketball Wiretap

07 June 2025

• Game 1 Of NBA Finals Draws Lowest Non-COVID Year Audience Since 2007

  The Indiana Pacers' 111-110 comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals drew an average audience of 8.91 million viewers, which was down 19 percent from Game 1 of the 2024 Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks. The viewership was the NBA's lowest for a non-COVID Finals Game 1 since 9.21 million viewers tuned in for 2007 San Antonio Spurs-Cleveland Cavaliers.

  The Thunder entered the series as heavy favorites, so it remains to be seen whether Indiana's thrilling comeback will give ABC an increase for Game 2. A competitive series typically has an increase in viewership as it progresses.

  By comparison, Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Pacers and New York Knicks drew 8.12 million viewers.

  ABC is closing in on a sellout of its ad inventory for Games 2-5. If the series reaches six games, the network should generate above $265 million in paid airtime.

• Tyrese Haliburton Hits Game-Winner As Pacers Stun Thunder 111-110 In Game 1 Of Finals

  Tyrese Haliburton converted a 21-foot jumper over Cason Wallace with 0.3 seconds remaining to give the Indiana Pacers its first and only lead, completing a historic comeback as they defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

  The shot marked the latest game-winner in Finals history since Michael Jordan's Game 1 shot in 1997 to defeat the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN Research. Indiana's first lead coming with 0.3 seconds left was the latest into any Finals game over the past 50 years.

  The Pacers trailed by 15 points with 9:42 remaining before mounting the second-largest upset in Finals history over the past 35 seasons. Indiana closed as 10-point underdogs against a Thunder team that entered 36-1 at home when leading by 15 points.

  Rick Carlisle's squad has become masters of late-game heroics throughout these playoffs. The Pacers previously overcame deficits of seven points with 34.6 seconds left against Milwaukee, seven points with 48 seconds left against Cleveland, and nine points with 51.1 seconds left against New York.

  "We're a resilient group," Haliburton said afterward during an interview on ESPN's "SportsCenter." "We just keep saying that to you guys. You guys keep asking us, and we keep giving you the same answer. We're a resilient group and we don't give up till the clock hits zero. We do a great job of just staying in the moment. Try to get from 15 to 10 (down), 10 to 5, 5 to 0. We just walk teams down. Real proud of this group."

  Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 19 points while Obi Toppin added 17. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 38 points for Oklahoma City, but the Thunder didn't score past the 1:27 mark in the fourth quarter.

  The comeback matched the largest fourth-quarter rally in Finals history since Dallas overcame a 15-point deficit against Miami in 2011. Carlisle coached those Mavericks as well.

  The Pacers had 19 turnovers in the first half, but settled down in the second half to finish with 25 in total. The Pacers had an offensive rating of 110.0 with 101 possessions in the game. Indiana had an eFG% of .585 compared to .454 for Oklahoma City to make up the possession differential.

  "We've had lots of experience in these kinds of games," Carlisle said.

  "They keep coming. They keep playing. They made plays," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "They deserve to win by a point. We got to learn from it."

• Pacers Draw Heavy Public Backing Despite Thunder Attracting Sharp Money

  The Indiana Pacers are the biggest Finals underdogs in 20 years at 5-1, but they are receiving strong support from the betting public. ESPN BET reported Thursday that 78 percent of the bets on the series winner were on Indiana, while nearly 90 percent of the money that had been wagered was on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

  In order for a bettor to win $100, they would have to risk $700 on the Thunder.

  The Detroit Pistons were also 5-1 underdogs in the 2004 Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, which they went on to win in five games.

  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a -550 favorite to win Finals MVP.

• Thunder-Pacers Among Top Mismatches In NBA Finals History, Continuing Modern Trend

  For the third straight season, the NBA has a Finals team with a Net Rating outside the top-10 as the Indiana Pacers ranked 12th in the category during the regular season while the Oklahoma City Thunder were first. With teams reaching the Finals outside the top-10 in Net Rating, we've also seen more significant disparities between the two teams.

