The 2025 NBA Playoffs have been a study in unpredictability. The Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors — the last three NBA champions — have all bowed out before the Conference Finals. And just like that, championship experience has exited stage left.
What’s left is a field unlike any in recent memory: four hungry teams, three of which have never tasted NBA championship glory, and a fourth — the New York Knicks — clinging to the memory of a title they won 52 years ago.
As the Western and Eastern Conference Finals tip off, we break down the remaining teams in our comprehensive NBA Playoff Power Rankings. This isn’t just about who’s winning — it’s about how they’re winning, the advanced metrics behind their dominance or deficiencies, and which franchise has the clearest path to hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Playoff Record: 8-3
Offensive Rating (OffRtg): 115.1 (4th)
Defensive Rating (DefRtg): 101.6 (1st)
Net Rating (NetRtg): +13.5 (1st)
Pace: 101.2 (2nd)
The New Defensive Standard
The Thunder’s path to the Western Conference Finals has been paved with defense — historically elite defense. In the first round, they held the Memphis Grizzlies to 19.7 fewer points per 100 possessions than their regular season average. In the conference semis, they did the same to the reigning champs, limiting Denver by 15 points per 100. Those are the two largest drops in the playoffs this year.
And yet, there’s an offensive paradox. Between Games 3-6 vs. Denver, OKC managed just 103.0 points per 100 — their worst stretch of the season. The three-point shooting has also dipped: none of their four primary shooters are above 32.1% from deep in the playoffs.
Still, they remain dominant thanks to the emergence of unsung heroes. Rookie Cason Wallace leads all postseason players (min. 10 MPG) with a staggering +25.8 NetRtg. Alex Caruso — limited in minutes but limitless in defensive impact — is shooting efficiently and stifling opposing guards.
OKC will face Minnesota in a battle of defensive juggernauts. Their prior struggles against zone defenses and the memory of blowing a 24-point fourth-quarter lead to the Wolves back in February linger as key storylines.
If the Thunder solve their shooting woes, the NBA Championship 2025 could be heading to Oklahoma.
2. Indiana Pacers
Playoff Record: 8-2
Offensive Rating (OffRtg): 117.3 (2nd)
Defensive Rating (DefRtg): 111.9 (8th)
Net Rating (NetRtg): +5.5 (5th)
Pace: 99.3 (3rd)
The Efficiency Machine
The Pacers might be the most efficient offensive team we’ve seen in recent NBA Playoff stats. Their 58.3% effective field goal percentage isn’t just league-best — it’s historically elite. Even if some of that is unsustainable shot-making, this offense hums when Tyrese Haliburton has the keys.
Haliburton’s absence on the floor has been felt. With him off, Indiana’s NetRtg plummets. With him on? They play like a contender.
Andrew Nembhard has elevated his game massively, jumping from 50.6% to 60.6% in eFG% in the playoffs. And then there’s Pascal Siakam, whose playoff defense has flown under the radar. With him on the floor, Indiana gives up 15.1 fewer points per 100 possessions — the best on-off defensive split of any remaining player.
There are concerns: Their bench has struggled, and they benefited from Cleveland’s ice-cold shooting on wide-open looks. But what’s not fluky is their momentum. Indiana heads into the Eastern Conference Finals to face the Knicks with the wind at their backs.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
Playoff Record: 8-2
Offensive Rating (OffRtg): 114.6 (5th)
Defensive Rating (DefRtg): 106.8 (2nd)
Net Rating (NetRtg): +7.9 (3rd)
Pace: 94.6 (10th)
Fourth-Quarter Killers
The Wolves have finally turned potential into playoff power. After years of mediocrity, Minnesota is surging behind a defense-first identity and clutch-time dominance. They’re 4-0 in games decided in the last five minutes, scoring 45 points on just 29 possessions in those scenarios.
The Wolves have finally turned potential into playoff power. After years of mediocrity, Minnesota is surging behind a defense-first identity and clutch-time dominance. They’re 4-0 in games decided in the last five minutes, scoring 45 points on just 29 possessions in those scenarios.
But perhaps the most promising sign is their second-half dominance. The Wolves are 15.6 points better per 100 possessions after halftime. They start slow, then suffocate.
The key to their series with the Thunder will be paint control. Both teams dominate at the rim — OKC at +8.7, Minnesota at +7.4 in restricted-area differential. If Karl-Anthony Towns keeps drawing bigs out and Edwards continues punishing closeouts, they’ll have a real shot.
Don’t overlook Minnesota. They have the best defense remaining — and maybe the best closer too.
4. New York Knicks
Playoff Record: 8-4
Offensive Rating (OffRtg): 110.7 (9th)
Defensive Rating (DefRtg): 110.6 (5th)
Net Rating (NetRtg): +0.1 (7th)
Pace: 95.3 (8th)
The Unbreakables
The Knicks have been outscored in the playoffs overall — and yet, here they are, four wins away from the NBA Finals. Their story is one of resilience, rebounding, and the brilliance of Jalen Brunson.
