Against all odds, the Indiana Pacers have taken a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Going into the series, the Thunder were seen as the overwhelming favorites by a majority of the experts, and rightfully so. Led by NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder won a preposterous 68 games this season. And despite a neck-and-neck series with the Denver Nuggets to start the NBA Playoffs, OKC made quick work of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. But somehow, the Pacers have outmatched them thus far.
And that isn’t to say that we at Operation Sports were saying anything different. In our simulation of the NBA Finals, we had the Thunder beating the Pacers in 6 games. While that outcome is still mathematically possible, the Pacers are a strong team in their own right. And winning four straight games against them is no easy feat. So, what gives?
