How do their playing styles differ?

The Pacers emphasize high-octane offense with quick ball movement and 3-point shooting, led by Tyrese Haliburton's playmaking. The Thunder balance strong offense with elite defense, relying on SGA's two-way excellence and their suffocating defensive system to win games.

Who has better playoff chances in 2026?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are championship favorites with the #1 seed, elite defense, and a 54-win pace. The Pacers as a 6th seed face a harder playoff path but remain competitive with their offensive capabilities.

What are the key statistical differences?

The Thunder excel defensively (108.5 DRtg), shoot better from 3 (37.9%), and score more PPG (117.8). The Pacers have a higher offensive rating (116.8) but allow too many points (113.2 DRtg), which limits their effectiveness against elite teams.

Which team is better for fantasy basketball?

The Thunder provide more consistent scoring and well-distributed stats across multiple All-Stars, while the Pacers concentrate scoring through Haliburton. Thunder players likely offer more reliability, though Haliburton provides elite assists upside for fantasy purposes.

Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Updated March 28, 2026

Indiana Pacers

Eastern Conference team known for offensive firepower and playoff consistency

Fans who enjoy fast-paced, high-scoring basketball with electric guards

Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA Western Conference leaders with MVP-caliber star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Fans seeking championship-caliber basketball with elite defense and team chemistry

Short Answer

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a Western Conference powerhouse with a 50+ win pace and elite defense, while the Indiana Pacers are a competitive Eastern Conference team with strong offensive capabilities. The Thunder have emerged as championship contenders in 2026, whereas the Pacers remain in the middle tier of their conference.

Our Verdict

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the clear frontrunners in 2026, leading their conference with a dominant record, elite defense, and playoff positioning as the #1 seed. The Indiana Pacers are a solid playoff team with impressive offensive efficiency but fall short in overall team performance and seeding compared to the Thunder. For championship contention, the Thunder hold a significant advantage over the Pacers.

Indiana Pacers5.4

9.6Oklahoma City Thunder

Choose Indiana Pacers if

Fans who enjoy fast-paced, high-scoring basketball with electric guards

Choose Oklahoma City Thunder if

Fans seeking championship-caliber basketball with elite defense and team chemistry

Key Differences at a Glance

🔹

Win-Loss Record (2025-26 Season): Oklahoma City Thunder wins (54-16 vs 42-28)

🔹

Defensive Rating: Oklahoma City Thunder wins (108.5 vs 113.2)

🔹

Offensive Rating: Indiana Pacers wins (116.8 vs 115.4)

See all 7 differences

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Key Differences

Indiana Pacers

Attribute

Oklahoma City Thunder

42-28

Win-Loss Record (2025-26 Season)

54-16🏆

113.2

Defensive Rating

108.5🏆

116.8🏆

Offensive Rating

115.4

6th - Eastern

Conference Standing

1st - Western🏆

36.2%

3-Point Percentage

37.9%🏆

6th seed

Playoff Seeding Position

1st seed🏆

2 players

All-Star Selections

3 players🏆

Win-Loss Record (2025-26 Season)

Indiana Pacers

42-28

Oklahoma City Thunder

54-16🏆

Defensive Rating

Indiana Pacers

113.2

Oklahoma City Thunder

108.5🏆

Offensive Rating

Indiana Pacers

116.8🏆

Oklahoma City Thunder

115.4

Conference Standing

Indiana Pacers

6th - Eastern

Oklahoma City Thunder

1st - Western🏆

3-Point Percentage

Indiana Pacers

36.2%

Oklahoma City Thunder

37.9%🏆

Playoff Seeding Position

Indiana Pacers

6th seed

Oklahoma City Thunder

1st seed🏆

All-Star Selections

Indiana Pacers

2 players

Oklahoma City Thunder

3 players🏆

Full Comparison

Attribute	Indiana Pacers	Oklahoma City Thunder

Win-Loss Record(games)	42-28	54-16
Conference Rank(position)	6th (Eastern)	1st (Western)
Playoff Seed Position(Seed Ranking)	2nd (West)	—

Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)	113.2	108.5
Steals Per Game (Team)(steals)	7.8	8.9

Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)	116.8	119.3
Assists Per Game (Team)(assists)	29.1	28.4
Points Per Game (Team Scoring)(PPG)	116.8	—
Points Per Game(PPG)	118.5	—

Leading Scorer PPG(Points Per Game)	20.8 (Haliburton)	33.4 (SGA)

Three-Point Percentage(percent)	36.7%	37.4%
3-Point Percentage(percent)	36.2%	37.9%

Rebounds Per Game (Team)(rebounds)	45.3	47.1
Rebounds Leader RPG(Rebounds Per Game)	10+ (Holmgren)	—

Average Points Per Game(points)	115.3	117.8

All-Star Selections(players)	2 All-Stars	3 All-Stars

Playoff Seed(position)	6th seed	1st seed

Wins-Losses Record(W-L)	48-22	—
2023-24 Win-Loss Record(Wins)	56-26	—
Regular Season Record(Wins-Losses)	57-16	—
Conference Standing(Seed Position)	1st Seed	—

Leading Scorer Average(PPG)	28.1 (SGA)	—

Team Assists Per Game(APG)	28.3	—

Bench Scoring(points per game)	26.4	—

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game(PPG)	N/A	—
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Points Per Game(PPG)	30.1 PPG	—

Team Defensive Rating(DRTG)	105.8	—

NBA Championship Titles(Titles)	0	—

Playoff Appearances (Last 5 Years)(appearances)	2 of 5	—
Season Record (2025-26)(wins-losses)	47-22	—

Points Allowed Per Game(PPG)	109.3	—

Star Player PPG Average(PPG)	30.2 (SGA)	—

Field Goal Percentage(%)	48.2%	—
Aaron Gordon Field Goal %(%)	N/A	—
Aaron Gordon Three-Point %(%)	N/A	—
Aaron Gordon Free Throw %(%)	N/A	—

Rebounds Per Game(RPG)	47.1	—

All-Time Championships(titles)	0	—

Playoff Appearances (2021-2026)(appearances)	4	—

Current Star Player Rating(NBA tier)	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Elite)	—

Average Team Age(years)	24.8	—

Coach Tenure(seasons)	6 seasons	—

Last Conference Finals Appearance(year)	Never	—

Expected Win Total (2025-26)(wins)	48-52	—

Offensive Rating Potential(points per 100)	115.2	—

Final Score(points)	126	—

Location	Home - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK	—

Aaron Gordon Points(points)	N/A	—

Aaron Gordon Plus-Minus(rating)	N/A	—

Game-Winning Play	Gilgeous-Alexander stepback 3P (0:03 remaining) - 126-129	—

Assists Leader APG(Assists Per Game)	10.9 (SGA)	—

Head-to-Head Result (HOU@OKC)(Final Score)	110 points	—

Third Quarter Dominance(Scoring Margin)	Led 52-46 at halftime	—

Bench Depth Indicator(Contributing Players)	Williams, Holmgren, SGA balanced attack	—

Indiana Pacers

Oklahoma City Thunder

Win-Loss Record(games)

42-28

54-16

Conference Rank(position)

6th (Eastern)

1st (Western)

Playoff Seed Position(Seed Ranking)

2nd (West)

—

Defensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)

113.2

108.5

Steals Per Game (Team)(steals)

7.8

8.9

Offensive Rating(points per 100 possessions)

116.8

119.3

Assists Per Game (Team)(assists)

29.1

28.4

Points Per Game (Team Scoring)(PPG)

116.8

—

Points Per Game(PPG)

118.5

—

Leading Scorer PPG(Points Per Game)

20.8 (Haliburton)

33.4 (SGA)

Three-Point Percentage(percent)

36.7%

37.4%

3-Point Percentage(percent)

36.2%

37.9%

Rebounds Per Game (Team)(rebounds)

