The 2025 NBA Playoffs have reached the highly anticipated Conference Finals stage, featuring four teams who navigated distinct paths to get here.

In the Western Conference, the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder earned their spot after a tough seven-game series victory against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. This marks the Thunder`s return to the conference finals for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Their opponent, the Minnesota Timberwolves, advanced more swiftly, defeating the Golden State Warriors in five games. This is the second consecutive conference finals appearance for the Timberwolves, who were eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks last year.

The Eastern Conference sees the New York Knicks making their first conference finals appearance in 25 years, having overcome the defending champion Boston Celtics in six games.

They face the Indiana Pacers, who upset the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in just five games. Like the Timberwolves, the Pacers are also in the conference finals for the second year in a row, aiming to improve on being swept by the Celtics last season.

With only four teams remaining, our panel of NBA experts provides their predictions for who will advance to the NBA Finals.

Page Contents