The NBA playoffs are here. 🏀

[Greenbacks]

Experts predict the second-round.​

The second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs is underway, with eight teams going head-to-head for a chance to move one step closer to their championship hopes.
Sunday kicks off with the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers taking on the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers after the Cavs swept the Miami Heat in the first round. Monday, the Eastern Conference showdowns continue as the defending champion No. 2 seed Boston Celtics host the No. 3 seed New York Knicks.
After an exciting seven-game series, the Denver Nuggets will move on to face the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder. The No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves await the winner of Game 7 between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets.
After a first round filled with sweeps and Game 7s, our NBA experts are making their picks for each second-round series.

East second round​

Cleveland Cavaliers (1)
vs. Indiana Pacers (4)

Tim MacMahon: Cavaliers in 6
Kevin Pelton: Cavaliers in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Cavaliers in 6
Andre Snellings: Cavaliers in 6
Jorge Sedano: Cavaliers in 7
Jerry Brembry: Cavaliers in 6
Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers in 6
Jamal Collier: Cavaliers in 6
Chris Herring: Cavaliers in 6
Marc Spears: Cavaliers in 6
Jeremy Woo: Cavaliers in 6

Final tally:
Cleveland 11, Indiana 0

Boston Celtics (2)
vs. New York Knicks (3)

Tim MacMahon: Celtics in 6
Kevin Pelton: Celtics in 5
Ramona Shelburne: Celtics in 6
Andre Snellings: Celtics in 7
Jorge Sedano: Celtics in 6
Jerry Brembry: Celtics in 5
Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 7
Jamal Collier: Celtics in 6
Chris Herring: Celtics in 5
Marc Spears: Celtics in 6
Jeremy Woo: Celtics in 6

Final tally:
Boston 11, New York 0

West second round​

Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
vs. Denver Nuggets (4)

Kevin Pelton: Thunder in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Thunder in 7
Jorge Sedano: Thunder in 6
Jerry Brembry: Thunder in 6
Dave McMenamin: Thunder in 6
Jamal Collier: Thunder in 7
Chris Herring: Thunder in 7
Marc Spears: Thunder in 6
Jeremy Woo: Thunder in 7

Final tally:
Oklahoma City 9, Denver 0

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[skoda]

I don't no one player on Cavs/Pacers? Will check others in next round.... Reed Shepperd later

 

[Greenbacks]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1919244412003254783

 

[Greenbacks]

Reed Shepperd later

He didn't get any playing time

 

[skoda]

He didn't get any playing time

Bad decision actually watched Final Quarter I would have used him in place of whoever # 5 is for Rockets? #5 3 turnovers at least and was not shooting? Passed up a few 3 pointers that Houston needed. Checking lineups of remaining teams. Longfot I watch or bet any basketball till fall…. Good Luck with your plays….

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[MAGAking1]

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[skoda]

Checked all rosters no names besides Jovic & Jamal si I guess time to completely forget about NBA

 

[skoda]

Checked all rosters no names besides Jovic & Jamal si I guess time to completely forget about NBA

Names change results don’t? Vegas is Vegas total on knicks/celtic 213 final 108-105 thry R amazing

 

[skoda]

Or middle if you got 212 1/2 or 213 1/2

 

[Greenbacks]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1919610015645659382

 

[devocr]

Denver Nuggets steal game #1 vs OKC 121 - 119

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

Celtics 'a little bit off' but calm after historically bad 3-pt shooting night.​

BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics had won 125 regular-season games and 20 of their past 24 playoff games over the past two years coming into their series with the New York Knicks, doing so happily being unapologetic about their historic 3-point shot hoisting.
But the Celtics might've finally reached a saturation point as they missed a record 45 of them Monday night as the Knicks took advantage in a 108-105 Game 1 overtime victory.
At one point in the second half, after the Celtics built a 20-point lead and looked to be on their way to a 10th win in their past 11 meetings with the Knicks, Boston missed its next 10 shots and all were 3-pointers. In all, the Celtics went 15-of-60 on 3-pointers, the most ever taken in a playoff game.
Some of 'em felt good, some of 'em felt like we maybe forced the issue," said Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who was 1-of-10 on 3s. "Definitely our rhythm and our timing was a little bit off. We got a lot of great looks, but it may be some truth [to shooting too many] today."
Brown was correct on the open looks. The Celtics took 45 "uncontested" 3-pointers and missed 32 of them, per ESPN Research tracking. But the volume of attempts, even when the shots weren't falling, caused the second guessing.
"Obviously in hindsight, if we could go back, we'd probably drive the ball a little bit more because we missed a lot of shots tonight," said Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who went 4-of-15 on 3s. "You can always go back and look and see what you should have done differently."
On several occasions down the stretch, the Celtics ran offensive actions that put Tatum in favorable matchups against smaller or slower defenders, but he bailed out the Knicks by taking longer lower- percentage shots.
All the misses -- Boston was 9-of-34 on 3s after halftime -- opened the door for New York to claw back for the lead. After giving up 84 3-pointers in four losses to the Celtics during the regular season, the Knicks made two more 3-pointers (17) than the Celtics on 23 fewer attempts.
I look at the process and the shot quality, [and] our shot quality was high," said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who has made it a mission for his team to seek as many 3-pointers as possible. "There were probably eight to 10 shots that could be better at for sure."
That might sound resolute from the coach but that stance is softer than the one Mazzulla has taken in the past on cold shooting nights, a nod to just how many misses piled up.
After establishing a 20-point lead in the third quarter, the Celtics finished the game 3-of-28 on 3-pointers and took only six free throws in that span. Meanwhile, the Knicks saw OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson score or assist on 55 of 63 points after halftime.
"In those moments when the other team got momentum you can't just fire up 3s to break up momentum," Brown said. "You got to get to the free throw line, get to the paint, get to the basket, maybe get an easy two. You hit some free throws and then maybe the next 3-pointer feels a little bit better."

 

[Greenbacks]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1919634093978870210

 

[Greenbacks]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1919757381694587186

 

[Greenbacks]