Along with former NBA champion and eventual Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam, the Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks and upset the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games each. They then traded haymakers with the New York Knicks in a heated six-game series that produced plenty of viral moments.

All season long, the Oklahoma City Thunder displayed dominance unlike any other team and that all culminated with their first trip to the NBA Finals in 13 years.