The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently a stronger team with a 47-15 record and elite defense (105.2 defensive rating), while the Indiana Pacers struggle at 27-35 with a 116.2 defensive rating. OKC has built a young core around SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, whereas Indiana is rebuilding around Tyrese Haliburton with limited championship-contending pieces.
Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
NBA team rebuilding around point guard Tyrese Haliburton in the Eastern Conference.
Western Conference leader with elite offensive efficiency and balanced scoring depth
2024-25 Win-Loss Record. Defensive Rating (points allowed per 100 possessions). Offensive Rating (points scored per 100 possessions). Playoff Probability. All-Star Players on Roster. Projected Draft Position (2025). Payroll (estimated 2024-25)
The Oklahoma City Thunder dominate the comparison as Western Conference contenders with elite defense, a cohesive roster, and legitimate championship aspirations. The Indiana Pacers are in a rebuilding phase with uncertainty around their core and trajectory. Choose the Thunder if you want to watch competitive playoff basketball; choose the Pacers only if you appreciate young talent development or are invested in franchise rebuilding.
Indiana Pacers: 23-25 | Oklahoma City Thunder: 36-12
Indiana Pacers: 116.2 | Oklahoma City Thunder: 108.3
Indiana Pacers: 114.8 | Oklahoma City Thunder: 116.2
Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton 20.1 PPG | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 30.1 PPG
Indiana Pacers: 36.7% | Oklahoma City Thunder: 37.2%
Indiana Pacers: 45.3 | Oklahoma City Thunder: 47.1
Indiana Pacers: 29.1 | Oklahoma City Thunder: 28.4
Indiana Pacers: 7.8 | Oklahoma City Thunder: 8.9
Indiana Pacers: 36.2% | Oklahoma City Thunder: 37.9%
Indiana Pacers: 115.3 | Oklahoma City Thunder: 117.8
Indiana Pacers: 6th (Eastern) | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st (Western)
Indiana Pacers: 2 All-Stars | Oklahoma City Thunder: 3 All-Stars
Indiana Pacers: 6th seed | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st seed
Indiana Pacers: +5.0 | Oklahoma City Thunder: +7.9
Indiana Pacers: 48.3 | Oklahoma City Thunder: 46.2
Indiana Pacers: 8th (East) | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st (West)
Indiana Pacers: +2.0 | Oklahoma City Thunder: -5.5 (leading)
Indiana Pacers: 27-35 | Oklahoma City Thunder: 47-15
Indiana Pacers: 8% | Oklahoma City Thunder: 99%
Indiana Pacers: +15000 | Oklahoma City Thunder: +400
Indiana Pacers: $139M | Oklahoma City Thunder: $163M
Indiana Pacers: 33.8% | Oklahoma City Thunder: 36.2%
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 116.8
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 28.1 (SGA)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 28.3
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 28.4
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 2nd (West)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: N/A
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 30.1 PPG
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 110.2
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 56-26
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 0
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 47-22
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 118.5
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 109.3
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 30.2 (SGA)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 4
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Elite)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 24.8
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 6 seasons
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Never
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 48-52
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 115.2
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 126
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Home - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Gilgeous-Alexander stepback 3P (0:03 remaining) - 126-129
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 57-16
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 10.9 (SGA)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 10+ (Holmgren)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 110 points
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Led 52-46 at halftime
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Williams, Holmgren, SGA balanced attack
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 65-17
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 25.3
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 3
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st
Current Win-Loss Record (2024-25 season)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 40-12
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 30.1 PPG
Net Rating (scoring margin per 100 possessions)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: +10.6
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 3 (Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, Dort)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st (projected)
Nikola Jokic vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Best Player Comparison)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 30.1 PPG / 6.5 APG / 60.1% eFG% (SGA)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 115.9
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 32-12
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: $176.4M
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 2.8 BPG
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 52-30
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: +9.5
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 9
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: $145.8M
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 36-8
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 29.3 PPG
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 24.3 years
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: $165 million
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 105.2
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 30.1 (SGA)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 8.1
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 38.1%
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: $134 million ($50M under)
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 32-10
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: +8.9
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st Seed
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 38-8
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 28.4
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 of 5
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 1st seed
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 112.4
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 30.1
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 37.2%
Indiana Pacers: N/A | Oklahoma City Thunder: 48.1%
How to choose between Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder
Compare Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder. Contains 105 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder.
Why is Oklahoma City so much better than Indiana this season?
OKC built a cohesive core around star SGA (30.1 PPG), elite young wings (Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams), and defensive anchor Chet Holmgren. Indiana is intentionally tanking with a 27-35 record while developing around Tyrese Haliburton (20.1 PPG), lacking a second all-star and boasting the 28th-ranked defense (116.2 rating). OKC's 47-15 record reflects a complete playoff roster versus Indiana's rebuild.
Does Indiana have any path to competing with OKC soon?
Indiana's path requires: (1) acquiring an elite wing defender via trade or draft, (2) continued Haliburton development, and (3) Bennedict Mathurin or lottery picks becoming All-Star caliber. This timeline is 2-3+ years away. OKC's young core under 26 with SGA locked long-term gives them an immediate 3-5 year championship window, making near-term competition unlikely.
Who is the better individual player: Tyrese Haliburton or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
SGA is significantly better—he averages 30.1 PPG on 45.3% FG with elite two-way defense, making him a top-5 MVP candidate. Haliburton (20.1 PPG, 9.2 APG) is an elite playmaker but lacks shot creation and defensive versatility of SGA's caliber. SGA is a franchise superstar; Haliburton is a quality All-Star point guard.
Which team should I watch for exciting basketball?
Oklahoma City offers high-level playoff-contending basketball with elite defense and SGA's dynamic scoring (30+ PPG). Indiana offers young player development, potential lottery picks, and Haliburton's exceptional passing wizardry (9.2 APG). OKC is competitive; Indiana is developmental and tanking.
Chet Holmgren is the main concern—he missed 55 games in 2023-24 with a hip stress fracture and has a history of durability issues. His absence significantly impacts OKC's defense. Otherwise, the roster has been relatively healthy in 2024-25, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander maintaining elite availability.
How to Choose Between Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder
2024-25 Win-Loss Record: Indiana Pacers has 27-35, while Oklahoma City Thunder has 47-15.
Consider: Defensive Rating (points allowed per 100 possessions)
Defensive Rating (points allowed per 100 possessions): Indiana Pacers has 116.2, while Oklahoma City Thunder has 105.2.
Consider: Offensive Rating (points scored per 100 possessions)
Offensive Rating (points scored per 100 possessions): Indiana Pacers has 114.8, while Oklahoma City Thunder has 117.1.
Playoff Probability: Indiana Pacers has 8%, while Oklahoma City Thunder has 99%.
All-Star Players on Roster: Indiana Pacers has 1 (Tyrese Haliburton), while Oklahoma City Thunder has 1 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander).
Consider: Projected Draft Position (2025)
Projected Draft Position (2025): Indiana Pacers has Top 5, while Oklahoma City Thunder has 14th or later.
Payroll (estimated 2024-25): Indiana Pacers has $139M, while Oklahoma City Thunder has $163M.