A new NBA champion will be crowned in 2025.
This year's NBA Finals features a fresh look as the Thunder take on the Pacers. It is Oklahoma City's first trip to the Finals since 2012, while Indiana is back in the Finals for the first time in 25 years.
The Thunder enter as the West's No. 1 seed after a historic year highlighted by 68 regular-season wins, among many other things. The Pacers are the East's No. 4 seed and have been impressive on the road, where they have begun all but one series.
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Either outcome guarantees the first NBA title for Thunder MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Pacers rising star Tyrese Haliburton. Here is everything to know about when the series begins.
MORE: Pacers vs. Thunder prediction and keys to the NBA Finals
When does the 2025 NBA Finals start?
- Start date: Thursday, June 5
The NBA Finals will begin on Thursday, June 5, adhering to the tradition of the series opening on a Thursday.
As in recent years, the start date of the NBA Finals is set ahead of time and is unaffected by the outcome of either conference finals series. The Thunder will enter the series with over a week of rest, while the Pacers will have benefited from several days off.
The latest the NBA Finals can end would be a potential Game 7 on Sunday, June 22.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 5 | Game 1 at Oklahoma City | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 8 | Game 2 at Oklahoma City | 8 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 11 | Game 3 at Indiana | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 13 | Game 4 at Indiana | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 16 | Game 5* at Oklahoma City | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 19 | Game 6* at Indiana | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 22 | Game 7* at Oklahoma City | 8 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
*If necessary
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What channel is the 2025 NBA Finals on?
- TV channel: ABC
- Live stream: Sling
The 2025 NBA Finals will air exclusively on ABC. These games can also be streamed on Sling.
Sling is the home for sports fans, as it offers a wide range of channels. You can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.
Viewers in Canada can watch the NBA Finals on Sportsnet (Games 2, 3, 5, and 7) and TSN (Games 1, 4, and 6). Cord-cutters can stream games on Sportsnet+ and TSN+.
Who is playing in the NBA Finals?
The 2025 NBA Finals will feature the Thunder and Pacers.
OKC technically has one NBA title from its time in Seattle but both franchises are looking for the first NBA championship of their current iteration.