The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the NBA Finals as heavy favorites to claim the title over the Indiana Pacers. Their dominant home record in both the regular season and playoffs makes them a formidable opponent. However, Magic Johnson has issued a warning-the Pacers specialize in dismantling teams like this.
The Thunder’s journey to the Finals has been nothing short of spectacular. They finished the regular season with the NBA’s best record-68 wins and just 14 losses-and their 35-6 home record was also the league’s best. Their playoff performance has been equally impressive, boasting a 12-4 overall record and 8-1 at home.
Led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, alongside Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Aaron Wiggins, Oklahoma City appears destined to hoist the trophy. But according to Magic Johnson, Indiana might have the final say.
Magic Johnson’s warning
Despite the Thunder’s home-court advantage and star power, Johnson pointed out that the Pacers have thrived as underdogs throughout the playoffs. Indiana only had home-court advantage in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks, yet they have consistently secured crucial road victories on their path to the Finals.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder should be worried about Indiana because the Pacers have been a great road team in this year’s Playoffs,” Johnson warned on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing that Indiana has won pivotal road games in every series.
“Throughout the playoffs, they beat the Bucks in Milwaukee once in the first round, the No. 1 Cavaliers three times in Cleveland in the second round, and then the Knicks twice in New York during the Eastern Conference Finals,” Johnson recalled.
Oklahoma City: The ultimate battleground
Johnson’s warning is likely ringing in the ears of Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. The Paycom Center has been a fortress throughout the postseason, but the same was said about Madison Square Garden, where the Pacers stunned the Knicks twice.
With the Finals just hours away from tip-off, Daigneault must refine his strategy, knowing that Rick Carlisle’s controlled chaos can disrupt even the most dominant teams. If recent history is any indication, home-court advantage may become just another footnote in the 2024-2025 NBA Playoffs.
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