With the NBA and NHL seasons recently concluding and new champions crowned, it`s time to evaluate how accurately the most popular simulation games for each sport predicted the final playoff results.
NBA 2K25 successfully predicted the Oklahoma City Thunder would defeat the Indiana Pacers for the championship. The simulation was remarkably close, being off by only a single game. 2K Games` forecast projected a 4-2 series victory for OKC, compared to the more tightly contested real-life outcome.
For reference, here is NBA 2K25`s specific game-by-game prediction:
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Game 1: Pacers 121 – 108 Thunder
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Game 2: Thunder 111 – 93 Pacers
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Game 3: Thunder 102 – 100 Pacers
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Game 4: Pacers 120 – 109 Thunder
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Game 5: Thunder 113 – 108 Pacers
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Game 6: Thunder 119 – 113 Pacers
The prediction for Game 2 is particularly noteworthy. While the exact score differed significantly from the actual 123-107 OKC win, the simulated point differential was only two points off the real result. Furthermore, the simulated winning scores in Game 1 (Pacers 121) and Game 4 (Thunder 109) coincidentally matched the actual final scores achieved by the winning teams in those specific real-life games.
Overall, NBA 2K25 delivered a quite accurate prediction for the Finals this year and correctly identified Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the Finals MVP.
In contrast, EA Sports` NHL 25 simulation proved much less accurate. Its predictions for the Stanley Cup Playoffs were already flawed, failing to correctly name a single team in the semifinals.
The hockey game`s simulation projected the Edmonton Oilers would overcome the Florida Panthers in a seven-game series (4-3), featuring an Oilers comeback after trailing 1-3. This scenario did not unfold in reality.
Here was the original NHL 25 prediction for the final series:
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Game 1: Panthers 4 – 2 Oilers
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Game 2: Oilers 2 – 1 Panthers
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Game 3: Panthers 5 – 3 Oilers
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Game 4: Panthers 4 – 2 Oilers
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Game 5: Oilers 3 – 2 Panthers
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Game 6: Oilers 5 – 4 Panthers
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Game 7: Oilers 3 – 2 Panthers
NHL 25 predicted overtime only once (in Game 5), whereas the actual series saw three games go beyond regulation time (none of them Game 5), including one double-overtime game. Additionally, the simulation incorrectly predicted Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner (Playoff MVP); the award was actually given to Connor McDavid, despite his team`s loss.
