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The Oklahoma City Thunder have loads of options to counter the Pacers. But who's the x-factor between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Alex Caruso?

As the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare for the Indiana Pacers, the circus that typically surrounds the NBA Finals is brand new for most of the roster. Even Alex Caruso — the lone champion on their roster — had a unique experience in The Bubble.

Oklahoma City and Indianapolis are about to get really familiar with each other. But here's a kickstart to the process before the NBA Finals.

It’s the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, and the series starts with Game 1 on Thursday in Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC). The Thunder can in their first championship since 1979 when the franchise was the Seattle SuperSonics, and the Pacers can win their first title since joining the NBA from the ABA in 1976.

Kendrick Perkins revealed the Oklahoma City Thunder's advantage as they enter the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers.

It would be the first NBA title for either of the two energetic fan bases and their exciting young teams. The Thunder, led by newly minted league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is the early favorite.

According to SportsOddsHistory.com, this matches the seventh-most lopsided odds for an NBA Finals. The 2001 Lakers were the biggest favorite in the history of the finals with -2000 odds against the Philadelphia 76ers. Allen Iverson famously stepped over Tyronn Lue in a Game 1 upset, but the Lakers won the next four games.

It’s the Paul George finals — albeit without George, whose trade from Indiana to Oklahoma City in 2017 planted the seeds for the 2025 NBA Finals.

SportsLine expert Matt Severance, who has gone 164-91-1 in his last 256 NBA picks, shares his NBA Finals MVP award best bets and predictions