The 2025 NBA Playoffs produced a seven-game Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers—a matchup that materialized after top seeds fell early and bracket-busting runs reshaped the postseason landscape.

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Finals Matchup: Pacers vs. Thunder · Playoffs Began: April 19, 2025 · Notable Misses: Three winning teams out · Finals Format: Best-of-7

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Thunder won Finals 4-3 against Pacers (FOX Sports)
  • Play-In Tournament began April 15, 2025 (FOX Sports)
  • Game 7 the first since 2016 in NBA Finals (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Long-term impact on team trajectories
  • Full player statistics from individual games
  • Specific NBA Finals MVP announcement details
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Thunder’s title defense begins in October 2025
  • Preseason kicks off October 6
  • 2025-26 season structure taking shape
Label Value
Event 2025 NBA Playoffs
Finals Teams Pacers vs. Thunder
Format Best-of-7 series
Notable Three winning teams missed playoffs
Thunder Finals Result 4-3 win (June 23, 2025)
Pacers Seed 4th (Eastern Conference)

What teams are in the playoffs in NBA 2025?

The 2025 NBA Playoffs featured 16 teams across both conferences, with some notable exclusions that made headlines before the postseason even began. The bracket included familiar contenders and several teams that surged late in the regular season to earn their spots.

Eastern Conference teams

  • Cleveland Cavaliers (1st seed) vs. Miami Heat
  • Boston Celtics (2nd seed) vs. Orlando Magic
  • New York Knicks (3rd seed) vs. Detroit Pistons
  • Indiana Pacers (4th seed) vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Western Conference teams

  • Oklahoma City Thunder (1st seed) vs. Memphis Grizzlies
  • Houston Rockets (2nd seed) vs. Golden State Warriors
  • Denver Nuggets (4th seed) vs. LA Clippers
  • Minnesota Timberwolves (6th seed) vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Play-in tournament participants

The Play-In Tournament ran April 15-18, 2025, with four teams competing for the final two playoff spots in each conference. Orlando Magic defeated Atlanta Hawks 120-95 on April 15 to secure the Eastern Conference’s 7-seed, while Golden State Warriors outlasted Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in a tight battle that same night (FOX Sports).

What stands out: The Nuggets-Clippers first-round series became the first Game 7 of the 2025 playoffs—marking the 154th Game 7 in NBA history (Wikipedia). Denver ultimately won that series 4-3, but both teams were eliminated in subsequent rounds.

What are NBA playoff dates?

The 2025 postseason followed a compressed timeline that moved from the Play-In Tournament through the Finals in approximately two months.

First round schedule

  • Play-In Tournament: April 15-18, 2025
  • First Round: April 19, 2025 onward (FOX Sports)
  • Conference Semifinals: May 5-6, 2025

Conference finals

The Conference Finals began May 20-21, 2025, setting up the Thunder’s run against the Timberwolves in the West and the Pacers’ battle with the Knicks in the East (CBS Sports).

NBA Finals dates

The NBA Finals began June 5, 2025, with Game 7 potentially occurring after June 22 if the series went the distance. The Finals did indeed go seven games, concluding with the Thunder winning 103-91 in the decisive game (FOX Sports).

The implication: The extended playoff calendar pushed the Finals deep into late June, creating a tight window before the 2025-26 season preparations begin with preseason games scheduled to start October 6, 2025.

Who missed the NBA playoffs in 2025?

One of the most striking storylines of the 2025 postseason was the absence of teams that had recently been contenders. Three franchises that had won at least one playoff series in the previous season failed to qualify for the tournament.

Winning teams that missed

The exact identities of the three teams that missed the playoffs despite winning seasons were not fully detailed in the verified sources, but the research notes confirm this represented a rare occurrence in NBA history. Teams that had been competitive just months earlier found themselves on the outside looking in as the regular season concluded.

Surprising exclusions

While the Play-In Tournament gave some teams a second chance, others had already fallen too far behind in the standings by the time the tournament began. The compressed Western Conference race particularly claimed victims—teams that in other years would have been locks for playoff seeds found themselves eliminated before the postseason started.

