The 2025 NBA playoffs are in full swing, and our NBA insiders have you ever coated for each recreation within the march to the Finals.
The Detroit Pistons’ comeback to even the sequence fell brief Sunday, because the New York Knicks head again to Madison Sq. Backyard with an opportunity to shut out the sequence Tuesday. The Cleveland Cavaliers took a commanding 3-0 lead over the Miami Warmth on Saturday with out Darius Garland, handing the Warmth their worst-ever playoff loss.
Sunday, the No. 2 Boston Celtics beat the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic in Sport 4 to take the 3-1 lead within the sequence. The No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks may also look to tie their sequence in opposition to the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers.
Because the East playoffs proceed, here is what issues most and what to look at for in all 4 sequence.
Leap to a sequence:
Cavaliers-Warmth | Celtics-Magic
Knicks-Pistons | Pacers-Bucks
Extra protection:
West first-round takeaways
Schedules and outcomes |
Offseason guides
Sunday’s video games
Sport 4: Knicks 94, Pistons 93
What we discovered:
Greater than something, we discovered that the officers had been going to let the Knicks and Pistons battle bodily Sunday, with fewer whistles than you’d count on given the quantity of contact all through the sport. It was the case numerous instances within the first half. It was the case on a free ball Jalen Brunson tussled for earlier than an ankle harm pressured him to exit briefly. And, a lot to the Pistons’ dismay, it was the case on a controversial no-call to shut the sport, when Deuce McBride made contact with Tim Hardaway Jr. — who was firing a possible game-winning jumper on the horn — incensing Detroit and its followers. The sport’s physicality and the ultimate play, specifically, will clearly be magnified. However the clutch shotmaking from Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities — who drilled the deep game-winning triple whereas Jalen Duren was draped over him — was outstanding. The star duo outscored the Pistons as a membership 22-21 within the fourth quarter.
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KAT hits big 3 within the clutch for Knicks
Karl-Anthony Cities pulls up for a deep 3 and drains it within the clutch for the Knicks vs. the Pistons.
Sport 5: Knicks at Pistons (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to look at:
How do the younger Pistons, who battled again and had been in place to win Sport 4 till the ultimate minute of play, begin Sport 5? The Knicks got here out stronger in each video games in Detroit — the Pistons started Sport 4 with 10 turnovers and 0-for-10 taking pictures from deep earlier than they hit their first 3 — forcing Cade Cunningham & Co. to play from behind. The Pistons’ comebacks had been spectacular, however in the end got here up brief each instances within the Motor Metropolis. With the Knicks having an opportunity to shut issues out Tuesday, the Backyard crowd shall be at full throttle. A greater begin for Detroit shall be essential.
— Chris Herring
Sport 4: Celtics 107, Magic 98
What we discovered:
The seventh-seeded Magic have dictated the tempo and magnificence of play up to now two video games, grinding the second-seeded Celtics down with physicality and an aggressive switching protection that has undercut Boston’s typical 3-point onslaughts. However the Celtics proved in Sport 4 that they will slog via it and, due to their wealth of expertise, discover a win on the opposite facet. This wasn’t how the Celtics would like to prevail, because the Magic utterly shut down Boston’s gifted supporting forged, and the Celtics’ starters scored all however six of their 107 factors. However Jayson Tatum’s 37 factors and 14 rebounds made the distinction. Boston additionally wanted a bounce-back recreation from Kristaps Porzingis, and he delivered, with 19 factors. Orlando’s Paolo Banchero additionally had a spirited efficiency — he completed with 31 factors, even when it took 32 field-goal makes an attempt — his seven straight 25-point playoff video games are tied for probably the most consecutive by a participant underneath 23 in NBA playoff historical past, based on ESPN Analysis.
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Tatum’s 37 factors assist Celtics push Magic to the brink
Jayson Tatum tallies 37 factors with 14 rebounds within the Celtics’ Sport 4 win to take a 3-1 sequence lead vs. the Magic.
Sport 5: Orlando at Boston (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
What to look at:
This has been a grinding, exhausting sequence for the Celtics, and you may make certain that the defending champions shall be determined to finish it Tuesday in Boston and get some much-needed relaxation earlier than going through the winner of the Pistons-Knicks sequence. It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see if the Celtics can get again to taking part in their model at residence — or if the Magic will proceed to have these video games performed on their phrases.
— Baxter Holmes
Sport 4: Pacers at Bucks (Sunday, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to look at:
Milwaukee definitely wanted each little bit of Trent’s offense to get again into this sequence, nevertheless it wants extra constant manufacturing round Antetokounmpo if it plans to maintain it going. Damian Lillard struggled to seek out his offensive rhythm, scoring seven factors on 2-of-12 taking pictures with 5 assists, and Kyle Kuzma went 4-of-9 and performed 19 minutes. The Pacers had been main by double digits at halftime and had been getting snug with wide-open seems to be within the first half as they did through the first two video games earlier than the Bucks got here out with a greater effort within the second half. Can Milwaukee preserve that very same defensive depth in Sport 4?
— Jamal Collier
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Mathurin T’d up after having alternative phrases for Giannis
Bennedict Mathurin receives a technical foul for jawing at Giannis Antetokounmpo throughout his free throws.
Sport 3: Cavaliers 124, Warmth 87
What we discovered:
The Cavs targeted their recreation plan on their guards in Video games 1 and a couple of, attacking switches and leaning into their playmakers as they need to. In Sport 3, with Darius Garland out after aggravating a sprained toe, coach Kenny Atkinson downshifted to his bigs. All season lengthy the Cavs have been ready to do that as a result of they’re so deep and expert, and Atkinson spent all yr growing numerous gears — and that has been on show for the previous week. Jarrett Allen made eight whole baskets in Video games 1 and a couple of mixed, and he made seven within the first half of Sport 3. Allen and Evan Mobley completed with 41 factors because the Cavs dominated with a 60-30 benefit in paint factors. Add in large manufacturing from bench stars Ty Jerome and DeAndre Hunter, who mixed for 34 factors and every had been higher than plus-30, and the result of this sequence is now tutorial.
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Donovan Mitchell lights it up with step-back 3
Donovan Mitchell creates area and drills a tricky step-back triple to energise the Cavaliers.
Sport 4: Cavaliers at Warmth (Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to look at:
Atkinson has described how a lot he trusts his crew and the way mature it’s, which is why he had no issues about focus points for a 1 p.m. recreation in Miami. He was proper. The Cavs typically dealt with their enterprise on this sequence and have by no means trailed within the second half. The Warmth don’t give up; it defines their group, they usually’ve solely ever been swept as soon as, however the Cavs know the worth of being economical in the case of playoff effort. No matter Garland’s well being, you’d count on to see that come via of their first closeout alternative.
— Brian Windhorst