The Favorites: Top Contenders for the NBA Title
Below are our favourites for the title:
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Indiana Pacers
- New York Knicks
As of writing, only the Cavaliers have been eliminated from contention.
With the postseason heating up, fans and analysts alike are speculating which franchise will rise to the occasion. For those following the action closely, or placing a wager or two, Gambling.com is a trusted source for expert insights and up-to-date odds throughout the playoffs.
That said, here are our power rankings, including teams who are or will likely be eliminated:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Strengths: MVP candidate player, elite defense, elite offense, youth
Key Players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren
The Thunder went 68-14 and posted a historic point differential of +12.9, thanks to their 120 points per game (third) and allowing just 105.5 per outing (first).
Their best player, Gilgeous-Alexander, averages an eye-popping 32.7 points per game. In the playoffs this number has dipped, but he remains the fulcrum in this heliocentric offense.
5. Indiana Pacers
Strengths: Depth, top-three shooting team, most uptempo team left in the playoffs
Key Players: Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard
The Pacers have moved up the list for me as they are dismantling teams left and right. They have incredible depth. Seven players average double-digit points per game. The next player is T.J. McConnell, who averages 9.1.
They also average the most possessions per game among all the teams left in the postseason. They play a physical, quick game that few teams have kept up with.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
Strengths: Second-best offense (points per game), second-best rebounding team, exceptional shooting defense
Key Players: Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels
Anytime you down the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James and Luka Doncic, you’ll be recognized.
Then, when that team has a perennial All-NBA candidate like Anthony Edwards, it’s even more noticeable.
This team plays great defense, has a top-tier offense, and crashes the boards better than almost every team in the league.
It’ll be intriguing to see a young star in Edwards rise to the moment. Balancing his three point production (320 in the regular season) with his assist rate will be crucial for the T-Wolves to progress.
7. New York Knicks
Strengths: Top-5 in shooting percentage, fairly efficient 3-point shooting, limited turnovers
Key Players: Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges
The Knicks have one of the best microwave scorers in the league, Brunson. They don’t take many 3-point shots, but when they do, they’re fairly efficient at it. They’re a top five shooting percentage team and they don’t turn the ball over.
They’re not exactly elite in many areas, but they have some star players that can help carry them forward. KAT’s showing in these playoffs is testament to the KAT-Randle trade working for both teams. Bridges is plugging every gap in defense.
They’re in a slog fest, and Brunson should be in for a stellar extended playoff run as no team will press him on defense the way the Detroit Pistons did in Round 1.
2. Boston Celtics
Strengths: 3-point shooting, limited turnovers, elite defense, perimeter defense, slow down the tempo
Key Players: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White
The Celtics are a team that shoots a lot of 3s (they shot 60 in Game 1 against the Knicks). When they fall, they’re borderline unstoppable. In Game 1, they lost 108-105 in overtime, shooting just 15 of 60 from beyond the arc. This team has star power in Brown, and other key role players like Jrue Holiday and Al Horford as their defensive enforcer.
The loss of Tatum is devastating to this core. Huge questions will now be asked of the ownership for the future of the Brown-Tatum pairing.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
Strengths: Best offense in the NBA (points per game), elite shooting, 2-point shot defense
Key Players: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter
The Cavaliers have been dealing with injuries to Garland, Mobley, and Hunter, which could prove to be their downfall in this series against the Pacers. However, at full strength, this is one of the hardest teams to beat in the NBA between their league-leading offense and Defensive Player of the Year stud, Mobley.
Jarrett Allen has been a non-factor. Strus and Jerome have shot themselves, and the Cavaliers, out of the series.
4. Denver Nuggets
Strengths: MVP candidate player, exceptional defense, the only team to shoot above 50% this season
Key Players: Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray
It took the Nuggets seven games to down the Los Angeles Clippers, but they got off to a hot start with a 121-119 win on the road against the Thunder. They dominated the Thunder on the boards and have a perennial MVP candidate in Jokic.
