Nuggets-Knicks: After pushing the Thunder to Game 7 in last year’s Western Conference Semifinals, this time around it is Nikola Jokić and the bolstered Nuggets that prevail in seven games in the Western Conference Finals to dethrone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC and guarantee an eighth straight season with a new NBA champion.

Thursday’s NBA action isn’t nearly as extensive as the 12-game slate on Wednesday, as there are just four teams in action, but two are making their season debut

Free Press sports writers answer big questions and making predictions about the Detroit Pistons and NBA Finals for the 2025-26 season.

The Celtics notoriously blew back-to-back 20-point leads in that series, shocking the NBA world. This time around, Boston will be without several key faces from that matchup, having traded Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, while Jayson Tatum continues to rehab a torn Achilles.

The Grizzlies took a clear step back by trading Bane away for draft picks. They still have Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., which will keep their floor at around .500. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could have a bounce back year after losing his 3-point touch in Orlando.

ESPN analyst Kevin Pelton used simulation No. 620 to run through the NBA season from Opening Night to the Finals.