Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals takes place on Sunday night with the Indiana Pacers having a 1-0 lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder in their best-of-seven series.
I've compiled four expert player prop picks for bettors to consider for this matchup, including yet another UNDER on Tyrese Haliburton's scoring prop (-105) on June 8 at the Paycom Center.
Tyrese Haliburton UNDER 16.5 Points vs. Thunder (-105 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. ET
The lasting image of Thursday's Game 1 will be Haliburton drilling a 21-foot pull-up jumper over the outstretched arm of Cason Wallace with 0.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give Indiana its only lead of the night, but that's all it took to secure the road victory and leave Thunder fans in a state of shock. Now I bet the UNDER at 17.5 points for Haliburton at -115 value citing how Oklahoma City held him to his lowest scoring average during the regular season of just 11 points with a usage rating of 13.5. The two-time All-Star had also gone UNDER that number in his prior two road playoff appearances, and the pressure he was likely to encounter out of the gate from the Association's No. 1-ranked defense made such a bet the more logical choice.
Even with that aforementioned clutch bucket, Haliburton only finished with 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting with two makes on seven attempts from 3-point range. Oddsmakers have dropped this prop a point for Game 2 at 16.5, but keep in mind that Haliburton has fallen UNDER that number three of the last four times he's competed against the Thunder. He can still be impactful without lighting up the scoreboard (10 rebounds and six assists in Game 1), because we just witnessed the Pacers pull off the upset without any one player on the roster ing at least 29 points.
Andrew Nembhard OVER 1.5 Made 3-Pointers vs. Thunder (+168 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. ET
Prior to Haliburton's miraculous shot, a more unheralded moment which aided in Indiana completing its comeback was Canadian guard Andrew Nembhard sinking a 26-foot step-back 3-pointer with 1:59 remaining to put his side within three points. That was his second triple of the night and clearly his most important, but it was also another sign of how Nembhard elevates his efficiency and productivity from behind the arc during the playoffs compared to how he fares during the season. He's now shooting 47 percent from deep through 17 postseason games, which is 17.1 percentage points higher than what he shot through 65 prior outings at 29.1 percent.
Nembhard will need another two makes on Sunday to notch this wager at plus money. His six attempts in Game 1 were the most he's tried since Game 5 of the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the two he made meant he's knocked down at least that many in back-to-back games and five of his last eight. Nembhard has also finished with two or more 3-pointers each of the last three times he's played Oklahoma City and four of the last five, as well.
Luguentz Dort OVER 2.5 Made 3-Pointers vs. Pacers (+124 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. ET
Through all of the anguish and despair knowing Game 1 was an opportunity squandered, one of the few positive takeaways which can hopefully carry over to Game 2 was Luguentz Dort breaking out of his shooting funk. He buried 5-of-9 from distance to finish with 15 points in 36 minutes of action, and that was a more than welcome result considering I bet the OVER on 2.5 3-pointers at +140. Dort was only making 30.4 percent prior to Game 1, but the OVER bet was made knowing he went 9-of-15 from 3-point range across two games with Indiana during the season.
The well isn't dry yet, and getting +124 for this prop is still incredible value. Dort is now 9-of-21 in this department over the last two games with at least four makes and 10 attempts each time, and he only needs three on Sunday for an OVER. If he's going to continue chucking it up at such a high clip, odds are he'll sink the three he needs being at home and with the rhythm he's in.
Isaiah Hartenstein OVER 7.5 Rebounds vs. Pacers (+110 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. ET
With the Pacers possessing such a perimeter-heavy offensive attack, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault elected to adjust his starting lineup in Game 1 by starting Wallace and sending center Isaiah Hartenstein to the second unit. Indiana center Myles Turner took five of his 10 total shots from behind the arc, so moving away from a two-big lineup ultimately made sense, although the remaining big in Chet Holmgren underwhelmed with just six points and six rebounds in 24 minutes.
Hartenstein nearly put together a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds in just 17 minutes, and the size discrepancy was painfully obvious when he saw the floor and Turner was resting. If this lineup maintains, the 7-footer will be relatively unopposed on the glass and should easily topple 7.5 rebounds even as a backup. If he's reinserted back into the lineup, which could manifest coming off a loss, this prop wouldn't look nearly as strong as Hartenstein did go UNDER in four of the five games with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals and each of the last three versus the Denver Nuggets in the semifinals.
