2025 NBA: Conference Finals
by Tyler Doty | by Tyler Doty
The New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves have won a grand total of two titles. Both were won by the Knicks in the 1970s. The Pacers and Thunder have a lone Finals appearance apiece, while the T-Wolves are one of five active franchises to have never played in the last series of the season.
For the first time in league history, there will be a seventh different champion across a seven-year period. These Conference Finals represent a changing of the guard, with Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Anthony Edwards leading their respective teams to the final four while LeBron James, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, and Nikola Jokić begin their respective offseasons.
East: Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks
The Pacers and Knicks harbor one of the NBA’s fiercest rivalries. Peaking in the 1990s with Reggie Miller’s heroics and a string of playoff duels, the two teams have reignited their feud in recent years with Indiana upsetting New York in the second round of the 2024 postseason.
Both teams defied the odds to reach this stage.
The Pacers saw off Giannis’ Milwaukee Bucks and the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks had to fight hard to overcome the Detroit Pistons and outperformed the Boston Celtics, even before Jayson Tatum’s devastating injury.
An elite team on both ends after the All-Star break, the Pacers were underrated coming into the postseason. Rick Carlisle’s team have retained the breakneck pace of last season, while upgrading their defense considerably. Haliburton is an ice-cold clutch performer, as is his counterpart Brunson.
New York might have benefited from Brunson missing time with injury. It forced the All-Star guard to get some rest. Mitchell Robinson’s return has also been significant, allowing Tom Thibodeau to play Karl-Anthony Towns at the four for short spells.
Robinson’s size led the Celtics to try and foul him off the floor – his offensive rebounding presence could be huge in this series against a Pacers team with a 47.9% rebounding rate in these playoffs.
Late-game execution could decide this series. The Knicks remained composed in such situations against the Celtics, but the jury is still out on Towns as a playoff performer. Indiana has pulled off several remarkable wins to get this far, and while they have less top-end talent, they aren’t short on big-game experience.
This could go either way. The respective atmospheres will be sensational – the shot-making of role players is going to be absolutely crucial, particularly if Haliburton and Brunson are kept quiet.
West: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota cruised past the Steph Curry-less Golden State Warriors in five games. Oklahoma City was taken to Game 7 by Jokić and the Denver Nuggets. The T-Wolves have been able to rest between each of their series, meaning they could have an advantage early in this contest, even against a young, energetic Thunder roster.
The Thunder suffered two of their 14 regular-season losses at the hands of the Timberwolves. OKC split the season series 2-2 with Minnesota, though one of those wins came in overtime. The size of Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Julius Randle, and Edwards has proven a tricky matchup for the Thunder.
With Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren healthy, Mark Daigneault has favored double-big lineups in these playoffs. The Thunder have a sufficiently versatile roster to mix and match depending on Minnesota’s lineups. Look for Hartenstein to guard the impressive Randle while Holmgren looks to keep Gobert off the boards.
Previously an underperformer in the playoffs, Minnesota needs Randle to maintain his standards from the first two rounds if they are to stand a chance here.
Edwards is capable of winning the Timberwolves a game or two, but he’s bound to have some difficult nights against the Thunder’s catalogue of elite perimeter defenders.
It’s a similar situation for Oklahoma City. Jalen Williams has been inconsistent in the early years of his postseason career. Minnesota, like OKC, has options to throw at Gilgeous-Alexander in Edwards, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, McDaniels, and even Donte DiVincenzo.
The Thunder’s defense has got stuck in the mud when Gilgeous-Alexander is off the floor or being guarded at a high level. Williams needs to pick up the slack in those minutes.
A long, physical series is expected. Don’t be surprised if the Timberwolves force the Thunder to play another Game 7.
