The Oklahoma City Thunder aim to reclaim home-court advantage on Wednesday as they face the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The series is tied 1-1 after the Thunder’s decisive 123-107 victory in Game 2. Oklahoma City (68-14) is chasing its first NBA title since 1979, back when the team was based in Seattle, and is currently 4-3 on the road this postseason. Meanwhile, Indiana (50-32) seeks its first championship since the 1973 ABA title and boasts a 5-2 home record during these playoffs. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Thunder have won three out of four meetings this season and are listed as 5-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 228. Before locking in any Pacers vs. Thunder bets, bettors should check out expert Matt Severance’s picks at SportsLine. Severance, SportsLine’s top NBA expert, is on an impressive 165-91 run, generating more than 33 units of profit.
Severance has analyzed Game 3 and shared his recommended NBA picks and best bets. His analysis and predictions can be found on SportsLine. New bettors can also take advantage of promo codes from DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetMGM to get started.
Why the Thunder Could Cover
MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been unstoppable throughout the playoffs, scoring at least 34 points in each of his last four games. In Game 2, he posted 34 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and four steals. He’s averaged 30.4 points, 6.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 steals over 18 postseason starts this year.
Forward Jalen Williams continues to provide strong support, contributing 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists in Game 2. He’s reached double-digit scoring in 17 of 18 playoff games, averaging 20.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.6 steals in 34.6 minutes per game.
Why the Pacers Could Cover
Pascal Siakam has been key for Indiana, averaging 20.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in the playoffs. He scored 31 points in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks and notched a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1 of this series.
Point guard Tyrese Haliburton is also playing a pivotal role. In Game 2, he tallied 17 points, six assists, three rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. He delivered a double-double, including the game-winner, in Game 1. Across 18 playoff games, he’s averaging 18.4 points, 9.3 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.
How to Bet Pacers vs. Thunder
Severance has locked in another strong pick against the spread for Game 3, leaning toward the Over on the total. He also has identified a key X-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-play. Bettors should check his analysis at SportsLine before making any final decisions.