  The 2023 Finals between the Nuggets and Heat had the largest disparity, with Denver ranked 6th in Net Rating facing Miami, who ranked a distant 21st. The 2024 and 1999 Finals are tied for second place with 13-spot differences, while 2025 and 2018 are tied for fourth with 11-spot gaps. All four of those previous series were decided in five or fewer games.

  NBA Finals Net Rating Rankings & Differences
  
  2025: Thunder, 1st / Pacers, 12th (11 spot difference)
  2024: Celtics, 1st / Mavericks, 14th (13 spots)
  2023: Nuggets, 6th / Heat, 21st (15 spots)
  2022: Warriors, 5th / Celtics, 2nd (3 spots)
  2021: Bucks, 4th / Suns, 3rd (1 spot)
  2020: Lakers, 5th / Heat, 7th (2 spots)
  2019: Raptors, 3rd / Warriors, 2nd (1 spot)
  2018: Warriors, 3rd / Cavaliers, 14th (11 spots)
  2017: Warriors, 1st / Cavaliers, 7th (6 spots)
  2016: Cavaliers, 4th / Warriors, 2nd (2 spots)
  2015: Warriors, 1st / Cavaliers, 5th (4 spots)
  2014: Spurs, 1st / Heat, 4th (3 spots)
  2013: Heat, 2nd / Spurs, 4th (2 spots)
  2012: Heat, 4th / Thunder, 3rd (1 spot)
  2011: Mavericks, 8th / Heat, 1st (7 spots)
  2010: Lakers, 7th / Celtics, 9th (2 spots)
  2009: Lakers, 3rd / Magic, 4th (1 spot)
  2008: Celtics, 1st / Lakers, 3rd (2 spots)
  2007: Spurs, 1st / Cavaliers, 7th (6 spots)
  2006: Heat, 6th / Mavericks, 3rd (3 spots)
  2005: Spurs, 1st / Pistons, 6th (5 spots)
  2004: Pistons, 2nd / Lakers, 7th (5 spots)
  2003: Spurs, 3rd / Nets, 4th (1 spot)
  2002: Lakers, 2nd / Nets, 5th (3 spots)
  2001: Lakers, 8th / Sixers, 5th (3 spots)
  2000: Lakers, 1st / Pacers, 6th (5 spots)
  1999: Spurs, 1st / Knicks, 14th (13 spots)
  1998: Bulls, 3rd / Jazz, 4th (1 spot)
  1997: Bulls, 1st / Jazz, 2nd (1 spot)
  1996: Bulls, 1st / Sonics, 2nd (1 spot)
  1995: Rockets, 11th / Magic, 3rd (8 spots)
  1994: Rockets, 6th / Knicks, 2nd (4 spots)
  1993: Bulls, 2nd / Suns, 4th (2 spots)
  1992: Bulls, 1st / Blazers, 2nd (1 spot)
  1991: Bulls, 1st / Lakers, 3rd (2 spots)
  1990: Pistons, 3rd / Blazers, 4th (1 spot)
  1989: Pistons, 4th / Lakers, 3rd (1 spot)
  1988: Lakers, 2nd / Pistons, 3rd (1 spot)

• Knicks-Pacers Game 6 Averages 8.12M Viewers

  Game 6 between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks averaged 8.12 million viewers across TNT and truTV.

  The Pacers' series-clinching win was the most-watched game of the season.

  The game peaked with 9.91 million viewers.

  The full six-game series averaged 6.96 million viewers, up 10% from the Celtics-Pacers last year.

  The Thunder-Timberwolves series in the Western Conference finals averaged 5.59 million viewers.

• Pacers' Flight To Oklahoma City Diverted Due To Tornado Warning

  The Indiana Pacers had their flight to Oklahoma City diverted to Tulsa, Oklahoma due to a tornado warning, flood watch and severe thunderstorm watch. The Pacers refueled in Tulsa and were planning on arriving in Oklahoma City later on Tuesday evening.

  The Pacers play at the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday in Game 1 of the Finals.

  A tornado was spotted in Norman, Oklahoma on Tuesday. Norman is near the University of Oklahoma and approximately 20 miles south of Oklahoma City.

• Jarace Walker To Miss At Least First Two Games Of NBA Finals

  In an appearance on 107.5 The Fan in Indiana, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that forward Jarace Walker would miss at least the first two games of the NBA Finals. Carlisle added that it's possible that Walker could miss even more time.

