The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers have seized commanding early advantages in their respective conference finals series, with both teams leveraging dominant performances to put themselves closer to the NBA Finals.
Eastern Conference Finals: Pacers Shock MSG with Historic Comeback
The Indiana Pacers delivered one of the most stunning comebacks in playoff history, rallying from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the New York Knicks 138-135 in overtime in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, teams had gone 0-1,414 when trailing by at least nine points in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime over the past 27 NBA playoffs — until the Pacers made history.
Aaron Nesmith was the catalyst, scoring a career-high 30 points with 20 coming in the fourth quarter, shooting an incredible 8-for-9 from three-point range. The performance exemplified Indiana’s resilience throughout these playoffs, as they’ve now staged multiple dramatic comebacks en route to their second consecutive conference finals appearance.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 43 points on 15-for-25 shooting, setting a new franchise record with his eighth 40-point playoff game. However, the Pacers found success switching multiple defenders onto Brunson, though none could consistently contain the All-NBA guard. The series continues Friday night at MSG, with the Pacers holding a 1-0 series lead.
From an advanced metrics perspective, Brunson ranks among the playoff leaders with 14 clutch baskets — nearly twice as many as the second-place finisher. Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton has gone 4-for-5 from the field in final-minute clutch situations, leading all playoff performers, while ranking second among qualified players in assist rate with the lowest turnover rate.
Western Conference Finals: Thunder Dominate Behind MVP Gilgeous-Alexander
The Oklahoma City Thunder have taken complete control of their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning the first two games by a combined 41 points. Game 1 was a 114-88 rout, with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 20 of his 31 points in the second half. In Game 2, Gilgeous-Alexander followed up his MVP trophy presentation with 38 points on 12-of-21 shooting in a 118-103 victory.
Jalen Williams contributed 26 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2, while Chet Holmgren added 22 points. The Thunder’s defensive dominance has been the story, as OKC ranked No. 1 in defensive rating during the regular season (106.6) and leads all playoff teams with a 101.6 defensive rating.
Anthony Edwards managed 32 points in Game 2 but required 26 shots and shot just 1-for-9 from three-point range. More concerning for Minnesota, Julius Randle was held to just six points on 2-of-11 shooting and didn’t play in the fourth quarter. Randle’s turnover issues have been glaring, with five turnovers in Game 1 and four in Game 2.
Advanced Analytics Tell the Story
The numbers reveal why these teams have gained early advantages. The Thunder have outscored opponents by 8.7 points per game in the restricted area, posting the best restricted-area differential in the playoffs. Oklahoma City’s zone defense has been particularly effective, as they scored 35 points on 14-of-26 shooting against Minnesota’s zone coverage in Game 2.
For Indiana, their comeback ability isn’t just luck — it’s systematic. The Pacers have maintained elite offensive efficiency while Haliburton powers their attack with a playoff-high 9.3 assists per game. The team has posted a net rating of plus-6.5 in fourth quarters throughout the playoffs.
Historical Context and What’s Next
Teams that take a 2-0 lead in conference finals with home-court advantage are 76-6 in NBA history, giving Oklahoma City overwhelming odds to reach their first Finals since 2012. The Pacers, despite being down in the series count, have shown they can steal games on the road and will look to even the series when it shifts to Indianapolis.
The last time any of these four franchises won an NBA championship was the 1978-79 Seattle SuperSonics, meaning a first-time champion in decades is guaranteed. With the Finals set to begin June 5, both the Thunder and Pacers have positioned themselves as the teams to beat in their respective conferences.
The stage is set for what could be a generational changing of the guard in the NBA, with young stars like Gilgeous-Alexander, Edwards, Brunson, and Haliburton all seeking their first championship rings.
