Best NBA Finals Game 3 Bets: Thunder vs. Pacers Picks, Predictions, and Player Props

The Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. With the traditional betting line and an extensive props menu, there are many ways to bet on the game—but which are the best bets for NBA Finals Game 3?

After doing a deep dive into both teams and studying the markets, the following is our list of the best NBA Finals bets for Game 3 (odds via FanDuel):

Oklahoma City Thunder (-5.5) vs. Indiana Pacers (+184), o/u 228.5

Many have been high on the Thunder from the start of the series and are back on the bandwagon after OKC’s win in Game 2. Consequently, they are expecting a dominant win in Game 3—but it is not going to happen.

For one, if you take away the second quarter, Game 2 becomes a close game rather than an easy Thunder win. If you look at the stats for the game, the only place Oklahoma City had a distinct advantage was at the free-throw line (29-of-33 to 19-of-26). Yes, they led in several categories, but they didn’t blow the Pacers out of the water.

OKC has not done well on the road (4-3 SU and 0-7 ATS) or in Game 3s (2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS the last two seasons). Factor in the competitive edge they get from Rick Carlisle’s extensive playoff experience (17-15 SU and ATS when a playoff series has been tied), and the stage is set for another Indiana win.

Indiana needs to clean up the mistakes, but if there is any coach who can do it at this stage of the season, it’s Carlisle.

Our pick: Pacers ML, but if you are not confident in picking them to win, take the points.

NBA Finals Game 3: Player Props

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OVER 33.5 points (-125)

SGA has been good for 34-plus in his last four games and in five of his last six.

Indiana will likely come out with a more intense effort at home and a better game plan to slow down the league MVP, but it will probably have more impact on the Thunder supporting cast. In two regular-season games vs. the Pacers, he scored 33 and 45 points. Between the regular season and playoffs, there is no evidence that the Pacers can slow the MVP down.

Isaiah Hartenstein, OVER 7.5 rebounds (+104)
He averaged 10.7 rebounds per game during the regular season, 8.8 in the first round, and 8.7 in the semifinals. But in the conference finals, he averaged six, recording more than 7.5 just once (he averaged six for the series). He has averaged 8.4 on the road this season.

In Games 1 and 2 of the Finals, he had nine and eight.

He is not getting the minutes in the playoffs that he was during the regular season (27.9 per game to 23.5 in the playoffs). But he is still finding a way to get the job done. If he had minus-money odds, since he’s a bench player, I’d have leaned towards passing on this one.

But the plus-money odds make this one worth the risk.

Tyrese Haliburton, OVER 17.5 points (-106)
Haliburton is just 5-of-15 from 3-point range in the first two games of the series. He averaged 20.4 points per game at home this season. On the road, he was not as impactful in the regular season, averaging 16.7 points, and he has not scored more than 17 points in his last four road games.

But he had 20 points or more in every home game vs. the Knicks in the conference finals. After scoring 14 and 17 in OKC, it will not take much for him to go over 17.5 in front of a home crowd trying to will Indiana to a 2-1 series lead.