NBA Finals betting: Series bets and props that stand out - ESPN

Few could have predicted that the Oklahoma City Thunder would face the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals this season, but here we are, set up for an entertaining matchup with two battle-tested, well-rounded teams that can score in bunches.

Oklahoma City swept the Memphis Grizzlies in Round 1, held off the Denver Nuggets in seven games in the conference semifinals and beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference finals.

The Pacers, which entered the playoffs as a 4-seed, knocked off the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, took out No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in five games and handled the New York Knicks in six games in the Eastern Conference finals.

It all leads to this, a NBA Finals where the Thunder enter as the decisive favorite despite all the Pacers have done during the playoffs. So how should you bet this series? And which props stand out?

Here are NBA betting experts Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick and Steve Alexander with the bets they like most.

Odds are updated as of publication. For latest odds go to ESPN BET

Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2 exact series result (+400). The Thunder's elite defense, net rating (+11.2) and superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander give them the edge. It's difficult to see the Pacers offense having the same success against an Oklahoma City team that forced nearly 18 turnovers per 100 possessions. The Thunder have a deep rotation, play with discipline and are eager to etch their names into NBA history. — Moody

Series Total Games U 5.5 (-130). Oklahoma City is a juggernaut. Credit the Pacers for overcoming obstacles to get here, but this one feels similar to the Western Conference finals, when I didn't see a 6-game series. I see the league MVP