Ricky Dimon
The NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers now changes locations against after the Thunder drew level in the series at 2-2 with a crucial road win this past Friday. Game 5 in Oklahoma City on Monday night could hardly be more important for each team. Both sides will be eager to set the tone right away, especially OKC in front of its home fans.
You can find out our NBA picks for every remaining game of the playoffs, but for now let’s break down my first basket best bet for Game 5.
Pacers vs Thunder first basket best bet: Luguentz Dort (+1100)
Odds available at Bet365 Sportsbook at time of publishing
The most important aspect of the first-basket market is to win the opening tip, because that obviously gives you the first chance at paydirt. Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren has won all 4 of the jumps so far in the NBA Finals, making him 5-for-6 against Indiana’s Myles Turner this season after they split the 2 regular-season tips. You have to like Holmgren’s chances of corralling the ball for his team again on Monday.
If that turns out to be the case, Luguentz Dent should be looked upon as a strong first-basket candidate. Especially at long +1100 odds (tied for seventh among Game 5’s 10 starters), the Oklahoma City shooting guard has great value. Dort has attempted the game’s first shot 15.4 percent of the time in 2024-25, second among all players on these 2 rosters behind only teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (18.4 percent). I backed the Arizona State product to put up the first points in Game 3 and was off by one game – he instead made the first basket in Game 4 after SGA opened the festivities to begin OKC’s loss at Indiana. Dort went for double-digits in both the Game 5 clincher against the Timberwolves (12 points), in the series opener against the Pacers (15) and again in Game 3 (12). We know this guy can be productive, especially in the early stages.
