NBA Finals Best Bets For Thunder-Pacers Game 3 Odds: Betting On SGA’s Defense
The 2025 NBA Finals are tied, and the teams will head to Indiana for Game 3 on Wednesday, June 11, at 8:30 p.m. ET. Keep reading for the NBA Finals best bets, and place your own picks on your favorite sportsbook apps.
NBA Finals Best Bets For Thunder vs. Pacers Game 3
Check out my four prop bets below. Per the Game 3 odds table, the Thunder are favorites — the biggest road favorite in the NBA Finals since the Lakers in 2001.
Myles Turner 2+ Made 3s (-104, FanDuel) & First Pacers Basket (+290, FanDuel)
The old saying that role players tend to shoot better at home has certainly applied to Turner this postseason. He’s shooting 11-for-39 (28.2%) from deep on the road compared to 17-for-33 (51.5%) at home. For bettors who buy into these trends, Turner is an intriguing player to buy low on ahead of Game 3.
He’s attempted 10 triples through two games, so the veteran is flexing his ability to space the court. He should continue to see plenty of chances because Oklahoma City’s ball-pressure and commitment to protecting the paint make the Thunder vulnerable to stretch-fives, especially when Isaiah Hartenstein is in the game.
Meanwhile, Turner took Indiana’s first shot in 27.7% of his starts during the regular season, the largest figure of any Pacers starter. He has more avenues of hitting their first shot beyond 3-point shooting, as Turner can post-up a smaller defender if Chet Holmgren switches off of him.
I suggest playing his made threes line at one unit and his first Pacers basket line at half of a unit.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 2+ Steals (-138, FanDuel)
In addition to averaging 36 points per game on excellent efficiency, Gilgeous-Alexander has made an impact on the defensive end by racking up seven steals and nine deflections.
The Thunder’s immense ball-pressure on Tyrese Haliburton is forcing other Indiana players to put the ball on the floor and navigate traffic. They are capable creators against a normal defense, but Oklahoma City’s historically great unit is a different beast. Indiana’s role players look panicked and rushed against this level of physicality and speed.
Because SGA loves to play the passing lanes like a free safety and take risks, he benefits tremendously in the steals department. His long arms also help, especially when the Pacers try to isolate him on a post-up. Gilgeous-Alexander has poked away two entry passes for steals already.
I recommend playing the line at one unit.
Isaiah Joe: Under 0.5 Assists (-130, DraftKings)
In 17 minutes in this series, Joe has logged zero assists and one potential assist. Indiana is doing an excellent job of denying him the ball, and their ball pressure means less dribbling for Joe when he manages to receive a pass.
Essentially, he’s either launching immediately after the catch or resetting the possession by passing to the top of the key. That’s not a viable pathway to a bevy of assists.
Joe’s playing time is also in danger because the Pacers are exceptional at attacking mismatches and defending the arc. Oklahoma City likely agrees, as he recorded 11 minutes in Game 1 before dropping to six minutes in Game 2.
Overall, Joe has played nine games this postseason between three and 11 minutes, and the sharpshooter has only notched three total assists across those nine contests. Given the low usage and poor matchup, it’s wise to fade his playmaking.
I suggest playing the line at one unit.
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