MVP showdown, Cavs recreation plan: Largest questions for Spherical 2 of the 2025 NBA playoffs – ESPN

Quentin Richardson and David Dennis Jr. preview the Nuggets’ playoff collection vs. the Thunder. (1:39)
After an exhilarating two weeks of first-round play full of Recreation 7s and collection sweeps, the second spherical of the 2025 NBA playoffs will get underway.
The No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers, after a dominating common season, swept the Miami Heat within the first spherical and have become the primary staff within the East to assert a spot within the convention semifinals. On Sunday, the Cavaliers will tackle Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers after they knocked out the Milwaukee Bucks from the playoffs for the second season in a row.
From the play-in event to the NBA Finals, ESPN has you coated all through the playoffs.
• Recreation-by-game evaluation: Conf. Semis
• Paine: What a title would say for each playoff team
• Herring: First-round playoff MVPs
• Shelburne: Jokic, SGA set for MVP clash
The Boston Celtics, the 2024 NBA champions, transfer one step nearer to a repeat Finals look. However Boston will first must face off Monday in opposition to a gritty New York Knicks staff, which is coming off a troublesome first-round collection in opposition to the Detroit Pistons.
Within the West, after a grueling seven-game collection in opposition to the LA Clippers, the Denver Nuggets will meet the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in an MVP showdown starting Monday between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. The Minnesota Timberwolves will tackle the Golden State Warriors after they defeated the Houston Rockets in Recreation 7 on Sunday.
Earlier than we kick off the second spherical, our NBA consultants break down the largest questions for every matchup, together with which underdog is probably to advance and which participant matchup they’re most excited for.
Schedule and news | Round 2 expert picks | Offseason guide


In a battle of two elite offenses, which is able to prevail?
The hole between these two groups over the previous few months hasn’t been as large as their regular-season data would point out.
Since Jan.1, the Cavs are 35-14; the Pacers are 34-14. Nonetheless, Cleveland has led the Japanese Convention all season due to an elite offense that led the NBA in scoring with 121.9 factors per recreation. That is the second-best mark for any staff up to now 40 years, behind the Pacers’ 123.3 factors in 2023-24. The Cavs (136.2) and Pacers (118.0) had been the No. 1 and No. 2 offenses, respectively, by factors per 100 possessions throughout the first spherical of the playoffs.
Each groups wish to push the tempo, and this collection could possibly be determined by which offense establishes itself as extra dominant. — Jamal Collier
The Pacers will make their second straight ECF if _______.
Haliburton can dictate the circulation of this collection in opposition to Cleveland’s All-Star backcourt. Indy comes into this collection because the extra skilled staff, advancing deeper in final yr’s playoffs than many of the core members of the Cavs. And the Pacers will go so far as Haliburton takes them. He is already produced some large playoff moments up to now two years — besting the Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard final season and sending the Milwaukee Bucks dwelling in Recreation 5 of this season’s first spherical with a game-winning layup.
The Cavs aren’t speaking about the status of two-time All-Star Darius Garland, who missed the ultimate two video games of the primary spherical with a sprained left large toe. If Haliburton will get snug, begins spreading the ground and forcing Cleveland’s bigs to the perimeter, the Pacers can get the Cavs into some uncomfortable positions. — Collier
Greatest guess: Cavaliers -1.5 video games (-180)
Put me down because the one who expects the Cavaliers to win and win convincingly. Sure, the Pacers received the season collection, however that’s deceptive.
Two of these wins got here in April after the Cavs had clinched the highest seed and was beginning reserves. And the Pacers’ first win got here earlier than the commerce deadline deal that despatched De’Andre Hunter to Cleveland and with Ty Jerome out. The Cavaliers staff at full energy is considerably higher than the Pacers and might beat them at their very own model.
My official decide is Cavs in six video games, however I might see them taking this collection in 5. — Andre Snellings
More bets for Cavaliers-Pacers


