2 min read • June 04, 2025
Posted in
The NBA Finals are set to begin on Thursday, June 5, between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. It should be an exciting matchup between two teams that have been among the healthier teams throughout the season, featuring an entertaining clash of elite point guards in Tyrese Haliburton and regular-season MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Both teams excel in defense and precision offense.
The Indiana Pacers are the only team with an injured player who is set to miss time. Jarace Walker will sit out the first two games with an ankle injury sustained towards the end of the series vs the Knicks. Walker hasn’t been a consistent rotation player, but he is figured to be more in the game plan vs OKC, given that they have a formidable frontcourt with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
In addition to Walker, Aaron Nesmith was on the injured list for a couple of games vs New York with a right ankle sprain, but he didn’t miss any games and with the layoff before the Finals begins, should have had ample time to recover. Nesmith did miss 37 games in the regular season with a left ankle sprain, but has consistently been in the rotation from that injury since January 16.
Oklahoma City has been very healthy this playoffs. They haven’t seen any heavy rotation players miss significant time this postseason, and have gotten healthy at the right time. The regular season was a different story, though. Chet Holmgren was the biggest injury they’ve had this season when he fractured his right iliac in his hip. He missed 39 straight games and a handful throughout the rest of the season, but has otherwise recovered and has played well.
The biggest injury concern for the Thunder going into the playoffs was Jaylin Williams, who sustained a sprained ankle on April 13. Jalen Williams missed a handful of regular season games, as has Alex Caruso with ankle injuries, but at the moment, there are no players on the teams injury report.
Sign up to our FREE Weekly Newsletter here for all of our best injury-insights, free injury-based picks and special offers!
SIC PICKS ARE BASED ON INSIDER INJURY KNOWLEDGE FROM FORMER PRO SPORTS TEAM DOCTORS TO GIVE YOU A WINNING EDGE IN SPORTS BETTING!
SIC PICKS are powered by the proven SIC Score algorithms from our exclusive panel of former Pro Sports Team doctors to give you a sports betting edge. Each day our team of doctors analyze the players and teams and share their expert insights to help you make informed bets on the biggest unknown to sportsbooks and sports bettors - player health and injuries!
For our Best Bets including spreads, totals, props and live in game with instant alerts as game day opportunities arise with research notes, sign up to SIC Picks here for less than $2 a day on an annual plan.
Sign up to SIC Picks today to get our picks sent direct to your cell!
Written by