A herculean task now besets them. Whether they gut out another seven game series or not, more is clearly needed around Jokic then a one-armed MPJ and an aging core.
8. Golden State Warriors
Strengths: Hall of Fame point guard, experience, excellent second option after Steph Curry
Key Players: Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green
Curry may miss the rest of the series, which could prove to be a problem.
On paper, the Warriors shouldn’t be able to contend with the Timberwolves in the rebound department due to how undersized they are, but they managed to outperform them in Game 1.
This was likely the last shot for Curry/Draymond/Looney – the last stalwarts from the 2015-16 championship winning team.
Dark Horses: Teams That Could Surprise Everyone
The two teams that come to mind as dark horses in this remaining field of teams are the Timberwolves and Pacers.
Would they be favoured in a Knicks-Pacers series? The Pacers will need to play good perimeter defense, keep the pace up, and make their shots. The idea will be to force the Knicks to play their pace-and-space game.
As for the T-Wolves, this is a star showing for a very expensive team. Edwards has been electric, the team is SO long and athletic and Gobert is holding everything together on the backline. Can they win the first championship ever before this team gets too expensive?
Of course, if they advance, they have a tall task whether it’s the Nuggets or the Thunder. The Thunder have had a historic season and are the youngest team in the league. The key for that game will be to slow things down, hit the 3-point shots, and limit Gilgeous-Alexander from taking over.
Key Storylines Heading Into the Finals
- Thunder: Looking to capture their first title since 1979. This will also mark the first for Gilgeous-Alexander. An NBA title will cap off a historic season in which the Thunder had a per-game point differential of nearly 13 points.
- Nuggets: The Nuggets fired their head coach, Michael Malone, in early April, just before the playoffs. A win here would signal that it was an incredible move and add to Jokic’s resume even more.
- Timberwolves: A title win for the Timberwolves would further confirm Edwards as the new face of the NBA.
- Warriors: This would’ve meant five titles for Curry and put him in company with legends like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and more. He’d also have more than James.
- Cavaliers: The Cavaliers have always been “that team LeBron carried.” A win here would’ve signalled a new era in Cleveland basketball, led by several young budding stars. It would also come after battling injury adversity, as Mobley, Hunter, and Garland have been banged up all postseason.
- Pacers: This would be a big-time win for head coach Rick Carlisle, who won his last and only title as a coach with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
- Knicks: This would be an incredibly massive moment for a team that hasn’t won a title since 1973. They haven’t been to the NBA Finals since 1999.
- Celtics: This would’ve marked 19 championships for the Celtics and it would’ve been their first back-to-back since they won a shocking eight in a row in the late 50’s and early 60’s.
Bold Predictions: Our Picks for the 2025 NBA Champion
I’ll stick with one team here: the Thunder.
Yes, they lost Game 1 in the Western Conference Semifinals at home but they hadn’t played in nearly 10 days.
This team is simply too dominant. They have one of the best offenses in the league and arguably the best defense. They’re littered with talent, with Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, and Williams.
Should they get past the Nuggets, I think they’ll have an easier time against the Timberwolves.
From there, I think they’ll be able to slow down any of the remaining Eastern Conference teams. My guess would be the Pacers. If so, the Pacers shoot plenty of 3-pointers, and the Thunder lock those down.
How to Watch the NBA Finals 2025
Here’s how to watch the NBA Finals in 2025:
- Game 1: June 5, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
- Game 2: June 8, 8 p.m. ET on ABC
- Game 3: June 11, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
- Game 4: June 13, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
- Game 5: June 16, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC*
- Game 6: June 19, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC*
- Game 7: June 22, 8 p.m. ET on ABC*
Final Thoughts: A Finals Series Fans Won’t Want to Miss
Regardless of which Western and Eastern Conference team makes the finals, all teams have something for fans to look forward to. Whether it’s the youthful stars, grizzled veterans, or 3-point shooting bonanzas, there are storylines galore regardless of the matchup.
