2025 NBA Championship Odds: Thunder Are One Win Away

The Indiana Pacers have proven to be a much more stubborn foe than expected for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but OKC is now heavy chalk with one win needed to claim the title.

Jason Logan: Senior Betting Analyst at Covers
Jason Logan • Senior Betting Analyst
Jun 17, 2025 • 08:55 ET • 5 min read
OKC Thunder NBA Jalen Williams
Photo By - Imagn Images. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams erupted for 40 points in the Game 5 win.

The Indiana Pacers may have run out of magic. As it appeared like they may have been on the verge of another stunning comeback in Game 5, the Oklahoma City Thunder slammed the door in the fourth quarter to win 120-109.

With OKC one win away from its first title since moving from Seattle, the Thunder are -1600 in the latest NBA Championship odds.

Let's take a closer look at the latest NBA odds.

🏆 NBA Championship odds

Team Opening Odds bet365
Celtics Oklahoma City Thunder -715 -1600
Pacers Indiana Pacers +500 +900

Who will win the NBA Championship?

Celtics Oklahoma City Thunder (-1600)

The Thunder’s 68 wins put them in good company throughout their run in the NBA playoffs. Only five other NBA teams have boasted a higher win percentage than OKC’s .829 win rate, and four of those clubs went on to claim the NBA Championship. Oklahoma City’s +12.8 net rating is second all-time behind only the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.

After falling behind 2-1, the Thunder rallied to win Games 4 and 5 and now need one more victory to win the title. Jalen Williams scored 40 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 of his own as OKC fended off Pascal Siakam and a hobbled Tyrese Haliburton. Game 6 goes on Thursday, June 19.

Pacers Indiana Pacers (+900)

The Pacers entered the playoffs as long shots after finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference, a full 14 games behind the top-seeded Cavaliers. They've since dispatched the Bucks and Cavs in five games apiece and then bounced the Knicks in six.

Their run has been characterized by a number of historically improbable comebacks, with the latest occurring in Game 1 of the Finals. Indy rallied from 15 down in the fourth quarter. They looked like they might pull off another in Game 5, but Haliburton's calf injury prevented him from being his best self and the rally came up short.

Still, Haliburton plans to play through the pain with the season on the line, telling reporters, "If I can walk, then I want to play."

📈 2025 NBA Finals odds over time

Here's a visual representation of how the NBA championship odds have evolved over the course of this season.

⚡My NBA Finals pick: Thunder win series, 4-2

The Thunder will win the NBA title, but not after the Pacers push back with two wins.

Indiana can match OKC’s depth and speed and don’t make too many mistakes, which is something Oklahoma City thrives on for offense. But in the end, the Thunder’s talent takes over, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way. 

Oklahoma City wins this series in six games, which is paying +375 at bet365.

Pick made before Game 1.

💰 Sportsbook betting splits and insights

Highest ticket percentage:
•    Celtics 11.4%
•    Lakers 11.3%
•    Nuggets 10.8%
 
Highest handle percentage:
•    Thunder 19.8%
•    Celtics 13.5%
•    Lakers 9.7%

"Before the NBA Finals began, the Thunder winning was the ideal outcome for the sportsbook," said Christian Cipollini, Trading Manager, BetMGM. "After Game 1, action is more balanced and now the Pacers lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy is the best result for BetMGM."

All data courtesy of BetMGM.

👑 2025 NBA Finals MVP odds

Player bet365
Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander -600
ThunderJalen Williams  +700
Pacers Pascal Siakam +1200
Pacers Tyrese Haliburton +3300

The 2024-25 season was a coming-out party for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose prolific scoring and prodigious playmaking powered the Thunder to the best record in the NBA. The three-time All-Star led the league with 32.7 points per game and scored 50 points or more three times over a seven-game stretch. His ability to score any time against anyone has OKC favored to be the last team standing in June.

Visit our NBA Finals MVP Odds page for more detailed analysis.

Line movement (Game 5 to Game 6)
•    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander -600 to -600
•    Jalen Williams +3000 to +700
•    Pascal Siakam +850 to +1200
 
Highest ticket percentage
•    Tyrese Haliburton 22.1%
•    Pascal Siakam 15.4%
•    Anthony Edwards 5.7%
 
Highest handle percentage
•    Tyrese Haliburton 25.3%
•    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 16.6%
•    Pascal Siakam 13.1%
 
All data courtesy of BetMGM.

Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout

Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!

Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

NBA Finals series correct score odds

Score Pacers Thunder
4-2 OTB -200
4-3 +900 +225

NBA Championship Odds FAQs

Pages related to this topic

Jason Logan Senior Industry Analyst Covers.com
Senior Betting Analyst

In his 20 years with Covers, lead NFL betting analyst; has seen it all and bet it all. Through the wild west of early Internet gambling to lobbying for legalized sports betting to our brave new wagering world, Jason has been a consistent source of actionable info and entertainment for squares and sharps alike. Since joining the Covers team back in 2005, he honed his handicapping skills to provide audiences with the most thorough insights, blending traditional capping methods with advanced modelling and predictive analysis. Jason has studied the ins and outs of the sports betting business, learning from some of the most successful gamblers in the industry and the biggest sportsbook operators on the planet. He is under center for Covers during NFL season as our top NFL expert, taking the points in his infamous NFL Underdogs column and representing the Covers Community at the Super Bowl. While he lives for football season, Jasons first love is basketball and that shows in his in-depth NBA, NCAA, and WNBA betting breakdowns. On top of being a mainstay in media from coast to coast; WPIX, PHL17, Fox 5 San Diego, WGNO, TSN, SportsNet, ESPN Radio; he had his analysis featured in USA Today, MSNBC, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CBS, Bloomberg, the L.A. Times, the New York Times and other major publications. You can also find JLo stuffing all the top picks and predictions he can into 10 minutes as the host of Covers; flagship podcast, The Sharp 600. His best advice for bettors new and old is; Handicapping isn't a one size fits all process. The impact and importance of information varies from bet to bet. Treat each wager different than the last.

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