Pacers Weather a Storm on the Road to the NBA Finals

The Indiana Pacers’ long-awaited return to the NBA Finals came with an extra twist on Tuesday as their journey to Oklahoma City was delayed by severe storms sweeping across the region.

After departing from Indianapolis with their sights set on Game 1, the Pacers’ team charter was forced to divert mid-flight due to heavy rain, lightning, and tornado threats that temporarily shut down air traffic around Will Rogers World Airport. The plane landed safely in Tulsa, where the team waited out the worst of the weather and refueled.

But the skies weren’t ready to cooperate just yet. A second system forced the team to chart a wider path around more thunderstorms on the final leg of the trip. By the time the aircraft touched down in Oklahoma City, the Pacers were more than three hours behind schedule—but safe, focused, and ready for the biggest stage in basketball.

Storm alerts throughout the Oklahoma City metro included a tornado warning, flood watch, and multiple severe thunderstorm watches. Nearby Norman, home to the University of Oklahoma, saw rotation activity during the height of the storm, but no immediate damage was confirmed.

This marks Indiana’s first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000, adding even more anticipation to a series already steeped in history. Their opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder, also returns to the Finals for the first time since 2012. Both teams are hungry for their first NBA title and ready to give basketball fans a new chapter in championship lore.

Despite the travel hiccup, the Pacers are on the ground, and preparations are underway. Wednesday’s media day will offer both teams a final chance to set the tone before Game 1 tips off Thursday night in front of a sellout crowd and a national audience.

Even a detour through stormy skies couldn’t ground Indiana’s momentum. Now that they’ve arrived, the real challenge begins: bringing a championship back to the Hoosier State.