Here’s a look at the announcing assignments for the NBA 2025 Conference Finals, beginning May 20, 2025. All times are Eastern.
NBA Western Conference Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 1 seed, 68-14 regular season, 8-3 postseason) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (No. 6 seed, 49-33 regular season, 8-2 postseason), ESPN & ABC
Game 1: Tue. May 20, at Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, ESPN 8:30 p.m.
Game 2: Thu. May 22, at Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, ESPN 8:30 p.m.
Game 3: Sat. May 24, at Target Center, Minneapolis, ABC 8:30 p.m.
Game 4: Mon. May 26, at Target Center, Minneapolis, ESPN 8:30 p.m.
Game 5: Wed. May 28, at Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, ESPN 8:30 p.m.*
Game 6: Fri. May 30, at Target Center, Minneapolis, ESPN 8:30 p.m.*
Game 7: Sun. June 1, at Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, ESPN 8 p.m.*
*If necessary
ESPN series commentators: Mike Breen, Doris Burke, Richard Jefferson; Lisa Salters (Reporter); Steve Javie (Rules Analyst)
NBA Countdown: Malika Andrews, Stephen A. Smith, Bob Myers, Kendrick Perkins, Shams Charania
Western Conference Finals InsightCast: Ryan Ruocco, Tim Legler, Kirk Goldsberry
ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, PJ Carlesimo, Jorge Sedano
The Thunder posted the league’s best record (68-14) this season and swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, but needed all seven games to knock off the Denver Nuggets in the second round. They also sparked lots of debate in NBA circles, with the league trying to highlight them with prime TV slots, suggesting they think this team might be a force for a while.
Oklahoma City’s defense-focused efforts (101.6 points allowed per game this postseason, best in the league) have also led to some low-scoring games with poor shooting percentages. That was especially seen in Game 4 of their series against Denver, which Stephen A. Smith declared had a first half that was “all lowlights.” Many of the stories about their individual players have been about defense, too, including how Alex Caruso was key to locking down Nikola Jokić in Game 7 of that series. But this is still a team with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s scored 30-plus points in his last three games, and they can pour in buckets when they need to.
There have been many underdog runs in these NBA playoffs, but Minnesota’s stands out. The Timberwolves not only took down higher-seeded teams with bigger-name stars (the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors), but beat both in five games. That hasn’t necessarily garnered them much attention, but their destruction of memes like Shannon Sharpe’s “Lakers in 5” and ESPN’s unanimous pick of the Lakers over them has been impressive.
Minnesota does a lot of things well. The Timberwolves are second to the Thunder with 106.8 points per game allowed this postseasons. They’re also fourth in field goal percentage (second of remaining teams) with a 46.5% mark. Key players to watch are Anthony Edwards, of the “face of the NBA” debates, and Rudy Gobert, who’s having a great run of overcoming criticism and memes.
For the Western Conference Finals, pregame show NBA Countdown begins one hour before tip-off for each of these games. An InsightCast alternative broadcast with data and statistical analysis will air on ESPN2 (Games 1 and 4) and ESPNEWS (Game 2 and 3). And this series can be streamed on all ESPN platforms, including ESPN+.
NBA Eastern Conference Finals
New York Knicks (No. 3 seed, 51-31 regular season, 8-4 postseason) vs. Indiana Pacers (No. 4 seed, 50-32 regular season, 8-2 postseason), TNT Sports
Game 1: Wed. May 21, at Madison Square Garden, New York, TNT 8 p.m.
Game 2: Fri. May 23, at Madison Square Garden, New York, TNT 8 p.m.
Game 3: Sun. May 25, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, TNT 8 p.m.
Game 4: Tue. May 27, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, TNT 8 p.m.
Game 5: Thu. May 29, at Madison Square Garden, New York, TNT 8 p.m.*
Game 6: Sat. May 31, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, TNT 8 p.m.*
Game 7: Mon. June 2, at Madison Square Garden, New York, TNT 8 p.m.*
* If necessary
TNT series commentators: Kevin Harlan, Stan Van Gundy, Reggie Miller; Allie LaForce (Reporter)
Inside The NBA on TNT: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, Draymond Green (Games 1 and 2)
ESPN Radio: Sean Kelley, Cory Alexander, Katie George
This series features two teams many didn’t expect to be standing at this point. The Knicks took down the Detroit Pistons in the first round, then the Boston Celtics in the second, sparking quite the run of takes with some of their comebacks (and the Celtics‘ blown leads) in the latter series.
Meanwhile, the Pacers handled the Milwaukee Bucks in five games in the first round, but were ruled out by many against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. 11 ESPN pundits unanimously picked against them, but they won the series in five games. This sets up a rematch of not only a second-round series last year (Indiana won in seven), but also one of the most-famed playoff rivalries of the 1990s (with its own 30 for 30).
For this matchup, the Pacers come in with the more high-powered offense. This postseason, they’re second (to Cleveland) in points per game (117.1), first in field goal percentage (50.1%) and three-point percentage (40.6%), and first in assists per game (29.7). And while star Tyrese Haliburton has come under fire at times, he dropped 31 points (on 10-of-15 shooting) in their series-clinching win against the Cavaliers last week, and leads the league with 9.3 assists per game these playoffs.
On the other side, the Knicks have had a strong defense thus far. They’ve allowed 110.6 points per game to date (fifth in the playoffs, but third of remaining teams and three spots ahead of the Pacers). Jalen Brunson in particularly is shining for them on both ends (including with 23 points, six rebounds, and six assists in their clincher against the Celtics), and even earning some “greatest Knick ever” lines. We’ll see what he and his team can do in this series.
For the Eastern Conference Finals, pregame show Inside The NBA will begin one hour before tip-off each game. Each game will conclude with a postgame show. This series will be simulcast on TruTV and streamed on Max.
