NBA Finals First Basket Scorers & Picks: Sunday (Pacers vs. Thunder)
The NBA is giving us the best experience in sports: Game 7. One game to decide it all between the Pacers and Thunder.
We’ll talk about the game and see who could score the first basket in the final game of the 2024-25 NBA season. Check out our NBA first basket pick and prediction below.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Sunday's Best NBA First Basket Scorers & Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder
In a must-win Game 6, the Pacers utilized their homecourt advantage and cruised to a 17-point victory, forcing a Game 7. With the game out of hand early, each team elected to rest starters. Along with the extended time in between games, both teams should be fresh.
In terms of the first basket, it's been all Thunder as they've scored the first points in all six games. For Oklahoma City, it's been a mix of aggressive offense and shutdown defense against the Pacers, helping them score on the first possession. There is no sense in going away from the trend in Game 7, especially with the Thunder at home.
In an important game like this, this is where the stars need to be at their brightest. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will face the most pressure; the current NBA MVP and offensive leader of the Thunder will need one of the best performances of his career.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been regularly posting 30+ point games, including four in this series, so it will be tough to shut him down. The Pacers might also struggle to prevent him from scoring the first basket, as he leads all players with 14 first baskets, including in Game 1. The Thunder will give Gilgeous-Alexander as many chances as possible to score, and that includes their first opportunity of the game.
Pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+475)