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The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are both on the cusp of ending long waits for an NBA championship. Fans of the Thunder, who have been waiting since the team's relocation to Oklahoma City in 2008, and supporters of the Pacers, who joined the NBA back in 1976, are eager for a taste of championship glory. One team’s drought is about to end as they meet in this year's NBA Finals.

Oklahoma City's journey to the Finals marks a significant milestone. The team, originally known as the Seattle SuperSonics, last won a championship in 1979. Since relocating and rebranding as the Thunder in 2008, they've been perennial contenders but have managed only one Finals appearance in 2012. This season, however, has been different. The Thunder posted an outstanding 68-14 regular season record, the best in the league, and set an NBA record by outscoring opponents by 12.9 points per game. Their young core, featuring MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, propelled them past the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals with a decisive 4-1 series win.

The Pacers, meanwhile, have had their own struggles to reach this point. The team's only other Finals appearance came in 2000, where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers. This year, the No. 4 seed Pacers earned their spot by defeating the New York Knicks in a nail-biting six-game series. The victory was sealed with a 125-108 triumph in Game 6, showcasing the talents of Tyrese Haliburton, who shined despite critics labeling him the "most overrated player" in a recent poll. Haliburton proved his worth with a triple-double in Game 4 and a strong showing in Game 6, while Pascal Siakam was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP.

Both teams hail from smaller media markets, with Oklahoma City housing approximately 1.5 million people and the Indianapolis metro area around 2.1 million. Despite their smaller sizes, the cities are buzzing with excitement over their teams’ successes. In Oklahoma, the Thunder are the state's sole major professional sports team, heightening the sense of local pride.

This NBA Finals promises to deliver a new champion for the seventh consecutive year. The opening game of the best-of-seven series will tip off on Thursday, June 5, and regardless of the outcome, history will be made as one team finally breaks their long-standing championship drought.