Bottom line: The Pacers’ run to the Finals as the 4th seed proved that regular-season seeding offers no guarantees. Three recent playoff winners watched from home while underdogs made historic runs toward championship contention.

Who is going to the NBA Finals in 2025?

After grueling conference semifinals matchups that saw several top seeds stumble, the Finals featured two teams that few predicted in October: the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.

Eastern Conference champion

The Indiana Pacers emerged from the East by defeating the New York Knicks 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Their path included a statement victory over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the semifinals, eliminating the East’s best regular-season team in convincing fashion. The Pacers entered the Finals as the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference (FOX Sports).

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals set the tone for the series: an overtime thriller where the Pacers edged the Knicks 138-135, showcasing the high-octane offense that carried Indiana throughout the playoffs.

Western Conference champion

The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Western Conference Finals, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in a series that was decided by Game 5. The Thunder punched their Finals ticket with a blowout win, eliminating the Timberwolves in convincing fashion (CBS Sports).

WCF Game 1 highlighted the Thunder’s dominance: a 114-88 victory over the Timberwolves that sent a message about their championship credentials.

Who is likely to win the NBA Finals in 2025?

Heading into the Finals, the Thunder held significant advantages despite the Pacers’ impressive run. Oklahoma City entered as the 1st seed in the Western Conference and had won 18 more regular season games than the Pacers, though the series ultimately went to seven games (Wikipedia).

Odds and favorites

Pre-Finals projections heavily favored the Thunder, with their superior seed and deeper roster giving them the edge in championship simulations. The Lakers, notably, had extremely long odds (reportedly 35-1) to win the title, reflecting their difficult path through the Western Conference bracket.

Championship predictions

Experts recognized the Finals as a contrast in styles: the Thunder’s defensive intensity against the Pacers’ explosive offensive attack. The Pacers had proven capable of scoring at historic rates during their playoff run, while the Thunder’s system had shut down multiple high-powered offenses en route to the Finals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder emerged as champions after a dramatic seven-game battle with the Indiana Pacers, securing their first title in franchise history under the Thunder name.

— FOX Sports

The upshot

Thunder’s championship validated their aggressive roster-building strategy. For a franchise that had rebuilt through the draft, the 4-3 Finals victory over a hot Pacers team proved that patience combined with smart drafting can deliver titles—but not without drama.

The path to the Finals: Key matchups and upsets

The Knicks eliminated the reigning champion Boston Celtics in six games during the Eastern Conference Semifinals, ending the Celtics’ title defense earlier than anyone anticipated. This upset opened the door for the Pacers’ run to the Finals (CBS Sports).

The Denver Nuggets’ first-round series against the LA Clippers showcased playoff basketball at its most competitive, with both teams trading wins before the Nuggets prevailed in seven games. This series marked the first Game 7 of the 2025 postseason, foreshadowing the dramatic finishes that would follow.

The Golden State Warriors, despite their recent championship pedigree, had to fight through the Play-In Tournament just to secure their playoff berth. Their ability to survive that pressure-test translated into strong first-round performance before ultimately falling short of the Conference Finals.

Why this matters

The 2025 playoffs demonstrated how quickly NBA fortunes can shift. Teams that looked like contenders in December found themselves eliminated by April, while lower seeds that peaked at the right time made historic runs toward the Finals.

2025 NBA Playoffs: The Finals in detail

The 2025 NBA Finals began June 5, 2025, matching the Thunder’s balanced attack against the Pacers’ fast-paced offense. Every game delivered dramatic moments, with neither team able to establish control of the series.

Game Result Key Detail
Game 1 Pacers 111, Thunder 110 One-point margin
Game 2 Thunder 123, Pacers 107 Thunder evened series
Game 7 Thunder 103, Pacers 91 Championship clincher

What this means: The Pacers proved they belonged on the biggest stage despite finishing fourth in the East. Their offense kept them competitive in every game, but Thunder’s depth and defensive execution made the difference when it mattered most.

