[From ESPN]

From the moment the 2024-25 NBA season tipped off in October, it was all leading to June and the NBA Finals. After seven months of regular-season basketball and an electrifying postseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are the last two teams left standing.

The Thunder soared past the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals, winning the series in five games -- four of which featured 30-plus point outings from NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This is the Thunder's second Finals appearance, and it would be their first NBA championship as the Oklahoma City Thunder. (The Seattle SuperSonics franchise relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008 and won a title in 1979.)

The Pacers, led by Eastern Conference finals MVP Pascal Siakam and a historic Game 4 performance from Tyrese Haliburton, clinched the East with an entertaining six-game series against the New York Knicks. This is the franchise's second Finals appearance, and if it prevails, it would be its first NBA title.

Ahead of Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC), our NBA experts make their picks.

Read more of ESPN's story HERE