As the NBA conference finals heat up, both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are one win away from the Finals after seizing 3-1 leads. Oklahoma City could seal the deal at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, while Indiana aims to finish off the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

The question now is which team has been more impressive. Rohan Nadkarni points to the Pacers. Their playoff path has been far from easy, having eliminated MVP contender Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, then toppling the top-seeded Cavaliers, and now rattling a Knicks squad that dismissed the defending champion Celtics. Indiana hasn’t merely survived — they’ve dominated key stretches and come back from the dead when needed.

By contrast, the Thunder made light work of Memphis and now Minnesota, though they were tested by a shaky but Jokic-led Nuggets team. Still, Andrew Greif argues that Oklahoma City’s growth has been equally noteworthy. With a young core averaging just 24.6 years old, their maturity has carried over from a stellar regular season. They’ve shown they can maintain elite composure and capitalize on momentum, especially when Minnesota has let the door crack open.

As for the spotlight on Tyrese Haliburton, Nadkarni doesn’t see him as a top-10 player — but says it’s irrelevant. What matters is that Haliburton is the engine of a system built to highlight his skillset: an elite creator who scores when needed, defends well enough, and executes under pressure. Superstar labels don’t make a team win — systems and execution do.

Chet Holmgren.

Greif offers a more measured view. Based on All-NBA selections, Haliburton may rank just outside the top 10, but his postseason performance — highlighted by a 30-point, 15-assist, zero-turnover gem in Game 4 — proves he’s more than capable of being the best player on a championship contender. His mix of self-belief and accountability, like calling his own season start “trash,” shows a rare edge. He’s grown, and the Pacers have grown with him.

On the other side, the most disappointing team? Nadkarni doesn’t hesitate: it’s the Knicks. They stunned Boston in the previous round but have dropped two straight at home to start the conference finals. They’ve appeared disoriented at times, especially on defense, with Coach Thibodeau scrambling for lineup answers as Indiana pushes the tempo. Their crushing Game 1 collapse still hangs over the series.

Greif agrees. While Minnesota’s arc suggests a team building for the future, New York pushed all its chips in now — sacrificing cap space and picks to maximize this playoff run. That makes this stumble even more bitter. The Knicks earned their spot with gritty play and huge wins, but back-to-back playoff exits at the hands of the Pacers would spark tough questions in the offseason.

Still, if either team has a shot at coming back, both writers pick the Knicks. Nadkarni notes that all of New York’s losses have been tight. A couple of bounces go differently, and they might be the ones up 3-1. With two more games at MSG, they’ll get one last jolt from their crowd — assuming they can channel it. Greif adds that Indiana’s control isn’t airtight. The Knicks mounted a late Game 3 rally and trimmed a double-digit deficit in Game 4. While OKC plays with machine-like discipline, Indiana’s style leaves more openings. That might be enough for the Knicks to fight their way back in.