Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder clash in NBA Finals

The GIST: While one recently eliminated team makes headlines for a head-scratching coaching decision, the attention turns to the court, where the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are gearing up for a championship battle starting tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. ET.

• And for the second straight season, the Finals has red-and-white footprints all over it: Four Canadians — reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort of OKC and Indy’s Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin — will suit up. Let’s hoop.

👟 Indiana Pacers’ Cinderella run continues: The upstart Pacers had already pulled off the biggest upset of the postseason before dismantling the NY Knicks in six conference finals games. And they played their signature style of basketball to do it: fast, relentless, and high-scoring behind a superhuman run from Tyrese Haliburton and Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam.

• However, a big part of Indiana’s success is its depth: The Pacers are one of the best passing teams in the league, leveraging ball movement and selfless play to generate open scoring opportunities. Teamwork does, in fact, make the dream work.

⚡ Anything Indiana can do, OKC can do better: No, really. You already know the Pacers are deep, young, and explosive, but the Thunder are deeper, younger, and more talented. Led by the dynamic duo of SGA and All-NBA third-teamer Jalen Williams, OKC aren’t just good — they may be one of the best teams ever.

• The Thunder haven’t lost four games in any seven-game span this season, and they notched two regular-season wins over these very same Pacers. These young, scrappy, and hungry Finals are a go in three, two, one…