Raising ‘steaks’? Indiana, Oklahoma Govs. enter wager on NBA Finals outcome

The NBA Finals just raised the stakes between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. The governors of the two states have officially put a wager on the table for who will win this year’s chip.

The two Republican governors are drumming up excitement for the NBA Finals just before the two open at the Paycom Center on Thursday with a little wager.

If the Pacers lose, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said he would send Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt a “big package of pork products” from Indianapolis-based company Smoking Goose Meatery.

But if the Thunder lose, Stitt will send the Hoosier governor “some of the best steaks in the world” from Oklahoma.

As of Wednesday morning, the Thunder are the odds-on favorite to win it all, with ESPN BET reporting a -700 in the Thunder’s favor. This is compared to a +500 in the Pacers favor.

But that fact doesn’t deter Braun.

“I want to make a little wager: I’m predicting we’re going to win as the underdogs,” Braun posted Wednesday morning on X.

Shortly after, Stitt reshared Braun’s post accepting the challenge. Though Stitt did not say where the best steaks in Oklahoma come from, he seemed confident in what the Thunder can accomplish.

“The Oklahoma City Thunder is going to bring home the Championship, no doubt about it,” Stitt said in his reply on X.