The second spherical of the 2025 NBA playoffs is right here, and our NBA insiders have you ever coated for each sport of the Japanese and Western convention semifinals.
The No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers kicked off the East semis Sunday evening by taking home-court benefit away from the No. 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers with a 121-112 victory. The Cavs fell to the Pacers once more Tuesday 120-119 after Tyrese Haliburton drilled a 3-pointer with one second left.
After the No. 7 seed Golden State defeated the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves 99-88 on Tuesday, the Wolves bounced again Thursday evening defeating the Warriors 117-93 in Sport 2 to tie the collection.
The East’s third-seeded New York Knicks beat the 2-seed Boston Celtics in additional time in Sport 1 behind Jalen Brunson‘s 29 factors earlier than surprising Boston once more Wednesday in a 91-90 comeback victory to take a 2-0 collection lead. The 4-seed Denver Nuggets toppled the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder within the West after a fourth-quarter surge in Sport 1, however the Thunder got here again in Sport 2 to even the collection with a 43-point win.
As groups proceed to chase the Larry O’Brien Trophy, here is what issues most in each conferences and what to observe for in all 4 collection.
Bounce to a collection:
Cavaliers-Pacers | Knicks-Celtics
Thunder-Nuggets | Warriors-Timberwolves
Extra protection:
Schedules and results | Offseason guides
Western Convention
Sport 2: Timberwolves 117, Warriors 93
What we realized: Minnesota got here out with the mandatory drive to even this collection, beginning Sport 2 with a 13-0 run with Julius Randle setting the tone with two assists and 5 factors throughout that surge. With Stephen Curry on the sideline with a strained left hamstring, Golden State fell behind 25-7. The Warriors’ offense went by way of Jimmy Butler, however there wasn’t sufficient offense from him as he took solely 13 pictures. Buddy Hield, now dealing with higher defenders with Curry out, was held in test for a lot of the sport earlier than ending with 15 factors. Brandin Podziemski contributed 11 factors, six rebounds and 6 assists however will most likely have to attain 20 or extra with Curry out for Golden State to have an opportunity to win. And after hitting 4 3-pointers in Sport 1, Draymond Green went 1-for-6 from behind the arc. Steve Kerr — who performed 14 gamers within the first half, most by a staff since 1998 — discovered a spark in Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Kuminga hit his first seven pictures earlier than ending with 18 factors, and Jackson-Davis had 15 factors whereas making all six of his makes an attempt. However they could not overcome the Wolves, particularly with Anthony Edwards returning for the second half after he injured his left ankle. Edwards had 20 factors and 9 rebounds whereas Randle added 24 factors, 11 assists and 7 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels additionally performed effectively with 16 factors on 7-for-10 capturing. Golden State obtained inside seven within the third quarter however could not get any nearer. The Warriors will head again to San Francisco nonetheless trying to discover the place the offense will come from with out Curry. — Ohm Youngmisuk
0:18
Julius Randle’s two-handed jam places bow on win
Julius Randle will get behind the protection and crams residence the two-handed dunk to revive Minnesota’s 20-point lead.
Sport 3: Wolves at Warriors (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
What to observe: After being held below 100 in its Sport 1 win, Golden State continued struggling to attain with out Curry in Sport 2. Golden State’s 39 factors within the first half had been the fewest it has scored out of its 9 playoff video games, and it completed with simply 93. With out the shock contributions from Kuminga (18 factors on 8-for-11 capturing) and Jackson-Davis (15 factors on 6-for-6 capturing), the Warriors’ offense would have been completely inept. The Warriors struggled from 3, going 9-for-32 (28.1%), and Butler, Hield and Inexperienced mixed to attain simply 41 factors after combining for 62 in Sport 1. They might want to generate extra factors to remain on this collection. — Dave McMenamin
Sport 2: Thunder 149, Nuggets 106
What we realized: The Thunder seemed each bit just like the NBA’s youngest staff in Sport 1, however that they had a hell of a response in Sport 2. The primary half felt like a kind of fast-moving thunderstorms that may roll throughout Oklahoma Metropolis in seconds. Simply as the remainder of the nation was tuning in after the Knicks’ gorgeous comeback in Boston, the Thunder went up 24 within the first quarter. By the second quarter, that they had gone up by as many as 39 earlier than breaking the NBA document for factors in a primary half (87). MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander set the tone with a hyperefficient 34 factors on 11-of-13 capturing with eight assists.
