2025 NBA Conference Finals: The Battle for the Championship Begins
The excitement of the 2025 NBA Conference Finals is already underway. Only four teams are competing for a spot in the Finals, seeking to represent their conference in the battle for the championship.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, seeded number one, began their journey against the Minnesota Timberwolves, seeded number six, on Tuesday night. The Thunder, after an intense seven-game series against the Denver Nuggets, achieved victory in the first game of the Conference Finals thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 points.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks, seeded as number three, will face the Indiana Pacers, seeded as number four, on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. This encounter promises to be a stellar duel with Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson as protagonists.
Both the Knicks and the Pacers are looking to reach the Finals for the first time since 1999 and 2000, respectively.
A continuación, analizamos los puntos clave de cada enfrentamiento en esta fase crucial de la temporada.
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves: Oklahoma City leads 1-0
Game 1 Result: Thunder 114, Timberwolves 88
Keys for the Thunder
Oklahoma City’s defense was fundamental in the first half, before their scorers found their rhythm. Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams not having a good start in terms of shooting, the team stayed close on the scoreboard. In the third quarter, both players took control, outperforming the Timberwolves and allowing Oklahoma City to take a significant lead. Chet Holmgren contributed important points in the last quarter, keeping Minnesota at bay. The Thunder’s defense, considered the best in the league, was relentless, limiting Minnesota to 34.9% field goal shooting and forcing 19 turnovers that translated into 31 points.
Keys for the Timberwolves
Despite controlling the first half, the Timberwolves struggled on offense. If Julius Randle’s 28 points were not counted, the team would have only scored 60 points with a low shooting percentage. The lack of support from the bench, with players like Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, also affected the team’s performance. Anthony Edwards, who suffered an ankle injury, finished with 18 points.
Game 2: Timberwolves at Thunder (Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET)
What to observe:
Minnesota’s ability to score inside the paint will be crucial. In the first game, they only managed 20 points in the scoring area. To counter this, the Timberwolves might need to improve their three-point shooting effectiveness.
