Here's a closer look at all matchups in the 2025 NBA playoffs and how the series odds are unfolding as each progresses.
Eastern Conference Finals: No. 3 New York Knicks vs No. 4 Indiana Pacers (1-0 Pacers)
| Team | Opening Odds | Current Odds (May 21) |
|---|---|---|
| New York Knicks | -148 | +142 |
| Indiana Pacers | +126 | -168 |
Prices courtesy of Sportsbook; Accurate as of May 22, 2025
The last few games against the Boston Celtics did come with Jayson Tatum unavailable due to a torn Achilles, and the Cleveland Cavaliers also dealt with their fair share of injuries, but both the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers were able to overcome the efforts of the top-two seeds in the East and a pairing most had projected seeing at this stage of the bracket to advance to within four wins of a Finals berth.
This is the furthest the Knicks have gone in the postseason since 2000 when it conveniently played the Pacers in the conference finals before falling in six games, while Indiana reached this stage a year ago prior to Boston taking it out in a clean sweep just ahead of capturing the title.
Western Conference Finals: No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves (1-0 Thunder)
| Team | Opening Odds | Current Odds (May 22) |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | -375 | -750 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +300 | +530 |
Prices courtesy of Sportsbook; Accurate as of May 22, 2025
The Minnesota Timberwolves are back in the Western Conference finals for a second year in a row after disposing of the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in the first two rounds, respectively. The Oklahoma City Thunder steamrolled through the Association this past season with a 68-14 record and 16-game lead over the rest of the West, and just recently took out the Denver Nuggets with Most Valuable Player candidate Nikola Jokic in a competitive seven-game series.
These two teams split their season series 2-2 apiece, with Minnesota taking the most recent matchup on Feb. 24 with a 131-128 OT victory.
How to Bet NBA Playoffs Moneyline
Betting the moneyline is also referred to as a "straight-up bet," meaning you're simply picking the winner of a specific series. If the team you bet on emerges victorious, then so do you.
| Team | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | -172 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +144 |
Prices courtesy of Sportsbook; Accurate as of April 14, 2025
In this example, the Los Angeles Lakers are considered the favorites in their matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, evident by the minus sign (-) displayed in front of their numerical odds. The Timberwolves are the underdogs, which is made apparent by the plus sign (+) next to their respective numerical odds.
If you were to bet on the Lakers to defeat the Timberwolves on the moneyline by wagering $100 and they advanced, you'd receive your original bet back along with $58.14 in profit. If Minnesota moved forward, the profit would be larger - in this case, your original bet and $144 in profit - because it was the underdog in this series
