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
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0:31
‘Playoff Donovan’ stares down Pacers after big-time and-1
Donovan Mitchell drives and drains a big-time and-1 to pad the Cavaliers’ lead in the fourth quarter.
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Game 1: Knicks 108, Celtics 105 (OT)
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Game 2: Knicks 91, Celtics 90
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Game 3: Celtics 115, Knicks 93
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Game 4: Celtics at Knicks | Monday, May 12 (7:30 ET, ESPN)
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Game 5: Knicks at Celtics | Wednesday, May 14 (TBD, TNT)
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Game 6*: Celtics at Knicks | Friday, May 16 (8 ET, ESPN)
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Game 7*: Knicks at Celtics | Monday, May 19 (8 ET, TNT)
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1:08
Celtics start hot from beyond the arc in the first quarter
The Celtics go 6-for-7 in the first quarter from 3, giving them a 36-20 lead over the Knicks.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
0:57
Nuggets rally in OT to claim 2-1 series lead
The Nuggets outscore the Thunder 11-2 in overtime to claim a 2-1 series lead.
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0:28
Ant buries dagger 3 to seal Game 3 for the Wolves
Anthony Edwards drills a clutch 3-pointer to secure the victory in Game 3 for the Timberwolves.
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