Who could’ve predicted these Conference Finals back at the start of the season?
The defending champions, the Boston Celtics, looked like they were on their way out even before Tatum’s heartbreaking injury. Despite holding double-digit leads in every game, the Knicks kept clawing back and were already up 3–1 by that moment.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets fell apart slowly but surely. By the time they dragged themselves into Game 7 against the surging Thunder, Jokic‘s horse-drawn carriage had turned into a pumpkin. The injury to the fantastic Aaron Gordon – who had already pulled off two last-second heroics earlier in the playoffs – proved too much for the bruised and battered champs, especially against the league’s best defense and deepest bench.
The Pacers and Timberwolves, on the other hand, had a noticeably smoother ride on paper, cruising through each round with identical 4–1 wins.
But now the real tests begin! The question is: will the lack of serious challenges so far hurt their rhythm, or will their freshness and extra rest give them the edge against more battle-worn opponents?
Western Conference Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
It might sound strange after seven hard-fought games against Denver, but this is OKC’s first real physical battle. After steamrolling a depleted Grizzlies squad and outlasting the Nuggets with depth, energy, and defense, the Thunder now face a team that doesn’t shy away from physicality or aggression.
The Wolves, led by Anthony Edwards and – surprisingly for some – Julius Randle, are finally up against a worthy opponent. Neither the Lakers nor the Steph-less Warriors could match Minnesota’s size and strength, and their outside shooting has been on point – a factor that could be critical in this series.
OKC loves to wear opponents down with full-court pressure, and the Wolves don’t have many reliable ball-handlers to beat that consistently. If too much responsibility falls on Conley, Caruso and company might exploit that weakness – especially by targeting him defensively. Edwards also struggles when blitzed or doubled, so once again, Randle will need to be the guy – not just with a big role, but with the green light. History might not be on his side, but in these playoffs he’s been lights-out: over 50% from the field and 35% from deep, adding crucial spacing that allows the Wolves to tolerate Gobert offensively.
If supporting cast members like Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels keep knocking down threes and opening up driving lanes for Edwards, the Thunder could be looking at their toughest matchup yet.
On the flip side, OKC’s offense tends to stall when their role players aren’t hitting open shots. And Minnesota just might have the tools to contain Shai without doubling. Denver’s zone gave the Thunder plenty of problems, and the Wolves, anchored by Gobert and McDaniels, have a full bag of defensive tricks to throw at them.
We’re hoping for another long, gritty series, but storyline-wise, I’m leaning Wolves in 6.
Eastern Conference Finals: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers
In a throwback to the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks have home-court advantage over the Pacers. Both teams believe this is their year. Injuries have gutted the competition in the East (Celtics, Bucks, and to some extent the Cavs), and now it’s wide open.
The Knicks made it here by taking out the up-and-coming Pistons and the reigning champs in Boston, though their performances weren’t as dominant as the box scores suggest. They still struggle to put together a full 48 minutes, but luckily for them, their opponents were even worse in that department.
In the first four games against Boston, they went up 3–1 despite trailing by at least 14 in every game. Led by Clutch Player of the Year Jalen Brunson, they chipped away at leads and flipped them into wins.
Still, unlocking their full offensive potential remains a challenge – KAT took fewer threes in the last round than in the first, and Bridges is ready for a bigger role too. On defense, teams that target Brunson or Towns in isolation tend to find success. Boston often slowed things down and settled for ISO ball – Indiana will do the exact opposite. That could cause serious problems for New York on the defensive end.
Meanwhile, the Pacers – underestimated by many – stormed into the Conference Finals with two convincing 4–1 series wins. Haliburton is in peak form, and his clutch three-pointer in Game 2 of the previous round (alongside some key injuries) broke the Cavs’ spirits. Indiana’s game plan will be to crank up the pace, while the Knicks will try to pick apart their defense methodically. The Pacers have a handful of guards to throw at Brunson, and Turner and Siakam bring switchable size and mobility that can complicate New York’s pick-and-roll game.
With a slightly better bench and the most accurate shooters in the playoffs so far, we’re picking the Pacers in 6.
Can the Thunder cap off a dream regular season and lay the foundation for a new dynasty?
Can the Pacers keep shooting like Reggie Miller and pull off a massive upset?
Will the Villanova crew finally bring some basketball luck back to New York?
Is this the moment Anthony Edwards officially breaks into superstar status?
And will the Towns–Randle trade go down as the biggest win-win deal in recent NBA history?
All that – and much more – coming your way with the NBA on Sofascore.