45.3

47.1

Rebounds Leader RPG(Rebounds Per Game)

10+ (Holmgren)

—

Average Points Per Game(points)

115.3

117.8

All-Star Selections(players)

2 All-Stars

3 All-Stars

Playoff Seed(position)

6th seed

1st seed

Wins-Losses Record(W-L)

48-22

—

2023-24 Win-Loss Record(Wins)

56-26

—

Regular Season Record(Wins-Losses)

57-16

—

Conference Standing(Seed Position)

1st Seed

—

Leading Scorer Average(PPG)

28.1 (SGA)

—

Team Assists Per Game(APG)

28.3

—

Bench Scoring(points per game)

26.4

—

Nikola Jokic Points Per Game(PPG)

N/A

—

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Points Per Game(PPG)

30.1 PPG

—

Team Defensive Rating(DRTG)

105.8

—

NBA Championship Titles(Titles)

—

Playoff Appearances (Last 5 Years)(appearances)

2 of 5

—

Season Record (2025-26)(wins-losses)

47-22

—

Points Allowed Per Game(PPG)

109.3

—

Star Player PPG Average(PPG)

30.2 (SGA)

—

Field Goal Percentage(%)

48.2%

—

Aaron Gordon Field Goal %(%)

N/A

—

Aaron Gordon Three-Point %(%)

N/A

—

Aaron Gordon Free Throw %(%)

N/A

—

Rebounds Per Game(RPG)

47.1

—

All-Time Championships(titles)

—

Playoff Appearances (2021-2026)(appearances)

—

Current Star Player Rating(NBA tier)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Elite)

—

Average Team Age(years)

24.8

—

Coach Tenure(seasons)

6 seasons

—

Last Conference Finals Appearance(year)

Never

—

Expected Win Total (2025-26)(wins)

48-52

—

Offensive Rating Potential(points per 100)

115.2

—

Final Score(points)

126

—

Location

Home - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

—

Aaron Gordon Points(points)

N/A

—

Aaron Gordon Plus-Minus(rating)

N/A

—

Game-Winning Play

Gilgeous-Alexander stepback 3P (0:03 remaining) - 126-129

—

Assists Leader APG(Assists Per Game)

10.9 (SGA)

—

Head-to-Head Result (HOU@OKC)(Final Score)

110 points

—

Third Quarter Dominance(Scoring Margin)

Led 52-46 at halftime

—

Bench Depth Indicator(Contributing Players)

Williams, Holmgren, SGA balanced attack

—

Visual Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes

Pros & Cons

Indiana Pacers

5 pros2 cons

Pros

Excellent offensive rating (116.8) leads to high-scoring games
Strong 3-point shooting allows for modern-style basketball
Tyrese Haliburton's elite playmaking and efficiency
Proven playoff experience and competitive spirit
Solid bench scoring contributions

Cons

Defensive rating of 113.2 allows too many points
Inconsistent defense against elite teams hurts playoff chances

Oklahoma City Thunder

5 pros2 cons

Pros

League-leading defensive rating (108.5) creates winning formula
SGA's MVP-caliber play paired with strong supporting cast
54-16 record demonstrates sustained excellence
Elite 3-point shooting at 37.9% from distance
Three All-Stars provide championship-level roster depth

Cons

Slightly lower offensive rating (115.4) than some competitors
Less offensive creativity compared to guard-heavy teams

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Thunder have a significantly better record (54-16 vs 42-28), superior defense (108.5 vs 113.2 defensive rating), and secured the #1 playoff seed in the West. They also have three All-Stars compared to the Pacers' two, indicating deeper roster talent and better overall team performance.

Resources & Learn More

Dive deeper with these curated resources

Wikipedia

Indiana Pacers on Wikipedia

Eastern Conference team known for offensive firepower and playoff consistency

Oklahoma City Thunder on Wikipedia

NBA Western Conference leaders with MVP-caliber star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

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Last updated: March 28, 2026AI generated