2:09
Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder: Sport Highlights
Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder: Sport Highlights
Sport 3: Thunder at Nuggets (Friday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
What to observe: Let’s be clear: The Nuggets misplaced this sport on the court docket. However you are going to hear loads about how three-time MVP Nikola Jokic was refereed in Sport 2. Officers referred to as him for 2 straight offensive fouls, resulting in him fouling out towards the tip of the third quarter. The Thunder made a terrific adjustment by switching Jaylin Williams onto him in Sport 2 rather than Chet Holmgren after Jokic destroyed the OKC frontline Monday. It will be attention-grabbing to see Denver’s counter in Sport 3. — Ramona Shelburne
Japanese Convention
Sport 2: Knicks 91, Celtics 90
What we realized: Sport 1 apparently wasn’t a fluke. Like Sport 1, the Celtics pulled forward within the first half, and constructed a 20-point benefit within the third quarter. Like Sport 1, the Knicks got here roaring again whereas Boston’s offense went ice chilly — this time for a virtually nine-minute span and not using a basket within the fourth quarter. And like Sport 1, Jalen Brunson and the cardiac Knicks had been in a position to maintain on late and stun the defending champions, who’ve now blown back-to-back 20-point leads and discover themselves down 2-0 heading to Madison Sq. Backyard over the weekend.
1:09
Knicks take Sport 2 behind one other clutch Bridges steal
Mikal Bridges steals the ball from Jayson Tatum within the closing seconds to provide the Knicks one other dramatic victory over the Celtics.
Sport 3: Celtics at Knicks (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
What to observe: A couple of issues: Are the Celtics, who’ve been traditionally good on the highway this season, any extra comfy capturing from 3 in New York? After hitting simply 15-for-60 in Sport 1, they hit the identical brutal 25% on Wednesday, going 10-for-40 in Sport 2. Additionally, is Kristaps Porzingis in a position to lengthen his minutes? And, greater than something, are the battle-tested Celtics in a good headspace after blowing a pair of monumental leads? We’ll discover out in Sport 3. — Chris Herring
Sport 2: Pacers 120, Cavaliers 119
What we realized: Tyrese Haliburton did it once more. The Pacers had been behind all sport lengthy earlier than a livid comeback within the fourth quarter, when Indiana outscored Cleveland 36-21, punctuated by a step-back game-winning 3-pointer from Haliburton to stun the house crowd and provides Indiana a commanding 2-0 lead within the collection. The Pacers had been down by as many as 20 factors due to a famous person efficiency from Donovan Mitchell, who completed with 48 factors, 9 assists and 5 rebounds, becoming a member of LeBron James as the one Cavs gamers with 45 factors and 5 assists in a playoff sport. However it wasn’t sufficient to rally a top-seeded Cavs staff lacking three key rotation gamers; after dropping two residence video games to open the collection, they head to Indianapolis needing a quick response.
1:31
Tyrese Haliburton breaks Cavs’ hearts with dagger game-winning 3
Tyrese Haliburton will get the ball after a missed free throw, then nails a step-back 3 to permit the Pacers to rally for a win in Sport 2.
Sport 3: Cleveland at Pacers (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
What to observe: The short-handed Cavs journey to Indy down 0-2, and their harm considerations will likely be a query mark for the remainder of the collection. Not one of the three Cavs on the harm report for Sport 2 — Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter — took the ground for a exercise on Tuesday, and there’s concern about their standing going ahead. Garland hasn’t performed since April 23, and Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson expressed concern over placing him on the court docket at lower than 100% with the fast-paced nature of this collection. Mobley has been strolling with a noticeable limp since Sunday’s sport, and Hunter dislocated the thumb on his capturing hand in Sport 1. — Jamal Collier
