Thunder’s Historic Season Continues with Conference Finals Berth
Oklahoma City Thunder continues its historic season in the NBA, securing a spot in the NBA Conference Finals 2025 after defeating the Denver Nuggets in a dramatic seven-game series. This marks their return to the Conference Finals after nine years.
Thunder’s Journey to the Conference Finals
- The Thunder last appeared in the Conference Finals in 2016, where they were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors.
- This will be their fifth Conference Finals appearance, serving as a prelude to the NBA Finals.
- The 2024-25 season saw the Thunder achieve a historic 68 wins in the regular season, placing them as the best team in the regular season.
- They swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of playoffs and battled fiercely against the Denver Nuggets in the Conference Semifinals.
- A standout performance by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 35 points, grabbed three rebounds, and dished out four assists, propelled the Thunder to a 125-93 victory in Game 7 at the Paycom Center.
Thunder’s Past Achievements and Current Roster
Founded in 1967, the Thunder organization has only one NBA Finals title to its name, won in 1979 as the Seattle Supersonics, defeating the Washington Bullets 4-1. Since then, they have reached the NBA Finals once, in the 2011-12 season, but lost to the Miami Heat 1-4.
With a historic regular season under their belts, the Thunder, led by head coach Mark Daigneault, aims to surpass the Minnesota Timberwolves and secure a spot in the NBA Finals. Their roster boasts solid contributors, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Timberwolves’ Recent Success and Thunder’s Path Ahead
The Timberwolves recently eliminated the Golden State Warriors, featuring Stephen Curry, in the Conference Semifinals. This marks an unprecedented matchup in the Western Conference Finals, as the Timberwolves have only reached this stage twice before, losing both times to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004 and Dallas Mavericks in 2024.
Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks vs. Pacers
The Eastern Conference Finals were decided on Friday, with the New York Knicks defeating the Boston Celtics 119-81, securing a 4-2 series victory. This marks the Knicks’ return to the Conference Finals since the 1999-00 season.
Knicks and Pacers Rivalry
- The Knicks and Pacers will face off in the Conference Finals for the fourth time, with the Knicks winning three of the previous matchups (1994, 1999, and 2000).
- The Indiana Pacers have never won an NBA title, with their only Finals appearance coming in 2000, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2.
- The New York Knicks have reached the NBA Finals nine times, winning in 1970 and 1973, but losing in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1972, 1994, and 1999.
NBA Conference Finals 2025 Schedule
The NBA Conference Finals 2025 are set to begin on May 20 and could extend until June 2 if necessary, depending on the length of the series.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the significance of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Conference Finals berth? The Thunder last appeared in the Conference Finals in 2016 and secured their spot after a hard-fought seven-game series against the Denver Nuggets. This marks their return to the Conference Finals after nine years.
- What are the Thunder’s past achievements and current roster? Founded in 1967, the Thunder organization has one NBA Finals title to its name, won in 1979 as the Seattle Supersonics. Their current roster, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and other solid contributors, aims to reach the NBA Finals.
- What is the significance of the Knicks and Pacers rivalry in the Eastern Conference Finals? The Knicks and Pacers have faced each other in the Conference Finals three times previously, with the Knicks winning twice. The Pacers have never won an NBA title, while the Knicks have reached the Finals nine times, winning twice.
- When do the NBA Conference Finals 2025 begin? The NBA Conference Finals 2025 are scheduled to start on May 20 and could extend until June 2 if necessary.
