With the NBA playoff area now set, the street forward seems to be pointing towards an NBA Finals showdown between a pair of high seeds: the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers. However not so quick.
No. 1 seeds from each conferences have met within the Finals simply as soon as prior to now 16 seasons — when the Cavaliers got here out on high in opposition to the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
The common season confirmed that each groups would make for a compelling Finals matchup. What stays to be seen is how each squads deal with playoff depth.
The Thunder additionally had been the highest seed within the Western Convention final season however had been eradicated within the second spherical by the Dallas Mavericks. The Cavs had been the No. 4 seed within the East and had been bounced within the second spherical by the Boston Celtics.
Final 12 months’s Finals matchup: The Celtics topped the Mavericks in a five-game sequence.
As a substitute of predicting how the NBA playoffs will unfold, listed here are the highest 5 most intriguing would-be matchups for any spherical over the following two months:
Thunder vs. Cavaliers, NBA Finals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enjoying for a championship? Signal us up. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland competing for a title? Deliver it on. Since transferring to Oklahoma Metropolis in 2008, the Thunder have made only one Finals look — in 2012, once they fell to LeBron James’ Miami Warmth. James led the Cavs to the Finals 4 consecutive years from 2015 to 2018. These groups gained only one title, and this newest model now has an opportunity to match that quantity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cavaliers, NBA Finals
Nov 25, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers ahead Evan Mobley (4) fouls Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James (23) through the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports activities Talking of LeBron James … no offense to the Thunder, however James’ Lakers representing the Western Convention in opposition to his authentic staff with a title on the road could be riveting. Add within the aspect of Luka Dončić becoming a member of the Lakers midseason, with an opportunity to achieve the Finals for a second consecutive 12 months, and the drama solely heightens. James is working out of possibilities to achieve the sport’s greatest stage. Does he have one other run left in him at age 40?
Lakers vs. Boston Celtics, NBA Finals
Apr 11, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics middle Kristaps Porzingis (8) shoots a free throw through the first half in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets at TD Backyard. Obligatory Credit score: Eric Canha-Imagn Photos The league’s best rivalry — with groups which have met within the Finals on 12 events — has an actual shot at No. 13 this season. The Celtics gained the primary eight matchups, beginning in 1959. The Lakers have gained three of the previous 4, with the newest coming in 2010. The final time two No. 1 seeds met within the Finals earlier than 2016 was in 2008, when the Celtics topped the Lakers. Including Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, James and Dončić to the Lakers-Celtics lore solely appears becoming.
Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, NBA Finals
Apr 9, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Denver Nuggets middle Nikola Jokic (15) appears to be like for a name through the second quarter of the sport in opposition to the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Photos International gamers have redefined the league and impressed the following era of NBA stars. The kinds of the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić (Serbia) and the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) usually are not solely fully totally different — there’s no one fairly like both one. The duo has mixed for 5 of the previous six MVP awards, and their groups have gained two of the previous 4 titles. Can the Nuggets return to the Finals after parting methods with head coach Michael Malone? They will — in the event that they commit on the defensive finish.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Thunder, second spherical
Jan 4, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles the ball in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks through the second quarter at Intuit Dome. Obligatory Credit score: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Photos In the hunt for offense through the summer season of 2019, after buying Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers landed Paul George from the Thunder. The worth was steep: Los Angeles gave up two gamers, 5 first-round picks and the fitting for Oklahoma Metropolis to swap picks a number of occasions. A type of gamers? None aside from Gilgeous-Alexander. A type of picks turned Jalen Williams, who averaged 21.6 factors this season. The Thunder nonetheless have two extra first-rounders coming their means. A playoff assembly could be Gilgeous-Alexander’s “how-do-you-like-me-now” second.
Different intriguing matchups that might go down in these playoffs:
Warriors vs. Cavaliers, NBA Finals: 4 Finals in 4 years (2015–18)
Pistons vs. Celtics, second spherical: Bruises stay from the Eighties showdowns
Lakers vs. Knicks, NBA Finals: The 1973 conflict and Willis Reed nonetheless resonate in New York
