NBA Finals Team Exactas: Latest Odds for Most Likely Finals Matchups in the 2025 Championship
Who will end up playing in the 2025 NBA Finals? There is so much left to be decided before the NBA Finals tip off in June, and Mark Harris goes through some of the most interesting NBA Finals Matchup Exacta bets as the second round progresses.
Mark Harris - May 6, 2025, 6:30 PM EDT
5 minNBA Finals Team Exactas: Latest Odds for Most Likely Finals Matchups in the 2025 Championship
The NBA Finals are about a month away, but if the 2025 NBA playoffs have taught us anything, it's that any team has a shot to compete for the championship.
All three home teams lost their first game in the second round, and the Warriors could easily pick up a road win in Minnesota. The overall competitiveness bursts through the TV screen, and the unpredictability could lead to some surprising NBA Finals matchups. The second round of the playoffs has been a wild ride, and Cleveland's rash of injuries adds even more question marks.
Who would have expected Pacers-Nuggets in the Finals? While that would still be an unlikely Finals matchup (+5000), it seems way more possible today than it did at the start of the playoffs.
With all that in mind, I've decided to go through the most likely NBA Finals matchups, based off the odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. There are many different potential Finals matchups to choose from, so I've narrowed it down to four.
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NBA Finals Matchup Exacta Odds
Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder +210 Click here for more NBA Series bets
Despite losing Game 1 at home on Monday, Boston and OKC are still the favorites to win the Eastern and Western Conferences. Since the Celtics and Thunder are still conference favorites, they have the best Finals matchup odds.
These two teams have been the favorites for most of the season, and one close loss isn't enough for the oddsmakers to stop believing in them. Both squads are still loaded with talent and have plenty of time to make up for their Game 1 defeats.
Remember, it took quite a bit for both of these teams to lose on Monday night. Boston missed 45 3-pointers and Oklahoma City blew a double-digit lead before Aaron Gordon's dagger 3-pointer changed the outcome.
The Celtics and Thunder are in a hole, but they both still have a good shot to be playing in June.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder +400 Click here for more NBA Series bets
For as topsy-turvy as these playoffs have been, both one seeds reaching the NBA Finals is not shocking.
However, injuries to Darius Garland, De'Andre Hunter, and Evan Mobley have thrown a wrench into the Cavaliers' aspirations. Cleveland amassed a 64-18 regular-season record because of its overall team composition, and not having those three players would severely weaken the team.
Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen can only do so much, and after those two, the Cavaliers would have to rely too much on role players and their bench.
If the injuries aren't too bad, then Cleveland has what it takes to outlast Indiana and potentially advance further, but that is hardly a guarantee.
Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets +1000 Click here for more NBA Series bets
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will not go out easily. After stealing Game 1 in Oklahoma City, the Nuggets are a live dog to win the West (+500).
Jokic, who finished with 42 points, 22 rebounds, and six assists in Game 1, was outstanding, even for his ridiculous standards. It has me wondering if he's finding his groove as the postseason continues.
He played better against the Thunder than he did in any game vs. the Clippers, so maybe Ivica Zubac was his best defender remaining, and now that the Clippers are gone, Jokic can be fully unleashed.
This series is far from over and Jokic still needs his teammates to help out like they did in Game 1, but a Denver team operating at peak capacity is a scary opponent for the rest of the Western Conference.
Nuggets vs. Celtics was the 2024 NBA Finals matchup that many predicted; maybe we just get it a year late.
Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves +3800 Click here for more NBA Series bets
Alright, let's get wild.
Even though it would be asking a lot for both the Pacers and Timberwolves to reach the NBA Finals, it is not completely out of the question. Their paths aren't as treacherous as once thought, and both teams advanced to the conference finals last year, so they've made deep playoff runs before.
Indiana is already in a pretty good spot. It won Game 1, and now Cleveland could be without three of its best players. The Pacers have a clear shot to beat an injured Cavaliers team, and things really become interesting if the New York Knicks upset the Boston Celtics.
I would trust Indiana's deeper lineup to defeat New York. The Pacers have eight guys who can score 10+ points in any given game, and their excellent ball movement usually gets them a good shot. Indiana would face a tougher challenge against Boston, but I don't think it would be drawing dead against the Celtics, either.
Meanwhile, Minnesota seems like it will be a tough out for whoever it plays. Beating Golden State will be a difficult task, but if the Timberwolves get past the Warriors, they would probably only be slight underdogs against Denver or OKC. We know they are capable of beating the Nuggets after their series last year, and Minnesota's defensive tenacity could create problems for a Thunder team that is very reliant on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
A Pacers-Timberwolves Finals matchup is +3800 for a reason, and it is far from the likely outcome, but it's a fun calculated risk as an NBA Finals Matchup exacta bet.
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