June 5th forecast: Thunder in the NBA Finals.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
May 29, 2025
Finals Bound: Thunder storm past the Timberwolves to win the Western Conference
Thunderbolts: How OKC’s historic bursts define its dominant run
ECF Game 5: Can the Pacers advance to the Finals, or will the Knicks stay alive?
Playoff Playmaker: Inside Tyrese Haliburton’s historically efficient postseason
NY Heart: The Knicks are ready to dig deep in hopes of extending their season
BUT FIRST … ⏰
One Finals berth clinched, one more still up for grabs…
Tonight at The Garden (8 ET, TNT), the Knicks host the Pacers with their season on the line. Can New York take the first step as it tries to rally back from down 3-1, or will Indy punch its Finals ticket in rival territory?
1. THUNDER REACH NBA FINALS WITH ANOTHER DOMINANT WIN
The OKC Thunder are headed back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012.
The Thunder clinched the Western Conference Finals with a Game 5 win over the Timberwolves that was in many ways emblematic of their historic season.
OKC’s 124-94 victory marked its league-leading 12th win by 30+ points this season and 4th of the postseason – the most in a single Playoff run in NBA history. Recap | OKC’s Best of the Series
- SGA Leads The Way: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 34 points (along with 7 reb, 8 ast, 2 stl) in 34 minutes for his league-leading 60th game with 30+ points this season (reg+post) | SGA’s Best of Game 5
- Elite Company: With his 10th 30+ pt, 5+ ast game of this year’s Playoffs, SGA joined LeBron James (11x in 2018, 2017, 2015) and Michael Jordan (11x in 1990 & 1989, 10x in 1992) — as the only players with that many such games in a Playoff run
- 2x MVP: One week after being named the Kia NBA MVP for his brilliant regular season, SGA earned the Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson Trophy as the West Finals MVP after averaging 31.4 ppg, 8.2 apg, 5.2 rpg and 1.8 spg | SGA’s Best of the Series
- Beyond The MVP: Chet Holmgren (22 pts) had 20+ points in OKC’s final three wins of the series, while Jalen Williams (19 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast) matched Cason Wallace with a game-high plus-25 in the win
The Thunder become the second-youngest team to ever reach the Finals as their ascent to the top of the West has been swift and resounding.
- 2022-23: OKC finished 40-42, 10th in the West. The Thunder won their first Play-In game but lost to Minnesota in the battle for the 8-seed, ending their season. “It’s been really fun this year. We kind of turned the corner a little bit,” said SGA at the time.
- 2023-24: After turning that corner, OKC made a 17-win leap to finish atop the West at 57-25, earning the 1-seed over Denver via tiebreaker. After sweeping New Orleans in the first round, OKC’s season was ended by Dallas in the West Semis
- 2024-25: OKC made another double-digit leap in wins, finishing with a franchise-record 68 to earn the 1-seed in the West by a whopping 16 games. The Thunder opened the season 7-0 and took sole possession of 1st place on Nov. 25 and never looked back
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The Playoffs began with another first round sweep as OKC ousted Memphis, setting up a showdown between Kia NBA MVP finalists SGA and Denver’s Nikola Jokić in the West Semis – the same round that ended OKC’s last Playoff run.
- The series went the distance, with the Thunder prevailing 125-93 in Game 7 to reach their first Conference Finals since 2016 and a matchup with Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves
- After eliminating Minnesota in five games on Wednesday, the Thunder’s response was a balancing act between celebrating the accomplishment and a maintaining their “job’s not finished” mentality
- SGA: “We’ve got a lot of growing to do. We’ve got a lot of work to do to get to our ultimate goal, and this is not it, so that’s all that I’m focused on.”
What’s Next: The Thunder have a full week to prepare for either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, which tip off on Thursday, June 5 (8:30 ET, ABC).
- OKC finished a league-best 29-1 against the Eastern Conference this season, including 2-0 sweeps of both the Pacers and Knicks
2. THUNDERBOLTS: INSIDE OKC’S GAME-CHANGING RUNS
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Jerry West. Wilt Chamberlain. Elgin Baylor.
Those are just a few names from the 1971-72 NBA champion Lakers, who posted a historic +12.3 regular-season point differential.
For over a half-century, that record stood untouched – until the 2024-25 Thunder broke it with an unprecedented +12.9 margin.
And on Wednesday, needing one more win to reach the NBA Finals, OKC didn’t just deliver – it provided a snapshot of why it’s achieved historic dominance.
