NBA Finals Bracket. Source: nba.com

The NBA Playoffs are a high-stakes tournament that follows the regular season, featuring the top eight teams from each conference—Eastern and Western. These teams compete in a series of best-of-seven rounds; the First Round, Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and ultimately, the NBA Finals. Each series is a battle of endurance, strategy, and skill, with the first team to secure four wins advancing to the next round.

The Conference Finals

Tyrese Haliburton reacts after his made three-point basket against the New York Nicks during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs on May 10. Source: Andy Lyons/Gettty Images

In the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers embarked on a remarkable journey. After a challenging start to the season, early injuries and lineup inconsistencies had many doubting whether they could even make the playoffs. Yet, under head coach Rick Carlisle's guidance and with midseason reinforcements like Pascal Siakam finding their groove, the team slowly morphed into one of the most balanced and unselfish squads in the league. Their chemistry peaked in the playoffs, especially during their fierce seven-game battle with the Milwaukee Bucks, followed by a tactical masterclass against the New York Knicks in the Conference Finals. In Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, Indiana delivered a statement win, overpowering the Knicks 125–108. Pascal Siakam, who seemed reborn in Indiana’s system, dropped 31 points and clinched the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, while Tyrese Haliburton’s poise and playmaking brilliance added 21 points and 13 assists. It was the kind of clinical performance that silenced critics and reignited belief in Indiana basketball, making their first Finals appearance in over two decades feel not just possible, but deserved.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates with teammates at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Source: William Purnell / Getty Images

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s journey through the Western Conference was a masterclass in momentum, maturity, and modern basketball. Despite being one of the youngest teams in the league, OKC played with the swagger of a dynasty in the making. Guided by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and backed by a versatile supporting cast including Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Josh Giddey, the Thunder blazed through the postseason. Their Western Conference Finals showdown with the Minnesota Timberwolves was expected to be a test of patience and defense, but OKC turned it into a rout. In Game 5, they dismantled the Wolves with a 124–94 blowout at home, securing the series and punching their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. Shai led by example, posting a dominant 34 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds, further solidifying his case as the league’s most complete guard. The Thunder’s run is historic. This is a young team that grew up in real time, and now they stand on the brink of something unforgettable.

The NBA Finals

The upcoming NBA Finals promise to be a thrilling contest between two dynamic teams. The series will follow the traditional 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the Thunder hosting the first two games, followed by two games in Indiana, and alternating venues for the remaining games if necessary. This structure ensures a fair distribution of home-court advantage and adds strategic depth to the series.

Historically, both franchises come into this Finals with redemption on their minds and legacy on the line. The Indiana Pacers have never won an NBA championship. Their only previous Finals appearance was in the year 2000, when a Reggie Miller-led squad faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers during the peak of the Shaq-Kobe era. The Pacers fought valiantly but ultimately fell in six games, and since then, their postseason story has been one of near-misses and rebuilds. Fast forward twenty-five years, and Indiana finally has a shot at rewriting its basketball identity. On the other hand, the Oklahoma City Thunder do technically have a championship in their history. But it dates back to 1979, when the franchise was located in Seattle and known as the SuperSonics. After relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008, the team reached the Finals once in 2012, with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden leading the charge. But that young core would split before ever capturing a title. This 2025 Finals marks a new chapter and a chance for OKC to win its first championship under its current identity and establish a fresh era of dominance.

NBA Finals 2025: What to know ahead of Thunder-Pacers championship matchup. Source: allsportslife.com

From a statistical lens, Oklahoma City enters the Finals as the clear favorite, and not just because of their seeding. They boasted a staggering 29-1 regular-season record against Eastern Conference opponents, a number that reflects their dominance in inter-conference matchups. In the playoffs, their average margin of victory has been a whopping 10.8 points per game, driven by their fast-paced offense, aggressive perimeter defense, and exceptional ball movement. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has consistently played like an MVP, while their bench rotation has outperformed expectations, giving them one of the deepest lineups in the postseason.

But if there’s one team that thrives on defying odds, it’s Indiana. The Pacers may not have the same statistical firepower, but they’ve demonstrated tactical flexibility, elite conditioning, and a team-first mentality that has worn down opponents with every round. Their knack for sealing close games and thriving in high-pressure environments away on road has turned them into a silent but formidable force in this postseason. The Finals may tilt toward OKC on paper, but the heart, grit, and hunger of Indiana make this anything but a foregone conclusion.

The Road to Glory

As the Finals commence, fans around the world brace for a series brimming with narratives, emotions, and elite basketball. This isn't just a matchup of two teams, it’s a clash of two journeys, two identities, and two futures unfolding in real time. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, this is years of patience, smart drafting, and trusting the process. It's about proving that a young, homegrown core can go toe-to-toe with the league's best and deliver a title not just to a franchise, but to an entire city that has waited over a decade for this moment.

For the Indiana Pacers, it’s the stuff of dreams and a shot at their very first championship, rising from decades of near-glory and rebuilding years to finally stand at the center of basketball’s biggest stage. Every possession will carry weight. Every timeout will shape legacies. Whether the Thunder crown their resurgence with a title or the Pacers make history with their first, the 2025 NBA Finals promise to deliver the kind of high-stakes drama that defines a generation of fans and forever alters the legacy of the game. This is more than a best-of-seven. This is basketball history in the making.

Now it’s your turn! Who do you think has the edge in this unpredictable Finals showdown? Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead OKC to their first title as the Thunder, or will Haliburton and the Pacers etch their names into championship history for the first time ever? Drop your prediction in the comments, tell me which moment from this wild NBA season had you hooked, and don’t forget to share this with your fellow basketball junkies. The Finals are here and if this season has taught us anything, it’s that anything can happen.

By Zenith Rathod

References: