NBA: Thunder at Pacers Betting Preview

Last year, the Oklahoma Thunder and Indiana Pacers played in one of the most memorable NBA Finals in history. The upstart Pacers forced a seventh game at Oklahoma City before running out of gas.

Now, Indiana will have a chance at some revenge, hosting its season opener against the Thunder.

A new season and higher expectations await the Thunder. At the onset of future market betting, OKC was the favorite to repeat as NBA champions.

By contrast, the Pacers are facing concerns that their run to the 2025 NBA Finals was a fluke.

Thunder at Pacers Preview

On Thursday, October 23, 2025, the Indiana Pacers will host the Oklahoma City Thunder at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Tipoff time is 7:30 p.m. ET with television coverage on ESPN.

Public Betting Odds Factors

• Last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder was the most profitable team in the NBA.

• Of great concern is the difficulty of maintaining such a level of profitability. Especially problematic is that the public will be loading up on the Thunder. Previously, squares ignored the Thunder which served to protect OKC’s value.

• The Pacers are a team that gamblers can’t quite figure out.

• Despite the great 2025 run to the Finals, many gamblers don’t believe that Indiana can repeat as Eastern Conference champions.

• Still, head coach Rick Carisle will ensure a playoff berth at the very least.

Thunder at Pacers Predictions

Handicapping Factors to Consider 

• In this situation, the Pacers have the intangible advantages.

• Indiana will play at home in a revenge matchup against the team that beat them in the 2025 NBA Finals.

• Additionally, it is the season opener, which means a fired-up crowd and full focus.

• As mentioned earlier, the Thunder have been a poor NBA betting value on the road and in this series at Indiana.

• Too much square money is on the Thunder.

• Indiana is getting a big home dog price.

Thunder at Pacers Prime Best Bet: Indiana Pacers 

Thunder at Pacers Betting Tips

Oklahoma City Thunder 

• Oklahoma City should be listed as the road favorite in NBA betting odds

• Oklahoma City isn’t resting on its championship laurels. It quickly tied up SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren for a cool $750-plus million.

• There could be a financial reckoning as soon as the summer of 2027, when the Williams/Holmgren extensions kick in.

• Also, the Thunder will have club options on Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort.

• But the next two seasons are set. Indeed, the Thunder’s poised to run this league for a bit.

Indiana Pacers 

• The Pacers have plenty of ball-handling options in Tyrese Haliburton’s stead.

• Andrew Nembhard, Benedict Mathurin, Pascal Siakam in the starting lineup, with T.J. McConnell off the bench. S

• Still, there is plenty of depth, except at Turner’s vacated position.

• Jay Huff is probably the best option to replace Myles Turner as a 3-point shot blocker.

• Tony Bradley is back as a reserve center, as are two players (Wiseman, Jackson) who injured their Achilles tendons in the autumn.

• Rick Carlisle has enough talent to keep the Pacers afloat in the East, but this team doesn’t have much of a ceiling.

Thunder at Pacers Head-to-Head and Key Stats

• Of great concern is the lack of value shown by Oklahoma City on the road.

• OKC got the cash in only one of its last ten away games.

• The Thunder went under the total in five of their last eight road tilts.

• By contrast, the Pacers have provided solid value at home.

• Indiana has four payouts in their most recent five home games.

• Indiana went under the total in five of its latest eight home games.

• In the series between Oklahoma City and Indiana, the Thunder has won six of the most recent nine meetings.

• Five of the last seven games between Oklahoma City and Indiana have gone under the total.

• Specifically, in Indiana, the Pacers have covered the spread in four of their last six matchups with the Thunder.

• Three of the last five games between the Thunder and Pacers in Indiana went under the total.