The Oklahoma City Thunder ended a forty-six year championship drought in a historic Finals battle
In short: The 2025 NBA playoffs delivered a sequence of unprecedented upsets and statistical anomalies. Starting as a 10-seed via the play-ins, this team reached the Finals, where a catastrophic injury decided the series, setting new league records and creating the most prolonged era of different winners.
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the postseason as a dominant force, securing the league's best record of 68–14. Led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder achieved several milestones, including their first Maurice Podoloff Trophy and their first championship since 1979, when the franchise operated as the Seattle SuperSonics. Their path to the title included a historic 51-point Game 1 victory over the Grizzlies and a 26-point halftime comeback in Game 3, the largest of its kind in NBA postseason history.
The Eastern Conference provided even greater volatility. While the Cleveland Cavaliers secured the top seed with a 64–18 record, the defending champion Boston Celtics were eliminated by the New York Knicks. The Knicks' run to the conference finals—their first in 25 years—was eventually halted by the Indiana Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton hit four shots to tie or win games, alongside five 15-point deficits overcome, as the Pacers reached their first Finals since 2000 through sheer grit.
The NBA Finals itself became a study in heartbreak and endurance. Despite the Thunder being heavy favorites, the series stretched to a decisive game seven, the first such occurrence in the Finals since 2016. The contest concluded with a 103–91 Thunder victory, though the momentum was marred by Haliburton tearing his Achilles tendon in the first quarter. This victory contributed to a historic era of parity, as the NBA celebrated its seventh consecutive year with a unique champion.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025 NBA playoffs
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