The stage for the 2025 NBA Finals is now set for Game 1 on Thursday.
Out of the East, the Indiana Pacers punched their ticket on Saturday night. The No. 4 seed continued their underdog run by defeating the New York Knicks in six games, as star forward Pascal Siakam was named the Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player.
Awaiting Indiana out of the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter the Finals as heavy favorites. The No. 1 seed made light work of the Minnesota Timberwolves, taking them out in five games as NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took home the Western Conference Finals MVP trophy.
So now that we have our Finals matchup set, who do you predict will hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy this June? And how many games will it take? Do the Pacers stand a chance against the OKC juggernaut? Or will the Thunder roll on to the title?
For my prediction, I’m taking the Thunder in five games. The defense just seems too strong, the roster too deep and the star power too much with Gilgeous-Alexander at the controls.
While my head is picking the Thunder, my heart is rooting for Indiana. For the sake of all our entertainment and a feel-good underdog story, I hope the Pacers can make this a competitive series that lasts seven games. If the Pacers can pull off more magic and take down their toughest opponent yet on the biggest stage, this would instantly become one of the NBA’s most legendary title runs.
But what do you think, Blazer’s Edge readers?
