Three of the four teams remaining in the playoffs — the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves — have never won an NBA championship. The fourth team, the New York Knicks, last won the title in 1973.
Western Conference
(No. 1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (No. 6) Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are in the conference finals for the second consecutive season. They will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder for a spot in the NBA Finals. This series features two of the league’s best players in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards, as well as two teams hoping to end long championship droughts. The Thunder last appeared in the NBA Finals in 2012, while the Timberwolves have never made it.
Oklahoma City posted a league-best 68 wins during the regular season and swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. However, they were pushed to the limit in the second round, needing seven games to eliminate Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The Thunder ultimately advanced thanks to a strong defensive showing in Game 7.
Minnesota has played its best basketball in the final months of the season, finishing the regular season on a 17-4 run after a rocky start that saw them go just 22-21 more than halfway through the season. The team found its rhythm following the integration of offseason additions Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle, who arrived in a preseason trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. DiVincenzo has provided a steady two-way presence off the bench, while Randle has been playing his best basketball in the postseason, averaging 23.9 points on 50.9% shooting along with 5.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. The Timberwolves’ core of Anthony Edwards, defensive anchors Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, and the leadership of head coach Chris Finch have made this team a legitimate title contender.
Minnesota’s size is well-suited to counter Oklahoma City’s physical style, which has defined the Thunder’s defensive identity. Oklahoma City led the league in forced turnovers during both the regular season and the playoffs, so the Timberwolves will need to be sharp to limit transition opportunities. The Thunder’s elite perimeter defense will put heavy pressure on Edwards, meaning other players will need to take advantage of mismatches and spacing. Randle has emerged as a reliable secondary option and must continue to capitalize on open looks and mismatches.
Eastern Conference
(No. 3) New York Knicks vs (No. 4) Indiana Pacers
The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers will meet in the playoffs for the second straight season. The Knicks have reached the conference finals for the first time in 25 years, while the Pacers return to this stage for the second consecutive season. Indiana eliminated an injury-depleted New York team last year, but this time both squads enter the series at full strength.
The Pacers are fresh off an upset series win over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Indiana won the first two games on the road and never looked back, eventually taking the series in five games. While the Cavaliers were missing key players including Darius Garland for the first two games, as well as Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and forward De’Andre Hunter in Game 2, Indiana took full advantage. Despite Cleveland being favored, the Pacers won three road games on their way to closing out the series.
The Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics in six games in what was one of the most unusual series in recent memory. Boston blew 20-point leads at home in both Games 1 and 2 and struggled to shoot the ball throughout the series. The Celtics held a lead of at least 14 points in every game except Game 6, yet New York found ways to fight back and take a 3-1 lead after four games. The Knicks have embraced a gritty, resilient identity and appear to be peaking at the perfect time.
These two teams are built in contrasting ways. The Knicks lean heavily on their starting five, especially after acquiring Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns last summer at the cost of depth. Indiana, on the other hand, is a deeper team that relies on a relentless pace and transition opportunities to wear opponents down.
New York thrives in the half-court, led by Jalen Brunson, while Indiana is most dangerous when playing fast. The Knicks will look to use their defensive versatility with Bridges guarding Tyrese Haliburton and OG Anunoby matching up with Pascal Siakam. Towns and Myles Turner will matchup in the paint, while backup center Mitchell Robinson has made a huge impact on the boards since returning late in the season.
The key matchup may come down to Brunson versus Andrew Nembhard. Nembhard is a strong defender but struggled to contain Brunson in last year’s conference semifinals. His ability to slow down Brunson could determine the outcome of this series.
