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 crammed with Sport 7s and collection sweeps, the second spherical of the 2025 NBA playoffs will get underway.
The No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>, after a dominating common season, swept the Miami Heat<\/a> within the first spherical and have become the primary group within the East to assert a spot within the convention semifinals. On Sunday, the Cavaliers will tackle Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> and the Indiana Pacers<\/a> after they knocked out the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> from the playoffs for the second season in a row.
From the play-in match to the NBA Finals, ESPN has you coated all through the playoffs.
\u2022 Sport-by-game evaluation: <\/strong> Conf. Semis<\/a>
\u2022 Paine:<\/strong> What a title would say for each playoff team<\/a>
\u2022 Herring:<\/strong> First-round playoff MVPs<\/a>
\u2022 Shelburne:<\/strong> Jokic, SGA set for MVP clash<\/a>
The Boston Celtics<\/a>, the 2024 NBA champions, transfer one step nearer to a repeat Finals look. However Boston will first need to face off Monday in opposition to a gritty New York Knicks<\/a> group, which is coming off a troublesome first-round collection in opposition to the Detroit Pistons<\/a>.
Within the West, after a grueling seven-game collection in opposition to the LA Clippers<\/a>, the Denver Nuggets<\/a> will meet the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> in an MVP showdown starting Monday between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> and Nikola Jokic<\/a>. The Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a> will tackle the Golden State Warriors<\/a> after they defeated the Houston Rockets<\/a> in Sport 7 on Sunday.
Earlier than we kick off the second spherical, our NBA specialists break down the largest questions for every matchup, together with which underdog is most certainly to advance and which participant matchup they’re most excited for.
Schedule and news<\/a> | Round 2 expert picks<\/a> | Offseason guide<\/a> <\/strong>
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In a battle of two elite offenses, which is able to prevail? <\/strong>
The hole between these two groups over the previous few months hasn’t been as broad as their regular-season information would point out.
Since Jan.1, the Cavs are 35-14; the Pacers are 34-14. Nonetheless, Cleveland has led the Jap 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 group previously 40 years, behind the Pacers’ 123.3 factors in 2023-24. The Cavs (136.2) and Pacers (118.0) have 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<\/i>
The Pacers will make their second straight ECF if _______.<\/strong>
Haliburton can dictate the move of this collection in opposition to Cleveland’s All-Star backcourt. Indy comes into this collection because the extra skilled group, advancing deeper in final yr’s playoffs than a lot of the core members of the Cavs. And the Pacers will go so far as Haliburton takes them. He is already produced some massive playoff moments previously two years — besting the Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard final season and sending the Milwaukee Bucks residence in Sport 5 of this season’s first spherical with a game-winning layup.
The Cavs aren’t speaking about the status<\/a> of two-time All-Star Darius Garland<\/a>, who missed the ultimate two video games of the primary spherical with a sprained left massive 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<\/i>
Finest guess: Cavaliers -1.5 video games (-180)<\/strong>
Put me down because the one who expects the Cavaliers to win and win convincingly. Sure, the Pacers gained 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<\/a> to Cleveland and with Ty Jerome<\/a> out. The Cavaliers group at full energy is considerably higher than the Pacers and might beat them at their very own fashion.
My official decide is Cavs in six video games, however I might see them taking this collection in 5. — Andre Snellings<\/i>
More bets for Cavaliers-Pacers<\/a>
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After going 0-4 in opposition to the Celtics within the common season, what would be the Knicks’ greatest adjustment?<\/strong>
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<\/a>, who has the agility to come back increased up on screens, can be key, as will schematic modifications on protection. — Chris Herring<\/i>
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The Celtics’ greatest concern on this collection is _____?<\/strong>
Jrue Holiday<\/a>‘s availability. Vacation missed the previous three video games of the first-round collection in opposition to Orlando with a hamstring harm. 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 necessary: He is one of many Celtics’ high defensive choices for Jalen Brunson<\/a>, who scored 30 or extra 5 occasions in six video games throughout the first spherical.
In response to NBA.com’s matchup knowledge, Vacation defended him for 80 possessions, limiting Brunson to 3-for-6 capturing and 6 factors in that regular-season span. — Herring<\/i>
Finest guess: Precise collection whole video games — six (+295)<\/strong>
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<\/a>, Jaylen Brown<\/a> and glorious depth — together with Sixth Man of the 12 months Payton Pritchard<\/a>.
They’re additionally stout defensively. Boston will not sweep New York, however I envision it closing the collection with relative ease. — Eric Moody<\/i>
More bets for Celtics-Knicks<\/a>
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How do Murray and Jokic clear up OKC’s league-leading protection?<\/strong>
They will 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<\/a>, who’s pretty much as good as any defender within the league at preventing over or by means of screens. — Tim MacMahon<\/i>
Which MVP candidate may have the larger influence on this collection?<\/strong>
It higher be Jokic if the Nuggets are going to have any probability to drag off the upset.
