Game 7 Showdown: Which Team Will Seize Destiny and Claim the 2025 NBA Championship?

Here we stand, at the razor’s edge of basketball history — the Pacers and the Thunder gearing up for a do-or-die Game 7 showdown in the 2025 NBA Finals this Sunday at 8 ET on ABC. This isn’t just another game; it’s the culmination of sweat-drenched seasons, heart-pounding clutch plays, and an epic battle between two teams hungry to etch their names into glory. On one side, the Thunder, chasing the finish line of what’s been one of the most remarkable seasons ever witnessed in the league. On the other, the Pacers, defying expectations with postseason heroics that have stunned fans and pundits alike. As the energy crackles and the stakes skyrocket, our team of seasoned analysts breaks down every pivotal angle, keys to victory, and X-factors ahead of this monumental clash. The ultimate question looms: which squad will raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy and claim the 2025 crown? Dive in with us for insights, predictions, and the raw pulse of a Finals series unlike any other. LEARN MORE

Rohrbach: We have learned what it takes to build a team in the era of the second apron. Gone is the three-star model, or even the superstar tandem, and in its place are true teams. Both the Thunder and the Pacers are built around one superstar, a complementary fringe All-NBA talent and well-paid, talented depth.Will the Thunder finish off one of the greatest seasons in NBA history? Or will the Pacers complete one of the most unexpected postseason runs of all time? Our writers weigh in on Game 7 and make their predictions.

1. Use 7 words to describe these NBA Finals.

[NBA Finals keys and X-factors for Pacers and Thunder]Advertisement

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Rohrbach: If defense is key for OKC, then taking care of the ball is key for Indiana. The Pacers are 10-1 in the playoffs when they turn the ball over 13 times or fewer. They have required two buzzer-beaters, including one in Game 1 of this series, to finish 5-6 when they turn it over 14 times or more. I don’t think they want Game 7 to require a buzzer-beater. Or maybe they do. I’m out of the prediction business when it comes to Indy.Haberstroh: I’ll go Pacers. I picked OKC in 5, so I clearly underestimated Indiana’s fighting spirit. I won’t make that mistake again. Rick Carlisle seems to have Mark Daigneault on the ropes as indicated by the Thunder — the No. 1 overall seed that won 68 games! — continuing to change their starting lineups in the series like they’re the underdogs.It all comes down to this for the Pacers and the Thunder: Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday (8 ET, ABC). Winner will be crowned the 2025 champion.