No player has had a bigger on-off swing than Brunson, with New York scoring 24.8 more points per 100 possessions with him on the court. It’s not just scoring; it’s control. He dictates tempo, owns the clutch, and makes defenses react.
Mitchell Robinson has quietly become their defensive backbone. Despite playing fewer minutes in the regular season due to injury, he’s logged 223 postseason minutes and posted dominant screen-defense metrics. When he’s the big defending the screener, the Knicks allow just 0.86 points per possession.
Their shooting is streaky. Their half-court offense, inconsistent. But their defense has jumped from 22nd to 7th in opponent effective FG%. With OG Anunoby sidelined, others have stepped up, including Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo.
The Knicks vs. Pacers matchup is a throwback — defense, grit, and rebounding versus speed, spacing, and shot-making. Can Brunson out-duel Haliburton? Can Robinson neutralize Siakam? The answers will define the Eastern Conference Finals.
Advanced Metrics: By the Numbers
| Team | OffRtg | DefRtg | NetRtg | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder | 115.1 | 101.6 | +13.5 | 101.2 |
| Pacers | 117.3 | 111.9 | +5.5 | 99.3 |
| Timberwolves | 114.6 | 106.8 | +7.9 | 94.6 |
| Knicks | 110.7 | 110.6 | +0.1 | 95.3 |
What’s at Stake: The Era of Parity and Possibility
The 2025 NBA Playoffs have confirmed a long-percolating truth in the league’s evolution — the age of the top-heavy superteam is over. What’s rising in its place is a new paradigm, where smart drafting, patient development, and defensive identity outweigh headline signings and megastar mergers.
With no repeat champions in the last seven years, the NBA Championship 2025 is guaranteed to crown a fresh titleholder — a first in over a half-century for any of these franchises.
This shift isn’t just symbolic — it’s systemic. Each of the four remaining NBA Playoff Teams exemplifies a different formula for success, yet all have something in common: a refusal to shortcut the process.
The Thunder built through the draft, the Pacers recalibrated around Haliburton and smart trades, the Timberwolves finally balanced talent and defense, and the Knicks leaned on grit and a blossoming star in Jalen Brunson.
Beyond the on-court battles, this postseason is redefining what it takes to win in today’s NBA. The emphasis on Defensive Rating (DefRtg), lineup versatility, player development, and role-player impact — from Cason Wallace’s playoff efficiency to Mitchell Robinson’s rim protection — has reached unprecedented levels. NBA advanced stats and metrics like Net Rating (NetRtg), NBA point differential, and effective field goal percentage now dominate postseason discourse.
A championship this year won’t just validate a team — it’ll validate an entire philosophy. Whether it’s the Pacers’ motion-based offense or the Thunder’s lockdown defensive principles, the winner will shape the blueprint for years to come.
Prediction: Who Has the Edge? Breaking Down the Matchups
Western Conference Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
This is not just a clash of top seeds — it’s a chess match of defensive titans. The Thunder, with the top-ranked playoff defense and NBA-best Net Rating, will face a Minnesota squad that’s just as fierce, especially after halftime. Oklahoma City’s bench, led by Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso, has been a major differentiator, outscoring opponents by historic margins. But Minnesota’s ability to ramp up pressure late in games — backed by Anthony Edwards’ late-game brilliance — makes them dangerous.
Key Factor: Paint control. Both teams dominate restricted-area metrics, but whoever controls second-chance opportunities and rim protection may swing the series.
Prediction: Thunder in 7
Eastern Conference Finals: Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks
This series is a stylistic contrast: the fast-paced, hyper-efficient Indiana offense against the grind-it-out, rebounding-hungry Knicks. Tyrese Haliburton leads the Pacers’ cutting and spacing-based system, while Pascal Siakam continues to shine on the defensive end. But New York’s physicality, rebounding dominance, and Jalen Brunson’s clutch scoring cannot be overlooked. With OG Anunoby’s status uncertain, the pressure will rest on the Knicks’ ability to generate half-court offense consistently.
Key Factor: Supporting cast performance. The Pacers have had shaky bench minutes, while the Knicks’ success hinges on role players like Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson — whose playoff stats are quietly elite.
Prediction: Pacers in 6
Projected NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers
Youth, speed, and system cohesion will define this potential matchup. Both teams play the game with a pace-and-space fluidity that signals the modern NBA’s direction. The Thunder’s defense might give them the edge — but Haliburton vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the kind of Finals duel that turns stars into legends.
Edge: Slight Thunder advantage — but it’s close enough to call it a pick’em.
Don’t Miss a Moment
The 2025 NBA Playoffs are more than just a tournament — they’re a referendum on how basketball is evolving. With every possession, these teams are rewriting the rules of contention. Whether you’re tracking Net Rating trends, analyzing NBA Playoff stats, or rooting for your underdog to make history — now’s the time to lock in.
Follow us for wall-to-wall coverage of the NBA Conference Finals and beyond. And stay tuned — because whoever lifts the trophy next month won’t just win a championship. They’ll define the next era of the NBA.
“This Power Rankings breakdown draws from the original report featured on NBA.com.”
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