After going 0-4 in opposition to the Celtics within the common season, what would be the Knicks’ greatest adjustment?
New York desperately must discover a strategy to collapse on the Celtics’ shooters higher than it did throughout the common season.
No membership performed as a lot pick-and-roll drop protection in opposition to Boston because the Knicks did, and Tom Thibodeau’s membership paid handsomely for it, surrendering 21 made 3s per recreation with the Celtics hitting 43.5% from deep in these 4 defeats.
A heavier presence of backup Mitchell Robinson, who has the agility to come back greater up on screens, might be key, as will schematic modifications on protection. — Chris Herring

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The Celtics’ greatest concern on this collection is _____?
Jrue Holiday‘s availability. Vacation missed the previous three video games of the first-round collection in opposition to Orlando with a hamstring damage. He was an enormous difference-maker within the regular-season conferences with New York, averaging 16 factors and three assists on 67% capturing in three video games.
Maybe most essential: He is one of many Celtics’ high defensive choices for Jalen Brunson, who scored 30 or extra 5 occasions in six video games throughout the first spherical.
In response to NBA.com’s matchup information, Vacation defended him for 80 possessions, limiting Brunson to 3-for-6 capturing and 6 factors in that regular-season span. — Herring
Greatest guess: Precise collection whole video games — six (+295)
The Knicks have struggled in opposition to the Celtics, dropping eight of their previous 9 matchups.
They’re additionally coming off a hard-fought collection in opposition to the Detroit Pistons. Whereas New York will give Boston extra of a problem than Orlando did in Spherical 1, the Celtics are just too potent offensively with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and wonderful depth — together with Sixth Man of the 12 months Payton Pritchard.
They’re additionally stout defensively. Boston will not sweep New York, however I envision it closing the collection with relative ease. — Eric Moody
More bets for Celtics-Knicks


How do Murray and Jokic remedy OKC’s league-leading protection?
They’ll begin by watching the tape of the final time these groups met: a 140-127 win for the Nuggets in Oklahoma Metropolis on March 10.
It was Jokic’s solely environment friendly capturing outing in 4 conferences with the Thunder, but it surely was a dominant efficiency, as he scored 35 factors on 15-of-20 capturing and dished out eight assists. Murray scored 34 factors that night time, greater than he had mixed within the different two video games he performed in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis this season.
He’ll need assistance from Jokic and different teammates to free him from Lu Dort, who’s nearly as good as any defender within the league at combating over or via screens. — Tim MacMahon
Which MVP candidate could have the larger affect on this collection?
It higher be Jokic if the Nuggets are going to have any likelihood to tug off the upset.
The Thunder are the far more proficient and deeper staff, as evidenced by Oklahoma Metropolis cruising to a league-best 68 wins and shattering the NBA report for level differential in a season.
However the Thunder are as well-equipped as anybody to comprise Jokic, that includes a pair of defensive-minded 7-footers in Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, in addition to a number of guards and wings who’re pests within the passing lanes. Denver can be missing an All-Defensive candidate to take the first task on Gilgeous-Alexander. — MacMahon
Greatest guess: Precise collection whole video games — 5 (+175)
Over the summer time I predicted the Thunder had been going to win all of it this yr, and nothing I’ve seen has modified my thoughts to date. Nevertheless, any staff with ‘Playoff Jamal Murray’ and Nikola Jokic is a menace to not solely win video games, however the collection. It is powerful to seek out worth on this collection however I do like Denver to get at the least one recreation and the +175 looks like an inexpensive payout if the Thunder can win 4-1. The Thunder might sweep, or Denver might win multiple recreation, however 5 video games appears like the neatest guess to me. The groups break up the season collection 2-2, however I will be stunned if Denver will get that many wins on this one. — Steve Alexander
More bets for Thunder-Nuggets


