The NBA will crown a new champion for the seventh straight season following the Celtics’ and Nuggets’ early exits in the second round of the 2025 playoffs. The four teams left are the Timberwolves, Thunder, Pacers, and Knicks, and their Conference Finals journeys start tomorrow.
After cruising past the Grizzlies in the first round, the Thunder needed seven games to outlast the Nuggets. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves relatively had it easy against the Lakers and Warriors, beating them both in five games.
The Pacers eliminated the Bucks for the second straight season and completed a gentleman’s sweep of the top-seeded Cavaliers. On the other hand, the New York Knicks made it this far by beating the up-and-coming Pistons in the first round and defying the NBA 2025 odds by dispatching the former defending champions, the Celtics, in six games.
Without further ado, continue reading below for the SBOTOP preview of Game 1 of the Conference Finals.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Anthony Edwards once said he is a better player than MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Minnesota Timberwolves swingman will get his opportunity to prove it in the Western Conference Finals against the Thunder. He is doing well in the postseason, averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on 44.5 percent shooting from the field and 38.5 percent from the three-point line across 10 playoff games thus far.
Besides Edwards, the Thunder must also look out for Julius Randle, who’s also having a solid postseason. The three-time NBA All-Star averages 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on 50.9 percent shooting from the field.
After losing the first game of their second-round best-of-seven series against the Warriors, the Timberwolves recorded four consecutive wins to qualify for the Western Conference Finals for the second straight year. Many say that Minnesota are only here by taking advantage of Golden State losing Stephen Curry due to a hamstring injury, but they can only defeat the team in front of them.
The Thunder are coming off a grueling series against the Nuggets, following a 125-93 blowout victory in the final game last Sunday. They did a great job shutting down Denver since Nikola Jokic was the only one who showed up with 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists on 5-for-9 shooting from the field. Jamal Murray only had 13 points on 6-for-16 shooting, and Aaron Gordon – playing with a strained hamstring – only had eight points and 11 rebounds.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was excellent again with 35 points, three rebounds, four assists, and three steals on 12-for-19 shooting and 8-for-9 from the free throw line. Jalen Williams finally had a great game for Oklahoma City, notching 24 points, five rebounds, and seven assists on 10-for-17 shooting.
Betting tip: Oklahoma City Thunder Asian Handicap -7.50 @ 1.94
Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks
The Knicks may have deposed the defending champions, but their job is far from done this postseason because they will have to deal with the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. When these two teams met last year, Indiana won in seven games.
New York come into Game 1 with momentum since they’re fresh from a 119-81 rout of Boston last Friday. It was arguably their best game of the season since they held the Celtics to their lowest scoring output this year and did it with a balanced effort.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby had 23 points each. Mikal Bridges had 22 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds. Josh Hart became the first Knicks player since Walt Frazier in 1971-72 to record a playoff triple-double.
The legend of Tyrese Haliburton continues to grow this playoffs, as he continues to shut up his doubters after receiving the most votes for being the league’s most overrated player during an anonymous poll by The Athletic a few weeks ago. The two-time NBA All-Star closed out the Cavaliers with style last Tuesday, finishing with 31 points, six rebounds, eight assists, and six three-pointers on 10-for-15 shooting from the field. Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Myles Turner added 21, 18, 13, and 10 points.
When Indiana qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals last year, Boston needed only four games to sweep them. Haliburton dealt with a hamstring injury at that time, but he is 100 percent fit this time and ready to make new NBA 2025 highlights.
The NBA playoffs have devolved into a “survival of the fittest” battle, and the Knicks and Pacers look healthy enough to lord over the Eastern Conference – and maybe win it all.
Betting tip: New York Knicks Asian Handicap -5.00 @ 2.04
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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