The 2025 NBA Playoffs now enter their final stretch after the Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks on Saturday night to secure their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.
The Pacers will face the Oklahoma City Thunder, who advanced after eliminating the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals is set for Wednesday, June 5 at 8:30 PM Eastern.
Updated 2025 NBA Playoff Bracket
It’s been a long road to the Finals, and it’s been filled with upsets. The Thunder are the lone top-two seed to have made it to the Conference Finals — and now they face the fourth-seeded Pacers.
It almost didn’t happen for either team.
It took the Thunder seven games to defeat the gritty Denver Nuggets. As for the Pacers, had Tyrese Haliburton’s deep two in Game 1 against the Knicks not benefited from an impossibly fortunate bounce, this series might have been headed for a Game 7.
Here’s a look at the updated NBA Playoffs bracket and the road to the 2025 NBA Finals:
Saturday, May 31 – Game 6 Recap
Indiana Pacers 125, New York Knicks 108
Pacers win Eastern Conference Finals 4–2
The Pacers clinched their first NBA Finals berth in 25 years with a decisive 125–108 victory over the Knicks in Game 6.
Down 20 with 1:52 left, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau pulled his starters, waving the white flag and signaling the end to New York’s season.
These Knicks were built to beat the Boston Celtics. And beat the Celtics they did. But the Knicks proved to be a team unable to handle the Pacers’ pace.
While Boston looked to capitalize on turnovers and missed shots, Indiana, under Rick Carlisle’s aggressive system, pushes the pace after made baskets. The Pacers match scores almost immediately, giving opponents no chance to create separation or claw back into the game.
The Knicks attempted to mirror their Game 5 strategy, with Jalen Brunson attacking early and often — scoring New York’s first four points. But Carlisle made the right countermoves. He ramped up defensive pressure on Brunson and stifled Karl-Anthony Towns, forcing the Knicks into contested looks and poor shot selection.
Mitchell Robinson was the Knicks’ early spark, grabbing five offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone. But New York could only hang on for so long.
Indiana ran away with it in the second half.
The Pacers finished with 25 fast-break points to New York’s 10. They shot 51% from three, while the Knicks converted just 28.1%. New York also struggled from the line, hitting only 65.4% of their free throws.
Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 31 points and was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Tyrese Haliburton added 21 points and 13 assists, and Obi Toppin gave the Pacers a huge lift off the bench with 18 points.
For the Knicks, it’s a bitter end to a promising run — and another offseason of hard questions ahead.
NBA Finals Preview: Thunder vs. Pacers
The 2025 NBA Finals pit two teams that play at breakneck pace, but bring very different tools to the table.
Indiana has shocked the league with their depth and poise. But now they face a different beast: a Thunder squad that’s just as fast in transition, far more disciplined on defense, and led by a consistent, top-tier superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Oklahoma City swept the regular season series 2–0. They won 120–114 in Indiana and later blew out the Pacers 132–111 at home. In those matchups, the Thunder averaged 126 points per game, shot over 40% from three, and consistently won the turnover battle.
Gilgeous-Alexander was dominant, scoring 45 and 33 points. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams provided efficient secondary scoring and stifling perimeter defense. On the other side, the Pacers shot just 31.5% from beyond the arc and struggled to contain OKC in transition.
This Finals matchup will be a test of scoring depth versus star power. The Pacers don’t rely on one dominant scorer — and that’s been their strength throughout the playoffs. On any night, Siakam, Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, or others can lead the team. In some games, seven different Pacers have scored in double figures.
But Indiana’s balanced offense comes with a trade-off: they lack a true closer. Haliburton has had spectacular playoff moments — like his 32-point triple-double in Game 5 against the Knicks — but he’s also had games where he scored in the single digits. Gilgeous-Alexander, by contrast, has been relentlessly consistent. He gets to his spots, forces double teams, scores at all three levels, and plays elite defense.
Indiana’s greatest strength may be head coach Carlisle, who outmaneuvered Thibodeau in the Eastern Conference Finals. He adjusted his defense to smother Brunson and force isolation play, turning New York into a low-assist team. If Carlisle can similarly disrupt Oklahoma City’s off-ball movement and high pick-and-roll game, the Pacers could steal a win or two.
Still, the Thunder are deeper, longer, and more cohesive on both ends. They apply constant ball pressure, dominate transition play, and hit clutch shots late. Their defense is the best the Pacers have seen this postseason — and Oklahoma City can match Indiana’s speed while bringing more size and control.
Series Prediction: Thunder in 5.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers: NBA Finals Schedule
Here is the complete schedule for the 2025 NBA Finals:
Game 1: Thursday, June 5, 2025, 8:30 PM Eastern — Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK | TICKETS
Game 2: Sunday, June 8, 2025, 8:00 PM Eastern — Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK | TICKETS
Game 3: Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 8:30 PM Eastern — Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN | TICKETS
Game 4: Friday, June 13, 2025, 8:30 PM Eastern — Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN | TICKETS
Game 5 (if necessary): Monday, June 16, 2025, 8:30 PM Eastern — Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK | TICKETS
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, June 19, 2025, 8:30 PM Eastern — Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN | TICKETS
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, June 22, 2025, 8:00 PM Eastern — Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK | TICKETS
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