The Thunder are the rather more proficient and deeper group, as evidenced by Oklahoma Metropolis cruising to a league-best 68 wins and shattering the NBA document 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<\/a> and Chet Holmgren<\/a>, 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<\/i>
Finest guess: Precise collection whole video games — 5 (+175)<\/strong>
Over the summer season I predicted the Thunder have been going to win all of it this yr, and nothing I’ve seen has modified my thoughts to date. Nevertheless, any group 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 looks 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<\/i>
More bets for Thunder-Nuggets<\/a>
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How can Kerr plan on stopping Anthony Edwards<\/a>?<\/strong>
Steve Kerr and his teaching employees, together with defensive coach Jerry Stackhouse, have a day to determine find out how to decelerate Edwards for Sport 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<\/a>. The Warriors must use their championship pedigree and huge playoff expertise to get one of the best of Edwards and must ship completely different defenders on the three-time All-Star. Kerr might additionally put his finest defender, Draymond Green<\/a>, on Edwards, however Inexperienced may also have to fret concerning the Minnesota massive males. “He is enjoying with supreme confidence,” Curry stated of Edwards. “We all know that they had their run final yr [to the Western Conference Finals] and a brand new look with Randle. However identical Ant who’s attempting to take strides with each alternative he will get and it is going to be a troublesome problem. We all know we received to ship a number of our bodies at him and work out a recreation plan to go at him. However yeah, they’re sizzling proper now.” — Ohm Youngmisuk<\/i>
Friday, Could 9<\/b>
Cavaliers at Pacers, 7:30 p.m.<\/a>
Thunder at Nuggets, 10 p.m.<\/a>
All occasions Jap<\/em>
How do the smaller Warriors keep away from the Lakers’ destiny in opposition to Gobert, McDaniels, Randle and Reid?<\/strong>
Initially, Inexperienced has to keep up his composure and keep on the court docket without getting into foul trouble<\/a> and earn any potential technical and flagrant fouls in opposition to Rudy Gobert<\/a> as these two have a historical past. He took onus that he set a poor tone in Sport 6 by incomes an early flagrant foul and spoke to the group about it in an emotional gamers assembly on Saturday earlier than Sport 7 in opposition to Houston. Golden State had all types of points in opposition to Houston’s large entrance line of Alperen Sengun<\/a> and Steven Adams<\/a> whereas having bother containing the athletic Amen Thompson<\/a> inside as nicely. The Warriors have been outrebounded by a mixed whole of 51 rebounds within the seven-game collection, successful the rebounding battle solely as soon as in Sport 5. They’re going to face one other difficult collection on the glass in opposition to Gobert, Randle, McDaniels and Naz Reid<\/a>. The Warriors might use Kevon Looney<\/a> in a much bigger position and regardless of his struggles on the finish of the primary spherical, additionally make the most of rookie Quinten Post<\/a> due to his means to stretch the ground. Butler can even assist by seeking to make pictures and get the Minnesota bigs into foul bother. — Youngmisuk<\/i>
Finest guess: Collection whole video games — over 5.5 (-175)<\/strong>
The juice right here is kind of sturdy, however at the least it is a wholly cheap place. Level being, that is the hardest second-round collection to undertaking. It would not seem one group has an enormous benefit both means, which might naturally result in expectations for a protracted and aggressive collection. The Timberwolves deliver comparable dimensions of the toughness, athleticism and perspective the Rockets confirmed of their first-round with the Warriors. In addition they deliver much more offensive firepower in a wide range of varieties. This reads like a protracted battle, so the value is extra palatable in that context. — Jim McCormick<\/em>
More bets for Timberwolves-Warriors<\/a>
The underdog most certainly to advance is _____.<\/strong>
The current observe document 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 have been then favored to beat the Dallas Mavericks<\/a> 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 in some unspecified time in the future, however I believe this collection is finest thought of a toss-up. — Kevin Pelton<\/i>
What’s the most intriguing participant matchup within the second spherical?<\/strong>
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<\/a> and Russell Westbrook<\/a> in 2017. That yr was throughout the NBA’s short-lived awards present period, so we did not but know the outcomes. It is attainable this time the trophy could possibly be handed out throughout the collection, as in 1995, when David Robinson was introduced with MVP earlier than Sport 2 of the Western Convention finals in opposition to reigning MVP Hakeem Olajuwon<\/a>. Olajuwon responded with 41 factors and 16 boards because the Rockets gained in San Antonio. — Pelton<\/i><\/p>\n

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