The second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs has begun, as eight teams look to take another step closer to a title.
All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-seven, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home-court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary).
The Cleveland Cavaliers claimed the No. 1 seed in the East and advanced to the second round after sweeping the No. 8 Miami Heat. The Cavs now face the No. 4 Indiana Pacers, who eliminated the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks in five games. The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics continue their title defense after also only needing five games to oust the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic. The Celtics will face the No. 3 New York Knicks.
In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder landed the No. 1 seed for a second straight season behind MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and and became the first team to advance to the second round after sweeping the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies. Finishing at No. 2 were the Houston Rockets, one of the season’s most improved teams, but are now in must-win mode against the No. 7 Golden State Warriors. LeBron James and Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a No. 3 seed but were eliminated by the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the No.4 Denver Nuggets outlasted the No. 5 LA Clippers in a Game 7 rout.
We’ll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2025 NBA Finals, which tip off June 5 on ABC and the ESPN App.
MORE: First-round recap
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(4) Indiana Pacers lead (1) Cleveland Cavaliers, 1-0
Game 1: Pacers 121, Cavaliers 112
Game 2: Pacers at Cavaliers | Tuesday, 7 ET, TNT
Game 3: Cavaliers at Pacers | Friday, 7:30 ET, ESPN
Game 4: Cavaliers at Pacers | Sunday, 8 ET, TNT
Game 5*: Pacers at Cavaliers | Tue., May 13 (TBD, TNT)
Game 6*: Cavaliers at Pacers | Thu., May 15 (TBD, ESPN)
Game 7*: Pacers at Cavaliers | Sun., May 18 (TBD)
* If necessary
More:
Cavaliers cap off historic sweep with 55-point win over Heat
Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson named Coach of the Year by peers
MacMahon: How Garland’s ‘pivotal’ season is fueling the Cavaliers
Haliburton, Pacers eliminate Bucks in overtime thriller
(3) New York Knicks lead (2) Boston Celtics, 1-0
Game 1: Knicks 108, Celtics 105 (OT)
Game 2: Knicks at Celtics | Wednesday, 7 ET, TNT
Game 3: Celtics at Knicks | Saturday, 3:30 ET, ABC
Game 4: Celtics at Knicks | Mon., May 12 (7:30 ET, ESPN)
Game 5*: Knicks at Celtics | Wed., May 14 (TBD, TNT)
Game 6*: Celtics at Knicks | Fri., May 16 (8 ET, ESPN)
Game 7*: Knicks at Celtics | Mon., May 19 (8 ET, TNT)
* If necessary
More:
Celtics brick playoff-record 45 3s as Knicks rally for OT win
Celtics’ Holiday wins NBA’s sportsmanship award for 2nd time
Celtics’ Pritchard named NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year
Mazzulla-isms! The best and most bizarre quotes from the Celtics coach
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(4) Denver Nuggets lead (1) Oklahoma City Thunder 1-0
Game 1: Nuggets 121, Thunder 119
Game 2: Nuggets at Thunder | Wed., May 7 (9:30 ET, TNT)
Game 3: Thunder at Nuggets | Fri., May 9 (10 ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Thunder at Nuggets | Sun., May 11 (3:30 ET, ABC)
Game 5*: Nuggets at Thunder | Tue., May 13 (TNT)
Game 6*: Thunder at Nuggets | Thu., May 15 (ESPN)
Game 7*: Nuggets at Thunder | Sun., May 18 (TBD)
* If necessary
More:
Thunder complete sweep of Grizzlies, reach West semis
Nuggets crush Clippers in Game 7, set up series vs. Thunder
Bontemps: SGA or Jokic? Results are in for final MVP straw poll
Kram: NBA contenders don’t fear the Thunder — here are 22 reasons they should
MacMahon/Shelburne: Why the Nuggets suddenly fired their coach and GM
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
Game 1: Warriors. vs. Wolves | Tuesday, 9:30 ET, TNT
Game 2: Warriors vs. Wolves | Thursday, 8:30 ET, TNT
Game 3: Wolves vs. Warriors | Saturday, 8:30 ET, ABC
Game 4: Wolves vs. Warriors | Mon., May 12 (10 ET, ESPN)
Game 5*: Warriors vs. Wolves | Wed., May 14 (TNT)
Game 6*: Wolves vs. Warriors | Sun., May 18 (TBD)
Game 7*: Warriors vs. Wolves | Tue. May 20 (8:30 ET, ESPN)
*If necessary
More:
Wolves win third straight to eliminate Lakers in first round
MacMahon: The Timberwolves’ chemistry with Edwards, Randle and Gobert is ‘a work in progress’
Youngmisuk: Steph, Draymond and the ‘last ride’ with Jimmy Butler
Source: espn.com