2025 NBA playoffs: Conference semifinals takeaways

The second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs is here, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game of the Eastern and Western conference semifinals.

The No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers kicked off the East semis Sunday night by taking home-court advantage away from the No. 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers with a 121-112 victory. The Cavs fell to the Pacers again Tuesday, this time 120-119, after Tyrese Haliburton drilled a 3-pointer with one second left.

Also on Tuesday, No. 7 seed Golden State defeated the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves 99-88 despite an injury to Warriors star Stephen Curry.

The East’s third-seeded New York Knicks beat the 2-seed Boston Celtics in an overtime thriller in Game 1 behind Jalen Brunson’s 29 points before shocking Boston again Wednesday in a 91-90 comeback victory to take a 2-0 series lead. The 4-seed Denver Nuggets toppled the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the West after a fourth-quarter surge in Game 1, but the Thunder bounced back in Game 2 to even the series with a 43-point win.

As teams continue to chase the Larry O’Brien Trophy, here’s what matters most in both conferences and what to watch for in all four series.

Jump to a series:Cavaliers-Pacers | Knicks-CelticsThunder-Nuggets | Warriors-Timberwolves

More coverage:Schedules and results | Offseason guides

Western Conference

Game 2: Thunder 149, Nuggets 106

What we learned in Game 2: The Thunder looked every bit like the NBA’s youngest team in Game 1, but they had a hell of a response in Game 2. The first half felt like one of those fast-moving thunderstorms that can roll across Oklahoma City in seconds. Just as the rest of the country was tuning in after the Knicks’ stunning comeback in Boston, the Thunder went up 24 in the first quarter. By the second quarter, they had gone up by as many as 39 before breaking the NBA record for points in a first half (87). MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander set the tone with a hyperefficient 34 points on 11-of-13 shooting with eight assists.

Game 3: Thunder at Nuggets (Friday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN)

What to watch in Game 3: Let’s be clear: The Nuggets lost this game on the court. But you’re going to hear a lot about how three-time MVP Nikola Jokic was refereed in Game 2. Officials called him for two straight offensive fouls, leading to him fouling out toward the end of the third quarter. The Thunder made a great adjustment by switching Jaylin Williams onto him in Game 2 in place of Chet Holmgren after Jokic destroyed the OKC frontline Monday. It’ll be interesting to see Denver’s counter in Game 3. — Ramona Shelburne

Game 1: Warriors 99, Timberwolves 88

What we learned: It’s hard to think of this as anything other than a major missed opportunity for the Timberwolves. When Stephen Curry exited in the second quarter with a left hamstring injury after scoring 13 points in 13 minutes, the Wolves had a chance to take charge. Instead, the Warriors proved they can win without their superstar. Give credit to the Warriors’ Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III for brilliant floor games, as they combined for 38 points, 19 rebounds, 14 assists, 4 steals. But Minnesota shot itself out of it. As anomalous as the Wolves’ 3-point shooting seemed in their closeout win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, when they went 7-for-47 from deep and advanced out of the first round, the troubling trend continued in their second-round opener on Tuesday.

Minnesota started Game 1 by going 0-for-15 from 3 in the first half, tying their own record for the most missed 3s without a make in a playoff half in the past 25 seasons, according to ESPN Research. It was the first time the Wolves didn’t make a 3 in a half of a playoff game since 2004 and the first time they didn’t hit one in a half of any game since 2018. It was an inexplicable cold spell, considering the Wolves ranked No. 4 in 3-point percentage and No. 5 in total 3s made in the regular season. Anthony Edwards finished with 23 points, but only after starting 0-for-10. Julius Randle, after being lights out against the Lakers, was an underwhelming 4-for-11. A team has no business thinking about winning an NBA game in 2025 while only scoring 88 points. — Dave McMenamin

Game 2: Warriors at Timberwolves (Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to watch: All eyes will be on Curry’s left hamstring strain, which could change the complexion of this series. Curry was hurt following a driving floater early in the second quarter. Depending on the severity of the injury, the likelihood is that Curry is looking at missing time; the question is how much. There is just one day off in between each contest from Games 1 through 5. But after that, there is an unusual three-day break between Games 5 and 6. Curry has missed 12 playoff games in his career, the most recent one being Game 1 of the 2018 Western Conference semifinals when a knee injury sidelined him against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Warriors have gone 9-3 without him in the playoffs, but they had Green and Klay Thompson in all 12 of those games and Kevin Durant in six.

Green continued his stellar play from Game 7 against the Houston Rockets by setting a tone on defense and hitting four 3-pointers on Tuesday. The Warriors’ offense will be centered around Butler’s playmaking. And Golden State will need Butler to do what he does best: Carry the offense without Curry. Perhaps Jonathan Kuminga, who was pressed into action following Curry’s injury, will return to the picture again and see a bigger role since the Warriors will need all the scoring they can get. Golden State’s defense was outstanding, but it can’t bank on Anthony Edwards again missing his first 10 shots from the field. — Ohm Youngmisuk

Eastern Conference

Game 2: Knicks 91, Celtics 90

What we learned: Game 1 apparently wasn’t a fluke. Like Game 1, the Celtics pulled ahead in the first half, and built a 20-point advantage in the third quarter. Like Game 1, the Knicks came roaring back while Boston’s offense went ice cold — this time for a nearly nine-minute span without a basket in the fourth quarter. And like Game 1, Jalen Brunson and the cardiac Knicks were able to hold on late and stun the defending champions, who have now blown back-to-back 20-point leads and find themselves down 2-0 heading to Madison Square Garden over the weekend.

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Celtics coach breaks down final-minute failures vs. Knicks

Joe Mazzulla explains what went wrong for the Celtics in the final minutes against the New York Knicks in Game 2.

Game 3: Celtics at Knicks (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

What to watch: A few things: Are the Celtics, who have been historically good on the road this season, any more comfortable shooting from 3 in New York? After hitting just 15-for-60 in Game 1, they hit the same brutal 25% on Wednesday, going 10-for-40 in Game 2. Also, is Kristaps Porzingis able to extend his minutes? And, more than anything, are the battle-tested Celtics in a decent headspace after blowing a pair of monumental leads? We’ll find out in Game 3. — Chris Herring

Game 2: Pacers 120, Cavaliers 119

What we learned: Tyrese Haliburton did it again. The Pacers had been behind all game long before a furious comeback in the fourth quarter, when Indiana outscored Cleveland 36-21, punctuated by a step-back game-winning 3-pointer from Haliburton to stun the home crowd and give Indiana a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. The Pacers were down by as many as 20 points thanks to a superstar performance from Donovan Mitchell, who finished with 48 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds, joining LeBron James as the only Cavs players with 45 points and 5 assists in a playoff game. But it wasn’t enough to rally a top-seeded Cavs team missing three key rotation players; after dropping two home games to open the series, they head to Indianapolis needing a fast response.

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Tyrese Haliburton breaks Cavs’ hearts with dagger game-winning 3

Tyrese Haliburton gets the ball after a missed free throw, then nails a step-back 3 to allow the Pacers to rally for a win in Game 2.

Game 3: Cleveland at Pacers (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

What to watch: The short-handed Cavs travel to Indy down 0-2, and their injury concerns will be a question mark for the rest of the series. None of the three Cavs on the injury report for Game 2 — Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter — took the floor for a workout on Tuesday, and there is concern about their status going forward. Garland hasn’t played since April 23, and Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson expressed concern over putting him on the court at less than 100 percent with the fast-paced nature of this series. Mobley has been walking with a noticeable limp since Sunday’s game, and Hunter dislocated the thumb on his shooting hand in Game 1. — Jamal Collier