Oddsmakers would like you to believe that an Oklahoma City Thunder NBA championship win (-750) is inevitable versus the Indiana Pacers (+530), which is why finding value as a sports bettor in this series may be difficult to accomplish. There are several wagers to be made, however, which are a touch outside of the box that could generate a ton of units, including some more unconventional props which may not seem realistic now, but could pay off for those willing to at least sprinkle on their odds.
Here's a look at three plus-money bets you can make for the Finals that would be viewed as longshots because of their current odds, but aren't out of the realm of possibility in connecting.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander To Score 30+ Points In Every Game (+500 at Sportsbook)
During the course of the 2024-25 regular season, newly-crowned league and Western Conference finals Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander never scored 30 or more points more than five times in a row. As prolific and efficient a scorer as he was (and still is), having led the Association in this department at 32.7 points per game, which was 2.3 more points than any other player, he was never quite able to pull that off that feat.
Now this has also been the case in the playoffs, but across 16 total appearances, Gilgeous-Alexander has dropped at least 30 points 11 different times, which equates to a commendable 68.7-percent hit rate. The 29.8 points he's contributing during the postseason ranks third overall and is first amongst still active players, as well. With this specific prop, he can't fall below the 30-point mark even once, so it also helps to know that the Canadian superstar has gone OVER this number each of the last three times he's competed against the Pacers.
Indiana Pacers To Win Series 4-2 (+1120 at Sportsbook)
No, it's not a foregone conclusion that the Thunder will prevail, and it's rather shortsighted to think the Pacers don't have a chance in this best-of-seven series. They've managed to eliminate Giannis Antetokounmpo's Milwaukee Bucks (sans Damian Lillard, mind you), the No. 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, and just recently the New York Knicks with a pair of victories at Madison Square Garden. The underdog role suits them well, and they're entering this matchup with just as much Finals experience as Oklahoma City's core, and perhaps more knowing Eastern Conference finals MVP Pascal Siakam has a ring on his resume with the Toronto Raptors from 2019.
Winning a Game 7 on the road at the Paycom Center would prove to be a challenge like no other, which is why the smarter play is projecting Indiana to close things out in six games (potentially) at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse. There's little to be made off of wagering on the Thunder as they're such a monster favorite, and IF the Pacers were to pull off the upset, the likeliest of outcomes is it being in six games.
If you're looking for a full-fledged look at this series with in-depth analysis, be sure to check out Odds Shark's official betting preview of this year's Finals by clicking here.
(Related) 3 Reasons Why Indiana Pacers Will Win 2025 NBA Championship
Any Player to Break Elgin Baylor's Single-Game NBA Finals Points Record Of 61 Points (+7000 at Sportsbook)
| Player | Team | Date | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elgin Baylor | Los Angeles Lakers | April 14, 1962 | 61 |
| Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | June 16, 1993 | 55 |
| Rick Barry | San Francisco Warriors | April 18, 1967 | 55 |
| Jerry West | Los Angeles Lakers | April 13, 1969 | 53 |
| LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers | May 31, 2018 | 51 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | July 20, 2021 | 50 |
| Bob Pettit | St. Louis Hawks | April 12, 1958 | 50 |
| Allen Iverson | Philadelphia 76ers | June 6, 2001 | 48 |
| Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | June 5, 2019 | 47 |
| Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | June 12, 1992 | 46 |
As far as longshot bets go, this one is the length of a football field at 70-to-1. Someone on either roster would have to fill up the box score with at least 62 points just once for this to make money, and realistically, the only talent who fits the bill capable of accomplishing this seemingly insurmountable task is Gigeous-Alexander.
His current career high is 54 points, which the 26-year-old pulled off on Jan. 22 of this year versus the Utah Jazz. Gilgeous-Alexander has finished with at least 50 points three other times, but 60 or more is another beast entirely. Such legends like LeBron James and Michael Jordan, who are considered the two greatest players of all time, never scored that many points in a Finals game, so Gilgeous-Alexander has his work cut out for him.
Here are the point totals he's ed the last three times he's faced Indiana: 30, 45, and 33. This past season alone, Gilgeous-Alexander shot a combined 25-of-45 (55 percent) in two meetings with the Pacers, and Oklahoma scored at least 120 points in each of those outings. Pair that with the fact that these teams rank second and third in pace during these playoffs, and the potential is there for high-scoring box scores.
