The 2025-2026 OKC Thunder are the first team in NBA history to start 24-1 and not appear in the NBA finals
The other team that started 24-1 was the 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors who lost in 7 games in the NBA finals. The 1969-1970 New York Knicks started off 23-1 and won that championship against the Lakers in 7 games.