The 2025 NBA Finals are fast approaching, with the Conference Finals heating up. Oklahoma City leads the West 3-1, while Indiana is up 2-1 in the East, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion to a season full of surprises and standout performances.
Let’s take a closer look at these teams and their chances to win the latest Larry O’Brien Trophy.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder: The Main Favorites
The clear favorite is, undoubtedly, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Aside from a 42-point blowout loss in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, their dominance over the Minnesota Timberwolves, including a 114-88 win in Game 1 of the series, has solidified their status as the team to beat.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been exceptional, contributing 31 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and three steals in the series opener and 40 points in Monday night’s win.
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Supporting him, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein have all delivered strong performances, too. Defensively, they’ve been incredible, forcing 23 Minnesota turnovers and keeping them in check despite a late surge in Game 4.
Betting on them might seem like the obvious choice, which also makes it the least profitable. For bettors looking to find better value, checking the best NBA picks on Oddschecker, one of the most authoritative comparators in the sports betting industry, can help identify sharper plays or alternative markets.
2. New York Knicks: The Eastern Conference Contenders
The New York Knicks remain the Oklahoma City Thunder’s top challenger should the pair advance to the Finals.
Jalen Brunson has proven himself to be a 1A player (@Becky Hammon), posting 45 and 36 points in the first two games of the series.
Despite their implosion loss against the Pacers in Game 1, New York remains very much in this series. They had held complete control in the series opener before squandering a 14-point lead with 2:51 left in the fourth quarter. They missed crucial free throws and committed several awful mistakes on both ends, eventually costing them the game in overtime.
The Knicks nearly found themselves down 0-3, but a 20-point comeback led by Karl-Anthony Towns in Game 3 puts the series at 2-1 heading into Game 4 Tuesday night.
3. Indiana Pacers: The Underdogs with Upside
The Indiana Pacers have been one of the most surprising teams this postseason, having orchestrated numerous late-game comebacks in all three of their playoff series thus far.
In the aforementioned Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, they staged a remarkable hail-mary comeback and a stunning 138-135 overtime victory over the Knicks. Tyrese Haliburton led the charge with 31 points and 11 assists, but it was Aaron Nesmith’s scorching fourth-quarter heroics, including six three-pointers, that were pivotal in the win.
Their depth has made them a tough out all postseason— one that the Knicks have had their hands full with through three games.
A Game 4 win is sure to put Indiana on the pedestal for the Finals.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rising Stars in the West
A dominant 42-point win in Game 3 showcased the Minnesota Timberwolves’ championship potential.
But through four games in the WCF, that’s all they have had to show for, as a hard-fought but ultimate loss in Game 4 pushes the T-Wolves to the brink of elimination.
Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle had multiple 20+ point performances from their teammates — Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker — but just barely reached 20 points combined (Edwards 16, Randle 5 on a combined 6/20 shooting).
To reach the franchise’s first-ever NBA Finals, they’ll have to beat Oklahoma City twice on the road, a place where they’ve already lost twice, and a place where OKC has only lost one time this postseason (Game 1 of the WCSF vs. Denver).
Championship Outlook
The 2025 NBA Finals are approaching, and the Oklahoma City Thunder stand out as the team to beat, thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP performances.
However, the New York Knicks have enough star power to contend. The Indiana Pacers have demonstrated depth and great determination, making them worthy challengers, too. Lastly, the Minnesota Timberwolves, while facing an uphill battle, have the talent to make a series out of their matchup with the favorites.
With the Finals set to begin on June 5, fans are expecting a captivating conclusion to the 2024-25 NBA season.
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