Bettor’s Guide to NBA Betting in 2025

In a night where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made his new shoe colorway debut and received the Michael Jordan MVP award, Oklahoma City fans were ecstatic with a lot of celebrating as the Thunder also went on to take a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves following a 118-103 victory at home.

Minnesota was expected to respond after that tough loss in Game 1, and yet OKC held their ground and kept the fight alive to make sure that the Timberwolves would not get a chance to steal one at Paycom Center. So far, the result has been promising, and it cannot be denied that the Thunder have really owned this series.

With Games 3 and 4 set in Minnesota, OKC now looks forward for a chance to come up with impressive performances and keep the same pace as they expect the Timberwolves to pack a huge punch to at least keep their season alive. For now, fans may want to bask in the victory by the Thunder as this series may or may not, return home to OKC for another bout.

A Total Struggle by Minnesota

Anthony Edwards was asked to step up and be more aggressive in his second game against the Thunder after a dismal performance in Game 1. Sure, the athletic guard scored 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, but he shot 1-of-9 from three, and 12-for-26 overall in the game. That is a disappointing note considering that he is one of the most relentless, consistent, and elite scorers in the game.

Nothing was seen from the bigs of Minnesota as well. Julius Randle was held to just six points on 2-of-11 shooting after dropping 28 points in Game 1. Rudy Gobert still struggled to find his worth on the court with just five points on five shot attempts. Naz Reid off the bench had 10 points but missed eight threes.

Still, it was an impressive game of response from Jaden McDaniels (22 points) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17 points). But Minnesota collapsed on the attack and had a lot of turnovers with 14 compared to the Thunder’s six. Even though they had more free throws made and attempted, it didn’t seem to matter at all.

Oklahoma City struggled to shoot from three with just nine on 33 attempts, but neither could Minnesota take advantage of that as they shot 11-of-39 points themselves.

A Big Night for OKC’s Big 3

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated the game in his MVP night with a career playoff-high of 38 points to go along with eight assists. However, it was the impressive contribution of Jalen Williams, who scored 26 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists – and Chet Holmgren dropping 22 points with a lot of explosive plays definitely did the trick once more.

For what it is worth, the Thunder trio combined for a total of 86 points of their 118 points. Most of the stories over the course of the playoffs have been about the Thunder bench being so deep and effective, but now the night belonged to the core trio that kicked off this massive campaign that was just three years in the making.

OKC now stands with a 7-1 record at home in the playoffs, and it will stay that way until either the NBA Finals, or if they drop one game on the road. After all, the goal is to steal at least one game against Minnesota on their home floor, and finish the deed at home.

No one has ever seen an Eastern Conference Finals featuring both the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers since 2000, and it cannot be denied that there is a huge spectacle brewing hot in this series. Now that the Pacers have thrown the first punch, it seems that fans and the rest of the NBA are in for a massive ride on the biggest stage of the East.

For what it is worth, the Knicks and Pacers have been gnawing at each other since the regular season. Of course, a lot of people did not expect to see both of these teams on the big stage before they both eliminated the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively. Now they are warring on the big stage, and it is definitely worth the wait for the NBA.

After all, New York is the NBA’s biggest team – both in value and fanbase. Indiana, on the other hand, is one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference that has earned a solid revival of its fanbase after so many years of poor playoff contention, and this series seems to be nothing short of impressive.

Game 1 Was Already a Blast

The Knicks were up by 17 points within the final moments of the fourth quarter – and that’s when the Pacers started to claw their way back and even force OT. Aaron Nesmith pulled off a flurry of threes and finished with a total of eight in the game. Tyrese Haliburton would then go for an attempt at a game-winner.

He got into the paint and was already close to firing up a shot, but decided to step back to the three-point line with the hopes of winning it for the Knicks. Haliburton’s jumper was away as the buzzer sounded, but it bounced off the rim, only to find its way back into the basket.

