Thunder have no reason to panic despite 2-1 deficit

By going down 2-1 in the NBA Finals, the Thunder now have only a 19.2 percent chance to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy. That's because teams are 8-33 in the exact scenario after dropping Game 3 in a tied series.

Yet, the Thunder are -240 favorites to defy the odds and win the series, and justifiably so. It's easy to forget that OKC was similarly down 2-1 against Denver before storming back to win the series in seven games. In that series, too, OKC defied a historical precedent as 74.2 percent of the previous Game 3 winners (in a tied series) had gone on to prevail.

There's every reason to believe that the Thunder will do it again. In the first three games of the Finals, they've been the superior team, save for the late spurts by the Pacers that tilted the momentum in the latter's favor. If the Thunder execute like they typically do for 48 minutes, they will win the battle of attrition in what promises to be a seven-game series.

OKC can also seek inspiration from recent Finals history. In 2021, the Bucks overcame a 2-0 deficit. The following year, the Warriors were down 2-1 before winning three straight. In both instances, the superior team eventually prevailed, as is typically the case in the Finals. 

Furthermore, the Thunder (81-20) are 16-2 after a loss this season and haven't suffered a back-to-back loss in the playoffs. They've repeatedly shown the ability to make adjustments and respond emphatically after a loss, a trend Jalen Williams expects to continue.