The 2025 Finals required Game 7 for the first time since 2016, underscoring how evenly matched these two teams were throughout the series (Wikipedia). Game 7 saw the Thunder close out the Pacers 103-91, with the decisive margin coming in the fourth quarter after a tight first half.

The 2025 NBA Playoffs have officially wrapped, delivering one of the most thrilling Finals in recent memory.

— CBS Sports

Upsides

  • Thunder’s young core delivered when it counted
  • Pacers exceeded all expectations as 4th seed
  • Multiple Game 7s provided unforgettable moments
  • Play-In Tournament delivered competitive games

Downsides

  • Three recent winners missed playoffs entirely
  • Top seeds (Cavaliers, Celtics) eliminated early
  • Lakers faced difficult path with long championship odds
  • Extended series delayed 2025-26 season prep

Confirmed vs. Unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Thunder won Finals 4-3, clinched June 23, 2025
  • First round began April 19, 2025
  • Pacers eliminated Cavs (1st seed East) in semifinals
  • Knicks beat Celtics in Eastern Semifinals
  • Thunder beat Timberwolves 4-1 in WCF

What’s unclear

  • Specific NBA Finals MVP announcement details
  • Full player-by-player statistics for all games
  • Long-term franchise trajectory changes post-finals

Related reading: Portland Trail Blazers vs Dallas Mavericks Match Player Stats · Ole Miss vs Miami: 31-27 Final, Fiesta Bowl Recap & Highlights

Additional sources

youtube.com, espn.com

Thunder clinched their 4-3 Finals victory over the Pacers through a tense NBA Finals Game 7 on June 22 that highlighted the series’ dramatic upsets.

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Frequently asked questions

How long is the NBA season and playoffs?

The NBA regular season runs approximately 172 games per team from October through April, followed by the Play-In Tournament and playoffs spanning April through June. The 2025 postseason lasted roughly two months, from the Play-In Tournament’s April 15 start through the Finals’ June 23 conclusion.

Is the NBA playoffs 7 games?

Each playoff series is best-of-7 format, meaning teams must win four games to advance. The 2025 NBA Finals went the full seven games, with the Thunder winning Games 6 and 7 to clinch the championship 103-91 in the decisive game.

How do the NBA playoffs and play-in tournament work?

The Play-In Tournament involves the 7th and 8th seeds in each conference competing for the final playoff spots. The 2025 Play-In ran April 15-18, with Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors winning their respective tournaments to secure playoff berths. The top 6 seeds in each conference receive automatic bids to the standard 16-team playoff bracket.

What is the 2025 NBA playoffs bracket?

The bracket featured Eastern Conference teams (Cavaliers, Celtics, Knicks, Pacers, Magic, Heat, Pistons, Hawks) and Western Conference teams (Thunder, Rockets, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Clippers, Warriors, Grizzlies, Lakers). The Finals paired the 1st-seed Thunder against the 4th-seed Pacers, with the Thunder winning 4-3.

What is the 2025 NBA playoffs schedule?

Key dates: Play-In Tournament (April 15-18), First Round (April 19 onward), Conference Semifinals (May 5-6), Conference Finals (May 20-21), NBA Finals (June 5 through Game 7 on June 23, 2025).

What teams made rare history by missing playoffs?

Three teams that had won playoff series in the previous season failed to qualify for the 2025 postseason. This marked a rare occurrence in NBA history, with established contenders finding themselves on the outside of the playoff picture as other teams surged late in the regular season.

What are the key dates for 2025 NBA playoffs?

The Play-In Tournament began April 15, 2025. First round started April 19. Conference Semifinals began May 5-6. Conference Finals started May 20-21. NBA Finals Game 1 was June 5, 2025, with the championship decided in Game 7 on June 23, 2025.

The 2025 NBA Playoffs will be remembered for the unexpected—three recent winners at home, a 4th-seeded Pacers team in the Finals, and a Thunder championship that required seven games to seal. For Oklahoma City, the wait is over and a new chapter begins. For the rest of the league, the message is clear: the gap between contenders and pretenders narrows every season, and the 2025-26 race starts earlier than it looks.