The 2025 NBA Finals commenced on Thursday, pitting the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Indiana Pacers in a highly anticipated matchup. Game 1 started at 8:30 p.m. ET, broadcast live on ABC, as fans around the nation tuned in to witness the commencement of this championship series. Both squads advanced to the final by putting forth jawdropping performances over the course of the playoffs. Together, they produced some of the most memorable plays that basketball nerds still salivated over today.
Oklahoma City and Indiana have each, in their own ways, shown the resiliency and craft needed to reach the finals. Special shoutout to the Thunder’s OG Anunoby for a scintillating performance, scoring 29 points on hyper-efficient shooting. One memorable highlight from the game occurred when Anunoby’s Skechers sneakers sailed over Jayson Tatum, adding to the spectacle as the crowd erupted in cheers.
Exciting Playoff Journey
And boy, was their journey to those finals electrifying! In the opening round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, fans experienced two marvelous seven-game series. With all the high stakes came thrilling moments, such as this game winning three pointer by Tyrese Haliburton. In Game 2 of that series, Haliburton hit a crazy high-leverage step-back jumper. It seemed like he had just scored the game tying goal and sent it to overtime! In an official review, it was determined that Haliburton’s foot was on the three-point line. This disallowed his three-point attempt, so he only earned a two-point bucket.
Aaron Gordon averaged 19.6 points per game through the first three games against New York. This performance served to remind all of us just how indispensable he is on the court. The New York Knicks, who faced strong competition throughout the playoffs, ultimately secured a commanding 119-81 victory against their opponents at Madison Square Garden. This victory established the record for the biggest margin of victory in franchise playoff history. Perhaps more importantly, it underscores just how dramatic and hard-to-predict this year’s postseason games have been.
Memorable Moments and Celebrity Reactions
Even practical jokes can’t take away from what happened in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal. A historic event unfolded. T.J. McConnell made a big shot and yelled toward celebrity row at Madison Square Garden. A-list royalty—from Timothée Chalamet to Kylie Jenner to Ben Stiller—were seen enjoying the sun in the stands. Their presence made everything even more electric than the usual playoff atmosphere, eliciting groupie-like screams from the crowd.
Russell Westbrook was an important contributor in his first game off the bench. He was extremely well-rounded in that game, finishing with 16 points and five rebounds, five assists and five steals. He hung on the rim to celebrate his dunk, drawing a technical foul for doing so. That moment of reluctance led to the creation of an influential photograph that captured his fierce competitive spirit.
Another pivotal moment occurred when Nikola Jokic had a chance to win a crucial game with a three-pointer but overshot. Gordon pounced on the cleared chance and made the most out of the deflection. He hammered it home mere seconds before time was to expire, clinching an incredible playoff victory for his squad.
The Finals Ahead
As the series develops, each team is sure to be higher on what’s worked and lower on what hasn’t. With Anunoby’s scoring punch and Westbrook’s leadership on the second unit, the Thunder will look to keep defenses at bay. For the Pacers, they’ll need Haliburton’s playmaking and Gordon’s consistency to hang with an uptempo Oklahoma City team.
As an immediate rematch, the excitement for Game 2 is shared by fans and analysts both. Neither team will want to give an inch as they battle for the most sought-after title of champions. Each contest holds exciting moments and jaw-dropping performances waiting to be discovered. That’s the question basketball fans can’t wait to see play out in this year’s NBA Finals.
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