How can Kerr plan on stopping Anthony Edwards?
Steve Kerr and his teaching employees, together with defensive coach Jerry Stackhouse, have a day to determine decelerate Edwards for Recreation 1. Already loaded with confidence, Edwards enters this collection on a excessive, averaging 26.8 factors, 8.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists within the first spherical win over the Lakers. Kerr is aware of how proficient Edwards is after teaching him with USA Basketball and averaged 26 factors in opposition to the Warriors this season however Minnesota went 1-3 in opposition to Golden State. The final time the 2 groups confronted one another was on Jan. 15, however each groups are completely different now with Minnesota enjoying with extra confidence and Golden State now in a rhythm with Jimmy Butler III. The Warriors should use their championship pedigree and huge playoff expertise to get the perfect of Edwards and should ship completely different defenders on the three-time All-Star. Kerr might additionally put his finest defender, Draymond Green, on Edwards, however Inexperienced will even have to fret in regards to the Minnesota large males. “He is enjoying with supreme confidence,” Curry stated of Edwards. “We all know they’d their run final yr [to the Western Conference Finals] and a brand new look with Randle. However identical Ant who’s making an attempt to take strides with each alternative he will get and it’ll be a troublesome problem. We all know we acquired to ship a number of our bodies at him and determine a recreation plan to go at him. However yeah, they’re sizzling proper now.” — Ohm Youngmisuk
Friday, Might 9
Cavaliers at Pacers, 7:30 p.m.
Thunder at Nuggets, 10 p.m.
All occasions Japanese
How do the smaller Warriors keep away from the Lakers’ destiny in opposition to Gobert, McDaniels, Randle and Reid?
Before everything, Inexperienced has to take care of his composure and keep on the court docket without getting into foul trouble and earn any potential technical and flagrant fouls in opposition to Rudy Gobert as these two have a historical past. He took onus that he set a poor tone in Recreation 6 by incomes an early flagrant foul and spoke to the staff about it in an emotional gamers assembly on Saturday earlier than Recreation 7 in opposition to Houston. Golden State had all kinds of points in opposition to Houston’s big entrance line of Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams whereas having hassle containing the athletic Amen Thompson inside as nicely. The Warriors had been outrebounded by a mixed whole of 51 rebounds within the seven-game collection, profitable the rebounding battle solely as soon as in Recreation 5. They will face one other difficult collection on the glass in opposition to Gobert, Randle, McDaniels and Naz Reid. The Warriors might use Kevon Looney in a much bigger function and regardless of his struggles on the finish of the primary spherical, additionally make the most of rookie Quinten Post due to his capacity to stretch the ground. Butler may assist by seeking to make photographs and get the Minnesota bigs into foul hassle. — Youngmisuk
Greatest guess: Sequence whole video games — over 5.5 (-175)
The juice right here is sort of robust, however at the least it is a wholly cheap place. Level being, that is the hardest second-round collection to mission. It would not seem one staff has an enormous benefit both means, which might naturally result in expectations for an extended and aggressive collection. The Timberwolves carry related dimensions of the toughness, athleticism and angle the Rockets confirmed of their first-round with the Warriors. Additionally they carry way more offensive firepower in a wide range of types. This reads like an extended battle, so the worth is extra palatable in that context. — Jim McCormick
More bets for Timberwolves-Warriors
The underdog probably to advance is _____.
The current monitor report for groups just like the Timberwolves, which go from underdogs in a single spherical to favorites within the subsequent, is blended. That is occurred six occasions since 2020, with the newly minted favorites going 3-3 in these collection. Minnesota fell into that class final yr within the convention finals. Underdogs in opposition to Denver in spherical two with out home-court benefit, the Timberwolves had been then favored to beat the Dallas Mavericks as the upper seed within the collection, solely to lose in 5 video games. I am nonetheless selecting Minnesota to win as a result of Golden State has to expire of gasoline sooner or later, however I believe this collection is finest thought-about a toss-up. — Kevin Pelton
What’s the most intriguing participant matchup within the second spherical?
Do I get to say Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic? The final time the highest two finishers in MVP voting squared off within the playoffs was James Harden and Russell Westbrook in 2017. That yr was throughout the NBA’s short-lived awards present period, so we did not but know the outcomes. It is doable this time the trophy could possibly be handed out throughout the collection, as in 1995, when David Robinson was offered with MVP earlier than Recreation 2 of the Western Convention finals in opposition to reigning MVP Hakeem Olajuwon. Olajuwon responded with 41 factors and 16 boards because the Rockets received in San Antonio. — Pelton

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