Great teams change games in bursts – and OKC’s bursts have been devastating. These ‘Thunderbolts’ have struck teams repeatedly all season. And on Wednesday, the storm rolled in early.
- Double Strike: After falling behind 3-0, the Thunder ripped off an 11-0 run to seize control. When Minny trimmed the deficit to six, OKC answered with another 10-0 surge. Suddenly, its 3-point deficit was a 16-point lead
- Record Runs: These two bursts put OKC at 15 runs of 10-0 or better this postseason and 107 on the year – the most by any team since the NBA began tracking play-by-play data in 1997-98
By the end of the 1st, OKC led 26-9, marking its 10th quarter this postseason won by 15+ points – the most ever in a single Playoff run.
- Then? Another Thunderbolt, as OKC followed it up with a 39-23 2nd quarter – pushing its record to 11
- Power Surge: Across the entire season (reg+post), the Thunder have now won 48 quarters by 15+ points – also an NBA record
- Class Of Its Own: The only other team with more than 35? The 2016-17 Warriors (45), who OKC passed on Wednesday for the most double-digit victories in NBA history, with 61
So how do the Thunder strike? Like a real storm. When cold air meets warm air, the skies erupt – and when OKC’s relentless defense links with its explosive offense, the game breaks open.
- Storm Front: This postseason, OKC has racked up 170+ steals and 80+ blocks, a mark that hasn’t been seen through 3 rounds in 30+ years
- Swiping Through: That includes 14 steals last night, marking their 10th Playoff game with 10+ swipes – the most in a single postseason in 40+ years
Chain Reaction: That defensive pressure fuels offensive production, as OKC led the NBA with 21.8 ppg off turnovers in the regular season – the highest mark in the play-by-play era.
- Heating Up: That number has jumped to 23.8 ppg this postseason, including 18 in Wednesday’s closeout win
- The End Result? Stops and scores in bunches, as OKC is on pace to join the 1981-82 Lakers as the only team to average 10+ steals, 5+ blocks and 115+ points in a single postseason
And for the first time since 2012, the Thunder are rolling into the Finals.
3. EAST FINALS GAME 5: WHAT’S AT STAKE
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The last time the Pacers reached the NBA Finals, they did it at Madison Square Garden – closing out the Knicks in Game 6 of the 2000 East Finals.
25 years later, Indiana has a chance to do it again.
Tonight in Game 5 (8 ET, TNT), the Pacers can advance to their second-ever Finals with a win on their rivals’ home floor. But the Knicks – and their 19,812 friends inside of MSG – have other plans.
- Lesson Learned: After giving up a 20-point lead in Game 3, Indy responded in Game 4, protecting a 15-point lead to stave off another Knicks rally and take a 3-1 series lead
- Clutch Buckets: To slam the door, they got a historic triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton (32 pts, 12 reb, 15 ast, 0 to), who helped Indy score 15 points in the final five minutes
- Two Firsts: It was the first win by any home team in the series, giving Indy its first 3-1 series lead in the East Finals in franchise history, despite having nine previous appearances
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But these Pacers have experience closing. Indy has led 3-1 in each of its first two series this postseason and won both Game 5s to advance – with Haliburton and Pascal Siakam leading the way.
- Been Here Before: Haliburton (23.2 pts, 7.8 ast, 4-1 record) and Siakam (17.0 pts, 6.6 reb, 10-4 record) have played a combined 19 career closeout games. In those games, they’re a combined 14-5
- Heat Check: Haliburton has scored 30+ in three of his last five outings, while Siakam’s done it twice in his last three games
- Setting The Pace: Both hit the mark in Game 4 as Indy hit 130+ points for the second time this series
The Knicks have battled back from 20-point deficits three times in their last 10 games, including Sunday thanks to a 20-point 4th quarter from Karl-Anthony Towns.
- Powerful Pair: In eight elimination games apiece, Brunson (20.6 ppg) and Towns (21.3 ppg) are both 4-4
- This will be their first win-or-go-home matchup as teammates, and they plan on battling to earn another one on Saturday
- “We’ve been a team that has found a way to do the impossible when it always seemed impossible,” said Towns. “We just keep fighting.”
4. PLAYOFF PLAYMAKER: INSIDE HALIBURTON’S HISTORIC POSTSEASON
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This postseason has consistently challenged what was perceived to be possible.