  "He's going to be out for a while," Carlisle said Monday morning. "I don't know how long. He certainly will not play in the first two games of the Finals. He was still on crutches (on Sunday). I'm certain he'll be listed as out for those two initial games."

  Walker was injured during the Pacers Game 6 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday. He rolled his right ankle and was ruled out shortly thereafter with a sprained ankle.

  Walker has had an inconsistent role throughout the season for Indiana. He's been in and out of the rotation throughout the playoffs as well. While not a major blow, Walker being out will test the Pacers frontcourt depth.

• Pacers' Ownership Ready To Break 20-Year Luxury Tax Drought To Keep Finals Core

  The Indiana Pacers are poised to pay the luxury tax for the first time since the 2004-05 season, marking a significant shift in the franchise's historically conservative spending approach.

  The last time Indiana ventured into luxury tax territory was two decades ago, when the team was coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2004 and fielding a legitimate championship contender. Now, with back-to-back Conference Finals appearances and their current Finals run, Pacers' ownership appears prepared to pay the luxury tax to continue competing again.

  "From what I am told, the hope and belief is that ownership will greenlight them going a little bit into the tax for a little while," ESPN's Brian Windhorst revealed on Sunday's episode of The Hoop Collective Podcast.

  Turner Re-Signing Would Push Pacers Over Tax Line

  The primary catalyst for Indiana's luxury tax entry would be re-signing center Myles Turner in free agency. Turner's expected new contract would push the Pacers above the tax threshold, ending their two-decade streak of tax avoidance. The Pacers already have Tyrese Haliburton on a 30 percent max after he qualified for All-NBA along with Pascal Siakam on his four-year, $189.5 million max.

  However, the franchise maintains flexibility to stay below the line if ownership changes course. The Pacers could potentially trade another rotation player to create the necessary salary cap space to remain under the luxury tax.

  Core Locked Up Long-Term

  Indiana's championship window appears secure regardless of the luxury tax decision, with their key players signed for multiple years:

  • Tyrese Haliburton: Under contract through 2029
  • Pascal Siakam: Under contract through 2028
  • Andrew Nembhard: Under contract through 2028
  • Obi Toppin: Under contract through 2028
  • Aaron Nesmith: Under contract through 2027

  The Pacers' willingness to pay the luxury tax represents a philosophical shift for an organization that has prioritized fiscal responsibility throughout most of its history. With a legitimate championship core in place and proven playoff success, Indiana appears ready to invest at the highest level to capitalize on their current window.

• Rick Carlisle Says Pascal Siakam & Tyrese Haliburton 'Put Us On Their Backs' In Game 6 Win

  The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 125-108 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

  Pascal Siakam, who was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, finished with 31 points. Tyrese Haliburton added 21 points.

  "Pascal and Tyrese put us on their backs and made sure we would not lose," said Rick Carlisle after the game. "But our work has just begun."

  OG Anunoby lead the Knicks with 24 points, with Karl-Anthony Towns adding 22 points and 14 rebounds.

  With the Knicks turning ball over 17 times in Game 6, Tom Thibodeau blamed a combination of turnovers and a lack of defense for the loss.

  "There were stretches where we played very good defense and stretches where we didn't," Thibodeau said. "I think once you dig into it and you look at is, was it our defense? Or was it our turnovers? I think it was probably a combination of both."

  Jarace Walker injured his ankle in the fourth quarter and was on crutches following the game. His status for Game 1 of the Finals is uncertain.

  The Pacers opened as +525 underdogs heading into Thursday's Game 1.

• Thunder Open As -750 Favorites In NBA Finals

  The Oklahoma City Thunder opened as -750 favorites to beat the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals on ESPN Bet, making them one of the biggest favorites in the past 20 years.

  The Pacers opened as +525 underdogs.

  Only the 2017-18's Warriors (-1075 against the Cavs) opened with shorter odds heading into the Finals than the Thunder this year.

  The Thunder opened as 9-point favorites in Game 1.

  At 50-1, the Pacers would be the biggest preseason long shots to win the NBA Finals in 40 years.