This NBA Finals is a case study of what happens in a clash of teams that — when they play to their strengths and style — are very tough to beat.

All of those teams, however, had established themselves as stronger Finals contenders by the start of the playoffs. The 1977 Blazers, 2002 Nets and 2022 Celtics were all top-two seeds, while the 1978 Sonics and 2020 Heat both benefited from wide-open playoffs due to uncertainty around Walton's injury and the Orlando bubble, respectively.

Pacers fans usually hear Chris Denari on the television side. Radio voice Mark Boyle is stepping aside for a quarter during Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back from a stunning Game 1 loss and left the Indiana Pacers in the dust on Sunday, 123-107. With the teams tied at 1-1, the series moves to Indiana for Game 3 on Wednesday at 8:30 p.