The 2025 NBA Finals have arrived, featuring a showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. The journey to this point has been filled with memorable moments.
This postseason delivered plenty of highlights, from spectacular dunks to thrilling series that went the distance.
Key playoff matchups included a memorable second-round clash between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, significant drama between the LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets, and the Indiana Pacers surprising the Cleveland Cavaliers to reach their second straight Eastern Conference finals.
Here is a visual review of some of the most impactful moments from the 2025 NBA playoffs.
An Improbable Game-Winner
Trailing 2-1 in their first-round series, the Nuggets faced a critical Game 4 on the road against the Clippers. Denver held a significant lead entering the fourth quarter, but Los Angeles mounted a furious comeback to tie the game in the final seconds.
Nikola Jokic had an opportunity to win the game, but his shot missed. Fortunately, teammate Aaron Gordon was perfectly positioned.
Gordon dramatically dunked the rebound as time expired, securing the victory. Reports indicate this was the first game-winning buzzer-beating dunk in NBA playoff history.
Smashing Slams
Game 7 of the same series saw another spectacular dunk as Denver closed out the Clippers with a dominant win to reach the semifinals.
Russell Westbrook, a former Clipper, made significant contributions off the bench in the decisive game, highlighted by a powerful dunk late in the fourth quarter that extended Denver`s large lead.
Westbrook held onto the rim afterwards, resulting in a technical foul but creating an iconic image.
In the semifinals, the Knicks` Game 1 win over the Celtics went to overtime, where OG Anunoby`s crucial and-one dunk provided an early boost.
This play contributed to his strong scoring performance and resulted in a memorable photo showing Anunoby`s sneakers over Jayson Tatum.
A Shocking Comeback
In a semifinal game, the Cavaliers appeared poised for a win, holding a comfortable lead in the final minute of Game 2. However, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton engineered a dramatic turnaround.
Haliburton guided the Pacers to an incredible comeback win, marking their second such victory this postseason when facing a significant deficit in the final minute.
His clutch step-back jumper sealed the win for Indiana, leading to an emotional celebration from everyone but the seemingly unfazed Haliburton himself.
Celebrations 25 Years in the Making
The New York Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years, defeating Boston in six games and ending a long drought that stretched back to 2000.
Their decisive win at Madison Square Garden, which set a franchise record for largest playoff victory margin, ignited massive celebrations among fans in New York City.
An Epic Troll
T.J. McConnell, a key reserve for the Pacers, played a significant role. During the series against New York, one particular basket stood out.
In Game 5, McConnell`s celebration after scoring was directed towards the celebrity section at Madison Square Garden, drawing notable reactions from famous Knicks fans like Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, and Ben Stiller.
Recreating an Iconic Moment
The Eastern Conference finals pitted New York against the Pacers, a rematch of their last conference finals appearance. In Game 1, the Knicks seemed set to win, holding a late lead in the fourth quarter.
However, chaos erupted as Aaron Nesmith hit crucial three-pointers and the Knicks struggled at the free-throw line. This allowed Haliburton to sink a step-back jumper that sent the game into overtime.
Believing he had hit the game-winner, the All-Star guard imitated Pacers icon Reggie Miller`s famous `choke` gesture. Miller`s original taunt was directed at Knicks superfan Spike Lee after a legendary scoring outburst led to a comeback win in the 1995 Eastern Conference finals.
A review determined Haliburton`s foot was on the line, making it a two-point shot. Indiana went on to win in overtime and ultimately clinched the series in six games, reaching the Finals for the first time since 2000.
