The 2025 Finals matchup might prove the NBA Cup means more than you think

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, having both lost in the In-Season Tournament, are now set to face each other in the 2025 NBA Finals, highlighting a potential trend where losing the tournament may lead to playoff success. Both teams, representing smaller markets, were motivated by their previous defeats in the NBA Cup, with the Pacers losing to the Lakers in 2023 and the Thunder to the Bucks in 2024. This matchup serves as a reminder that past champions of the tournament, the Lakers and Bucks, faced early playoff exits, raising questions about the tournament’s impact on postseason performance.

Full Article