The 2025 NBA Convention Finals has tipped off, as solely 4 groups stay within the postseason, all preventing for an opportunity to symbolize their convention within the Finals.
The No. 1 seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, after a troublesome seven-game sequence in opposition to the Denver Nuggets, kicked off the Western Convention finals on Tuesday evening. They defeated Anthony Edwards and the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves in Recreation 1 behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 factors.
Within the East, the No. 3 seed New York Knicks will tackle the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers on Wednesday at Madison Sq. Backyard with two superstars in Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson going head-to-head in a extremely anticipated matchup. The Knicks and Pacers will look to make their first Finals look since 1999 and 2000, respectively.
As these elite groups face off, our NBA insiders breakdown their largest takeaways from each matchup and what to observe in each convention showdowns.
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Schedules and outcomes | Offseason guides
Western Convention
Recreation 1: Thunder 114, Timberwolves 88
Largest takeaways for the Thunder: Oklahoma Metropolis’s protection purchased the Thunder a half earlier than their scorers settled right into a rhythm. The Thunder trailed by solely 4 factors at halftime regardless of All-Star duo Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams combining to shoot solely 4-of-21 from the ground. Then, that tandem seized management, outscoring the Timberwolves by themselves within the third quarter and mixing to attain 21 to permit Oklahoma Metropolis to take a double-digit lead. Chet Holmgren scored 9 of his 15 factors in a flurry early within the fourth quarter to maintain Minnesota at a cushty distance. The Thunder protection, the league’s top-ranked unit, remained relentless all through the sport. Oklahoma Metropolis held Minnesota to 34.9% taking pictures from the ground and compelled 19 turnovers that the Thunder transformed into 31 factors. — Tim MacMahon
Largest takeaways for the Timberwolves: In case you informed the Timberwolves that they’d management the primary half and have Gilgeous-Alexander miss almost twice as many pictures (17) as he made (10) earlier than Tuesday, they’d like their possibilities in Recreation 1 of the Western Convention finals. There was just one drawback: for a way efficient their protection was, their offense was equally inept. In case you take away Julius Randle’s 28 factors on 9-for-13 taking pictures, Minnesota mustered simply 60 factors on 20-for-70 taking pictures (28.6%) whereas committing 19 turnovers that resulted in 31 factors for Oklahoma Metropolis.
After constructing a 48-44 lead by means of the primary two quarters, it was hardly a sport after halftime. The Wolves led 60-56 with 7:22 to go within the third, and the Thunder responded with a 17-2 run to open up a double-digit cushion heading into the fourth. Minnesota’s bench assist was notably missing, with Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combining to shoot simply 7-for-36 (5-for-28 from 3). 23-year-old celebrity Anthony Edwards tweaked his left ankle within the first half and completed with 18 factors on 5-for-13 taking pictures. The Wolves have lots of work to do for Recreation 2, or they will be watching a 0-2 deficit heading again dwelling for Recreation 3. — Dave McMenamin
Recreation 2: Timberwolves at Thunder (Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
What to observe: Whether or not Minnesota can discover a solution to rating within the paint. The Timberwolves managed simply 20 paint factors, tying the fewest by any crew throughout this 12 months’s playoffs. Minnesota was averaging 51.6 factors per sport within the paint and was coming off 72 whereas closing out the Golden State Warriors in Recreation 5 final Wednesday — a playoff excessive for any crew.
Remarkably, Oklahoma Metropolis pulled that off whereas downsizing. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault performed his double-big frontcourt of starters Isaiah Hartenstein and Holmgren fewer than eight minutes collectively — far lower than the 14.2 they’ve averaged within the playoffs, per NBA Superior Stats. And after utilizing Williams (listed at 6-foot-8, 250) to defend Nikola Jokic within the convention semifinals, Daigneault went to the smaller Kenrich Williams (6-foot-7, 210) as a backup heart.
What Oklahoma Metropolis lacked in dimension, the Thunder greater than made up for with swarming protection and packing the paint. Oklahoma Metropolis dared the Timberwolves to make 3s, very like the Nuggets did them within the final spherical. After Minnesota shot 5-of-11 from downtown within the opening quarter, the Timberwolves went 10-for-40 (25%) the remainder of the best way.
Paradoxically, then, Minnesota’s greatest hope of scoring inside is perhaps hitting extra pictures from exterior. The Timberwolves will certainly achieve this. Minnesota has made 35% on 3s thus far within the playoffs after rating fourth within the league at 38% in the course of the common season. We’ll see how correct the Timberwolves should be to tug the Thunder protection out of the paint. — Kevin Pelton
