Just a short while ago, the NBA’s Western Conference was living up to its “Wild West” reputation with unpredictable outcomes and razor-thin margins. Now, things have shifted dramatically. Surprisingly, the Eastern Conference could serve up a New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers Eastern Conference Finals—an outcome few predicted just 10 days ago.
But who will they face in the NBA Finals?
Out West, the Golden State Warriors have a 1-0 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves, despite being without their talisman Stephen Curry. This leaves the door wide open for Minnesota to bounce back. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back in dominant fashion against the Denver Nuggets, putting themselves back in contention with a blowout victory. However, that series is far from settled—and could end in heartbreak for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his team, reminiscent of last season.
There are some eerie similarities to last year’s playoffs for the Thunder. In 2023-24, they finished as the top seed in the West and coasted through the first round against the New Orleans Pelicans. Then, in the second round, they split the first two games with the Dallas Mavericks. This year, they’ve done the same—except instead of Luka Doncic, it’s Nikola Jokic standing in their way. If the Thunder falter again in the second round, it could signal the beginning of major changes, especially concerning their star player.
According to an NBA insider, if Oklahoma City fails to get past the second round once more, the organization could grow impatient, even desperate. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now 26 years old—still young, but entering his prime. If the franchise continues to fall short, they might consider significant roster moves to avoid wasting his best years.
The Thunder’s recent Game 2 dominance showed just how good they can be. At one point, they led the Nuggets by 49 points—a staggering display of superiority. But with Shai hitting his prime, patience might be running thin. It could push the front office into taking drastic steps.
Interestingly, it’s not just Shai drawing attention. The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly eyeing another Thunder star—Jalen Williams. Not as a complement to Giannis Antetokounmpo, but possibly as a replacement. With Williams posting averages of 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game, while shooting an efficient 48.4% from the field and adding 1.6 blocks per game, scouts believe he has superstar potential.
Some even draw comparisons between Williams and a young James Harden. If he were given the space to shine, there’s belief he could evolve into one of the league’s biggest names. That kind of talent makes him an attractive target for a team like Milwaukee, who could offer a huge trade package.
Still, the Thunder-Nuggets series is far from decided. OKC may have lost home court advantage, and traveling to Denver—with its notorious altitude—will be a big challenge. If Denver can bring the same energy in Game 3 that OKC displayed in Game 2, then perhaps the Thunder could still close it out quickly.
In Game 2, the Thunder unleashed a historic offensive performance, scoring 87 points in the first half—an NBA playoff record. Denver’s interim coach admitted his team got outplayed from the start and never managed to respond. He praised the Thunder’s ability to create separation and dominate.
But the Nuggets have shown resilience before. In the first round, they also suffered a heavy loss in Game 3 against the Clippers but managed to regroup and win the series. They’ll need a similar resurgence now, with stars like Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Jamal Murray stepping up.
Calling this series “decided” after just two games is premature. It could still swing either way. But the implications are huge. If the Thunder exit early again, questions about the future of both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams will intensify. Major decisions could follow—decisions that might reshape the franchise for years to come.