Insurmountable deficits have been overcome. Unprecedented statlines have been set. And in the process, multiple higher seeds have fallen.
Tyrese Haliburton has been at the very forefront of it all.
- “He’s remained remarkably resilient and steadfast in his belief and what we’re doing and who he is,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We need him to continue to lead us.”
On Tuesday, the 5th-year guard became the first player in NBA history to record 15+ assists, 12+ rebounds, 4+ steals and 0 turnovers in a game.
That doesn’t even account for the Playoff-high 32 points he racked up, willing the Pacers to the cusp of a Finals berth.
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“I’m just trying to play the right way,” Haliburton said. “I just want to impact winning.”
- His Signature: Haliburton’s balance of scoring and playmaking separates him from many of his contemporaries.
- His 22.7% usage rate ranks 35th among Playoff players averaging 10 mpg, yet his fingerprints are all over the game
- How That Happens: Usage rate counts player possessions that end with a shot attempt, free throw attempt or turnover. By setting up his teammates with pinpoint passes, those shots don’t count toward Haliburton’s usage
- Keeping It Clean: Haliburton has five games with 10+ assists and one or less turnovers, the most in a single Playoff run since Chris Paul in 2008.
- “I’d rather do anything else on a basketball court than turn the ball over,” Haliburton said.
- Presence Felt: Indy has a +9.7 NetRtg with Haliburton on the court compared to -8.6 when he’s off. The biggest impact comes on offense as the Pacers’ OffRtg jumps 16.3 points per 100 possessions with Haliburton on court compared to off
Haliburton hasn’t shied from the big-time moments synonymous with his team’s title pursuit.
Rather, he’s embraced them. They’ve come to define him.
As the chart above illustrates, Haliburton’s usage spikes when the clock hits clutch time.
- Clutch Gene: The 25-year-old is 12-for-14 (85.7%) on game-tying and game-winning shots in the final two minutes of regulation or overtime this season – the best since 1996-97
- Cloud Nine: He’s averaging 19.4 ppg, 9.8 apg and 5.9 rpg through 14 Playoff games. All those marks exceed what he posted this past regular season
5. NY HEART: KNICKS READY TO FIGHT TO AVOID ELIMINATION
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Willpower has fueled the Knicks all Playoffs – from erasing two 20-point deficits in Boston, to clawing back from 20 down in Indy, to hanging tough with the Pacers through Haliburton’s historic Game 4.
And with their season on the line tonight – and the Garden behind them – the Knicks have no intention of backing down.
- “We’re going back home,” said Josh Hart. “I’ve never known this team to quit. That’s not the character of the guys we have in the locker room … we’re gonna bring it until the series is over.”
Perhaps nobody embodies New York’s heart more than Hart himself, who – in a series that’s come down to the slimmest of margins – has battled for extra possessions time and time again.
- Little Room For Error: Through four games, Indiana has outscored New York by just 11 points (482-471), but has committed only 42 turnovers to the Knicks’ 60
- Big Difference: That’s led to the Pacers more than doubling the Knicks in points off turnovers 86-33
But Hart has been New York’s equalizer on the boards – powered by his nonstop motor.
- All Hart: At 6-foot-4, Hart ranks 2nd in the series in both total rebounds (40) and defensive rebounds (29), and 4th in offensive boards (11)
- The Result? New York has outrebounded Indy 165-142, including a 45-29 advantage on the offensive glass
- All Hustle: Hart also leads the Playoffs, and the series, in loose balls recovered, scrapping for 15 extra possessions for NY this postseason
Hart’s biggest sacrifice may have come off the floor, opting to come off the bench before Game 3 to insert Mitchell Robinson into the starting 5.
- Anchor Effect: New York has a 107.5 DefRtg with Robinson on the floor, nearly seven points better than when he’s off (114.4). His +22 plus-minus is second on the team this postseason
- Right Behind Him? Hart (+11), whose energy has helped boost the bench from 14.0 to 21.5 ppg across the last two games
New Sparks: With Hart galvanizing the bench, Delon Wright and Landry Shamet have stepped up. After playing just 26 combined seconds in Games 1 & 2, they’ve logged 45 minutes in Games 3 & 4, with a combined +31 plus-minus.
Now, with their season on the brink, the Knicks are leaning on what’s carried them all year: heart, hustle and a selfless group that refuses to go out quietly.
- “Our back’s against the wall,” said Hart. “We gotta make sure we fight out of it.”
