**Thunder and Pacers Set for Historic NBA Finals Showdown**

In what promises to be a gripping battle, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers are set to clash in the NBA Finals, beginning Thursday night. This series carries significant historical weight for both franchises. A victory for the Pacers would mark their first-ever championship, a major milestone considering their last finals appearance was back in 2000.

On the other hand, the Thunder's championship drought extends back to 1979 when they clinched the title as the Seattle SuperSonics. Since their relocation to Oklahoma City in 2008, they have yet to secure a championship, with their most recent finals appearance being in 2012.

When comparing the two teams, their statistics throughout the regular season were quite comparable. However, the Thunder held a slight edge in several key areas, including points, rebounds, three-pointers, steals, and blocks. Conversely, the Pacers excelled with a higher field goal percentage, more assists, and more turnovers.

The playoffs brought out the Thunder’s home-court prowess, as they scored 12.3% more points in home games compared to away games. Notably, they achieved eight home victories, double the number of their away wins, while only suffering a single home defeat.

For the Pacers, the venue seemed to play a lesser role in their performance. Their win-loss record was evenly split between home and away games, with a slight uptick of 1.7% more points scored during home playoff matches.

Historical trends in the NBA Finals show that around 40% of champions clinch their titles in Game 6 of a best-of-seven series, while under 12% have done so in a Game 4. This statistic adds an extra layer of intrigue as the Thunder and Pacers prepare to make their bids for NBA glory.

As the series kicks off, both teams' fans will be eagerly anticipating whether the Thunder can end their long championship drought or if the Pacers will seize their first-ever NBA title.