The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the brink of making history-and the odds say it’s almost a sure thing. After a thrilling 120-109 victory in Game 5 over the Indiana Pacers, OKC has taken a commanding 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals, and the sportsbooks have taken notice.
According to BetMGM, the Thunder are now massive -2500 favorites to win the championship, putting them within arm’s reach of their first NBA title in franchise history.
Despite a late push from the Pacers that cut OKC’s lead to just two points in the fourth quarter, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams turned up the heat. The dynamic duo combined for a staggering 71 points-Williams with 40 and Gilgeous-Alexander with 31-ultimately sealing the deal and pushing Indiana to the brink.
Indiana was on the verge of beating the odds
Oddsmakers originally listed the Thunder as heavy favorites at -700 when the series began, but Indiana quickly flipped the narrative. Tyrese Haliburton’s buzzer-beater in Game 1 and a dominant Game 3 gave the Pacers a shocking 2-1 lead.
Since then, though, the Thunder have surged back, handing Indiana their first back-to-back losses since March. The Pacers now face long-shot odds of +1050 to win the next two games and steal the title. And their uphill battle just got steeper.
Haliburton, the hero of Game 1, is battling a leg injury that forced him out briefly during Game 5. He didn’t make a single field goal and was seen limping with his right calf heavily wrapped-a concerning sign as Indiana looks to survive Game 6 on Thursday night.
Bettors already know who the MVP will be
Meanwhile, the Finals MVP race has almost wrapped itself. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the regular-season MVP, is a runaway favorite at -600. His teammate Jalen Williams is next at +625, while the Pacers’ best hopes-Pascal Siakam (+1500) and an ailing Haliburton (+4000)-are fading fast.
Game 6 odds? The Thunder are 4.5-point favorites and -190 on the moneyline. If Indiana manages to force a Game 7, they’re currently +155 underdogs to pull it off.
The Thunder are closing in. All that’s left is one final strike.
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