Pacers Spoil Jay-Z's $1 Million Bet on Thunder Winning NBA Finals

Jay-Z Introduces Vic Mensa At Mack Sennett Studios — Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty

Jay-Z Loses $1 Million Bet on Thunder Winning NBA Finals in 5 Games

Even billionaires take big Ls.

Jay-Z is as much for his business acumen as his bars, and he placed a bold $1 million wager on the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the 2025 NBA Finals in exactly five games.

The bet, placed at Fanatics Sportsbook, came with +230 odds and would have paid out a cool $3.3 million if the Thunder had sealed the series 4-1.

But things unraveled fast.

Oklahoma City came into the Finals as the heavy favorites after steamrolling through the Western Conference. They were listed at -700 odds to win it all before Game 1. Confidence in their young core — led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren — was at an all-time high.

Then the Indiana Pacers ruined the script.

Tyrese Haliburton hit a dagger with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1 to stun the Thunder at home, stealing the opening game 111-110.

That lone loss meant Jay-Z’s bet was instantly on life support. OKC would now need to win four straight to deliver Hov his payday.

Game 2 gave a glimmer of hope — the Thunder responded with a dominant 123-107 win.

But Game 3 was the final nail in the coffin. Backed by a roaring Indianapolis crowd, the Pacers put together a gritty team performance to win 116-107 and take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Haliburton nearly posted a triple-double. Bennedict Mathurin dropped 27 off the bench. TJ McConnell made history as the first reserve in NBA Finals history to record at least 10 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals in a single game.

And just like that, Jay-Z’s million-dollar bet went up in flames.

Even though the Thunder are still favored to win the series overall, the dream of a quick, five-game coronation is over. It’s a reminder that in sports — especially the NBA Finals — no outcome is ever guaranteed.

For Jay-Z, it’s just a drop in the bucket. But for the Pacers?

It’s proof that they’re not just here to play — they’re here to shock the world.