Nov 29, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball towards the Los Angeles Lakers within the second half at Crypto.com Enviornment. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures With the NBA playoff subject now set, the highway forward seems to be pointing towards an NBA Finals showdown between a pair of prime 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 previously 16 seasons — when the Cavaliers got here out on prime towards 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 have been the highest seed within the Western Convention final season however have been eradicated within the second spherical by the Dallas Mavericks. The Cavs have been the No. 4 seed within the East and have been bounced within the second spherical by the Boston Celtics.
Final yr’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 subsequent two months:
Thunder vs. Cavaliers, NBA Finals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander taking part in for a championship? Signal us up. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland competing for a title? Convey 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 received 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) in the course of 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 towards his unique staff with a title on the road could be riveting. Add within the component of Luka Dončić becoming a member of the Lakers midseason, with an opportunity to succeed in the Finals for a second consecutive yr, and the drama solely heightens. James is working out of possibilities to succeed in the sport’s largest 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 in the course of the first half towards the Charlotte Hornets at TD Backyard. Obligatory Credit score: Eric Canha-Imagn Pictures The league’s biggest rivalry — with groups which have met within the Finals on 12 events — has an actual shot at No. 13 this season. The Celtics received the primary eight matchups, beginning in 1959. The Lakers have received three of the previous 4, with the latest 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 in the course of the second quarter of the sport towards the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Pictures International gamers have redefined the league and impressed the subsequent era of NBA stars. The kinds of the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić (Serbia) and the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) will not be 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 received two of the previous 4 titles. Can the Nuggets return to the Finals after parting methods with head coach Michael Malone? They’ll — 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 towards the Atlanta Hawks in the course of the second quarter at Intuit Dome. Obligatory Credit score: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Pictures Searching for offense in the course of the summer time of 2019, after buying Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers landed Paul George from the Thunder. The value 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 kind of gamers? None aside from Gilgeous-Alexander. A kind of picks turned Jalen Williams, who averaged 21.6 factors this season. The Thunder nonetheless have two extra first-rounders coming their approach. A playoff assembly could be Gilgeous-Alexander’s “how-do-you-like-me-now” second.
Different intriguing matchups that would 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
