Pacers, Thunder Finals matchup marks latest with championship droughts

The Pacers' star duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner will play pivotal roles as they prepare for their NBA Finals against the Thunder in 2025. With Rick Carlisle at the helm, who previously led multiple teams to the playoffs, the Pacers aim to snap a long championship drought. Meanwhile, the Thunder face an unprecedented challenge: neither team has won a championship in their current cities since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008, marking the first time such a series is taking place without prior city-level title history.