As the NBA Finals tip off on June 5, excitement is building around the matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. But has the script just been leaked? And why is it disappointing?
Both franchises have defied expectations this season, reaching the championship round for the first time in over a decade as they find themselves just four wins away from eternal glory in thei respective cities.
However, an alarming leak has emerged, revealing what appears to be the predetermined outcome of the series, a scenario that threatens to undermine the suspense and thrill of the championship.
The leaked post, which surfaced on social media, displays a supposed Google search result indicating the Thunder will clinch the title by defeating the Pacers 106-95 on Indiana’s home court. The series, it claims, will conclude with Oklahoma City winning 4-1.
Of course, the NBA Finals are not actually scripted – despite the conspiracy theories. It was no doubt someone looking to find some swift social media engagement, but it comes at a good time as claims the NBA Draft Lottery is rigged after the Dallas Mavericks claimed an unlikely first round pick just after trading away Luka Doncic.
Thunder vs Pacers: A wholesome NBA story
This 2025 NBA Finals marks the first postseason encounter between the Thunder and Pacers and is memorable in the fact that the pair are both small market teams, a sign of just how healthy the balance of power is across the NBA.
Oklahoma City, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics, has not reached the Finals since 2011/12, meanwhile, Indiana have not appeared in the NBA Finals since 1999/00, losing a series against Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
The Thunder entered the playoffs as the top seed in the Western Conference led by MVP candidate and scoring leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and swept the Memphis Grizzlies to make the final series of the season.
Whilst the Pacers came in having been strongest team in the Eastern Conference since January 1 with a 46-18 record in that span, and deposed the New York Knicks in a six-game series to make the NBA Finals – demonstrating resilience by staging four comebacks from double-digit deficits.
Both teams are known for their up-tempo style of play. Indiana’s offense has been especially potent, averaging 117.4 points per game in the playoffs, the second-highest in NBA Finals history.
Oklahoma City counters with a stifling defense, which shut down star players like Anthony Edwards during the Western Conference Finals making this a perfect clash of an immovable object against an unstoppable force.
The potential for the Thunder to claim their first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City is undeniable, their last coming in 1979. as the Pacers chase their first since 1973. Fans can expect a classic, despite what the “leaked script” claims.
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