In a replay, however, it was shown that Haliburton’s toe was on the line, deeming it a two-pointer to tie it at 125. After going side-by-side and exchange of buckets, the Pacers would go on to steal Game 1 after a dunk by Obi Toppin and a go-ahead basket from Andrew Nembhard.

But perhaps the highlight of the game was the fact that Haliburton pulled off the choke signal to the crowd – which was the iconic celebration that former Pacers star Reggie Miller did to Spike Lee back in 1994. To make this even more special, Miller was also part of the broadcast crew commentating the game.

Why the Knicks-Pacers Series is a Win for the NBA?

The odds are quite close for both the Pacers and the Knicks to make it to the NBA Finals. New York stood at +1600 while Indiana had +1000 to begin the season, but now it is at +550 and +750, respectively.

Rekindling one of the league’s most iconic rivalries from the '90s, this series has delivered instant classics.

Crucially, the Knicks' presence at this level massively amplifies the NBA’s reach. As the most valuable franchise in the league – with global recognition, a loyal fanbase, and a media epicenter in New York – every high-stakes Knicks playoff game drives ratings, social media engagement, and international viewership.

Their matchup with the fast-rising Pacers represents not only compelling basketball but also a business and branding triumph for the league. The dramatic storylines, marquee markets, and deep-rooted history make this series a defining cultural moment – exactly what the NBA needs to energize its global audience in a highly competitive sports and entertainment landscape.

At the age of 26, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the renaissance era of the Oklahoma City Thunder – bringing the team to its first Western Conference Finals since 2016. Now, his efforts with the Thunder have been rewarded as he is now named the 2024-25 season MVP. If there was any doubt on him winning the award, that’s probably from the haters out there.

From leading OKC to a franchise-high 68 games, leading the scoring with 32.7 points per game, it was clear right from the start that SGA has been really dominant this season and has found a way to prove his worth on the big stage. A lot of people often criticize him for his finesse in drawing contact and has even been labelled as a foul merchant – despite both finalists Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic being more foul-magnets as well.

Over the years, we have seen how SGA has improved and jumped his stats from being a mere rookie to a playoff riser and now a premier face of the league now more than ever. Now that he’s the MVP, the fans can rest easy knowing that the best player in the league resides in Oklahoma after eight years.

A New Dawn in OKC

Kevin Durant was the first MVP for OKC when he won the award in 2014. Russell Westbrook followed suit in 2017, but nothing else was there after that. It was a long drought followed by stretches of non-success for the Thunder as they prepared for the rebuild that would actually pave the way for today’s OKC and the MVP rise of Gilgeous-Alexander.

SGA managed to beat out two multi-time winners in both Antetokounmpo and Jokic. In seven years, it has been a promising story for Shai, who led the league this season in 20-point, 30-point, 40-point, and 50-point games. Efficiency has been his brand, and it cannot be denied that he even deserved to win the MVP at a unanimous level.

"Thank you," SGA began, before immediately starting to cry as he spoke about his partner, Hailey Summers. "Sorry I'm so dramatic ... Thank you for everything you are for me, for our son Ares. You were the first person to show me what love really meant. What love really meant, what sacrifice really meant. And I can't wait to spend the rest of this journey called life with you. So thank you for everything."

Gilgeous-Alexander is also the first Kentucky product to be named league MVP – and also the seventh straight international player to win the award.

Lightning Then The Thunder

Shai was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets before later being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He spent his rookie year with LAC and went to the playoffs – even pushing the juggernaut Golden State Warriors to six games in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. However, he was later packed in a massive deal that led to OKC bringing him in – along with a hefty number of first-round picks.

This would eventually put SGA as the centerpiece of the Thunder, and it cannot be denied that there were a lot of expectations as to how he would be going for a massive improvement in his games. Indeed, he would emerge as a star, and he would spark the new future that OKC was trying to draw up at this point.

So far, the MVP has been named, and all that’s left for him is to bring OKC back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 – and win their first title since moving to Oklahoma.