OKC waiting on their next opponent and will be fresh: When do the NBA Finals start?
After securing their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, the Oklahoma City Thunder now await their championship-series opponents.
The Thunder are waiting to find out the identity of their NBA Finals opponents, after Oklahoma City completed a series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to reach the championship series for the first time since 2012.
Chasing their first NBA title since moving to Oklahoma City - in 1979, the franchise won the championship as the Seattle SuperSonics - the Thunder will take on either the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks in the Finals.
Shai shines as Thunder rumble on
The Thunder sealed a 4-1 victory in the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points to lead Mark Daigneault’s men to a 124-94 win in Game 5 against Minnesota.
Having this month been named NBA MVP for the first time in his career, Gilgeous-Alexander also picked up the Western Conference Finals MVP trophy this midweek. The Canadian averaged 31.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists during the series against the Timberwolves.
BEST IN THE WEST ⚡️#ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/1EuOvex5ax
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 29, 2025
History against Knicks as Pacers close in on Finals return
Whoever the Thunders meet next, Oklahoma City will benefit from at least a day’s extra rest, as the Knicks and the Pacers continue to fight it out for the Eastern Conference title.
Heading into Game 5 at Madison Square Garden today, the Pacers are one win away from clinching the best-of-seven series, having taken a 3-1 lead when Tyrese Haliburton’s triple-double inspired Indiana to a 130-121 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
While the Pacers are on the verge of their first Finals appearance since 2000, the Knicks are tasked with becoming only the 14th team in NBA history to win a playoff series by overturning a 3-1 deficit.
When are the 2025 NBA Finals?
The 2025 NBA Finals start in seven days’ time: Oklahoma is due to host Game 1 on Thursday, June 5. The series will run until at least Friday, June 13, when Game 4 is played in New York or Indianapolis.
The longest the Finals can last is until Sunday, June 22, when Game 7 takes place - if needed - in Oklahoma City.
2025 NBA Finals - full schedule:
- Game 1: Knicks/Pacers vs Thunder - June 5, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 2: Knicks/Pacers vs Thunder - June 8, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Game 3: Thunder vs Knicks/Pacers - June 11, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 4: Thunder vs Knicks/Pacers - June 13, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 5: Knicks/Pacers vs Thunder - June 16, 8:30 p.m. ET*
- Game 6: Thunder vs Knicks/Pacers - June 19, 8:30 p.m. ET*
- Game 7: Knicks/Pacers vs Thunder - June 22, 8:00 p.m. ET*
*If needed
How can I watch the 2025 NBA Finals?
Viewers in the U.S. can watch the Finals on ABC. You can stream ABC’s coverage on fubo, which offers new users a free, introductory trial.
You will also be able to follow live-text coverage of the Finals right here at AS USA.
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