NBA Finals guide: When the games are, how to watch, what the odds are

The NBA Finals are set: It’s the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers clinched their trip with a win over the New York Knicks on Saturday night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Thunder swept the two head-to-head meetings between the clubs this season. Game 1 of the finals is Thursday night in Oklahoma City.

- Dec. 26: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 45 points and the Thunder erase an early double-digit deficit, pulling away in the second half to beat the Pacers 120-114. Andrew Nembhard scores 23 for Indiana, while Tyrese Haliburton is held to four points.

- March 29: Gilgeous-Alexander scores 33 and the Thunder win 132-111. Haliburton leads the Pacers with 18, and both teams have six players finish in double figures.

A recap of Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's winning of the NBA MVP award.

The story: Gilgeous-Alexander tops Jokic for MVP award

The reaction: SGA tears up when talking about his wife

Steve Nash speaks: Canada's 1st MVP thrilled to see SGA follow him

The notebook: Jokic finishes top-2 again, Giannis' streak ends, LeBron gets votes

Oklahoma City (-700) is a big favorite to win the NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Indiana’s odds are set at +500.

The Thunder are an early 9.5-point favorite over Indiana for Game 1.

All games of the NBA Finals will be aired on ABC.

June 5 - Game 1, Indiana at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m. EDT

June 8 - Game 2, Indiana at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m. EDT

June 11 - Game 3, Oklahoma City at Indiana, 8:30 p.m. EDT

June 13 - Game 4, Oklahoma City at Indiana, 8:30 p.m. EDT

June 16 - Game 5, Indiana at Oklahoma City, if necessary, 8:30 p.m. EDT

June 19 - Game 6, Oklahoma City at Indiana, if necessary, 8:30 p.m. EDT

June 22 - Game 7, Indiana at Oklahoma City, if necessary, 8 p.m. EDT

(And good news: No NBA Finals games conflict with Stanley Cup Final dates!)

June 25 - NBA draft, first round.

June 26 - NBA draft, second round.

- Indiana is the only team yet to face elimination in these playoffs.

- This is the second time a No. 1 seed (Oklahoma City) has met a No. 4 seed (Indiana) in the NBA Finals. Both previous times were Lakers-Celtics matchups, one in 2010 and the other in 1969. Both went seven games, both saw the Lakers as the No. 1 seed out of the Western Conference (or division, as they were called in 1969), the Celtics won in 1969 (Bill Russell’s final game as a player and 11th championship) and the Lakers won in 2010 (Kobe Bryant’s fifth and final title).

"We’ve got our work cut out for us.” - Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.