NBA Playoffs 2025: First Round Drama Unfolds
As we dive into the second week of the 2025 NBA playoffs, the first round has already delivered some captivating matchups and unexpected turns. The Western Conference saw the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder sweep the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies, setting the tone for a competitive postseason.
Over in the Eastern Conference, the top four seeds are on the verge of advancing to the next round. The No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers are poised to complete a sweep against the 8-seed Miami Heat on Monday. Meanwhile, the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics and the 3-seed New York Knicks are looking to close out their series against the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic and the No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons, respectively.
The fifth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks face a daunting task as they try to extend their series against the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. The Bucks are reeling from the devastating news that Damian Lillard suffered a torn Achilles tendon, sidelining him for the remainder of the playoffs and beyond.
In the Western Conference, the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets and the fifth-seeded LA Clippers are locked in a fierce battle. Their series opened with an overtime thriller, followed by a buzzer-beating dunk from Denver’s Aaron Gordon. The 7-seed Golden State Warriors are anxiously awaiting the status of Jimmy Butler III (pelvis), while the No. 3-seeded Los Angeles Lakers aim to recover from a disappointing loss to the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves, which has put L.A. down 3-1 in the series.
Week 1 of the playoffs has been a showcase of superstar performances and thrilling fourth quarters. Our NBA insiders have been keeping a close eye on the action, and here’s what they’ve observed and what to look forward to next.
What’s next for the Bucks after Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury?
The Milwaukee Bucks find themselves in a precarious position, down 3-1 with two of the potential three remaining games in Indianapolis. The loss of Damian Lillard to an Achilles rupture is a significant blow, leaving the Bucks without their star for the rest of the playoffs and beyond.
For Bucks coach Doc Rivers, the focus heading into Game 5 should be on finding a lineup that can get stops. The Pacers have been scoring at least 120 points per 100 possessions in all three of their wins. A potential solution could be starting Ryan Rollins, who stepped in for Lillard during the Bucks’ season-ending eight-game winning streak, alongside Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. in the backcourt, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez up front.
Porter will be crucial in compensating for Lillard’s scoring absence. He averaged 15.3 PPG over the final 12 games of the regular season, shooting 57% on 2s and 38% on 3-point attempts, while also contributing 5.0 APG as a secondary playmaker. Looking ahead to the offseason, Lillard’s injury complicates Milwaukee’s planning. The Bucks face a challenging financial situation, with limited cap space and looming luxury tax concerns if Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis exercise player options and the team re-signs Lopez, an unrestricted free agent. Porter has a player option for the veteran’s minimum ($2.5 million) that he’ll likely decline.
With only non-Bird rights to Porter, the Bucks will likely have to choose between using their midlevel exception to bring him back or adding a point guard to replace Lillard. The overarching question is whether Antetokounmpo believes Milwaukee can realistically contend for a championship. If the Bucks exit in the first round for a third consecutive season and enter 2025-26 with uncertainty surrounding Lillard’s return, their status as title contenders is in doubt. — Kevin Pelton
The Cavaliers are up 3-0 and the Celtics are leading 3-1 in their respective series. Is this the Eastern Conference finals matchup?
While the Cavaliers and Celtics are in strong positions, it’s important not to overlook the Pacers, who are also up 3-1 against the injury-plagued Milwaukee Bucks. Indiana finished the season with a 14-4 record, and Tyrese Haliburton has been healthy and effective in the postseason. The Pacers have the versatility to match up with the Cavaliers and stretch the floor. While the Celtics are favored in a potential series with the Knicks, having swept the regular-season series 4-0, the Cavaliers are also favorites in the next round. However, they must respect the potential matchup with Indiana, and you can bet the Cavs’ camp will. — Brian Windhorst
Which team in the East needs to make the biggest mid-series adjustment?
The Detroit Pistons have shown flashes of potential against the Knicks, but their youth and poor decision-making have been costly, leaving them down 3-1 instead of up. In Game 4, Detroit committed 19 turnovers, mirroring their Game 1 defeat. These lost possessions are game-changers, especially with the absence of a solid offensive rebounder like Isaiah Stewart and struggles from deep (35.2% from 3). Detroit has yet to outshoot New York in any game this series, which is not a winning formula. Leaning more on Dennis Schroder alongside Cade Cunningham could help the Pistons take better care of the ball. — Chris Herring
What do the Warriors need to do to win Game 4 and take a 3-1 lead back to Houston?
Getting Butler back would be a significant boost for Golden State. Butler is questionable but will have had five days since suffering a deep gluteal muscle contusion in the first quarter of Game 2.
Even if the Warriors have to play a second full game without “Playoff Jimmy,” they have the blueprint of how to win from their 104-93 victory in Game 3. Stephen Curry will need to carry the team as he did in Game 3, where he scored 36 points (25 in the second and third quarters), along with nine assists and seven rebounds. He received support from Buddy Hield, who contributed 17 points and five 3s, and Gary Payton II, who added 16 points while Houston focused on Curry.
Defensively, the Warriors must contain Jalen Green. In the Rockets’ two losses, Green scored seven and nine points, and Houston struggled to find other scoring options. — Ohm Youngmisuk
After firing their coach and getting swept in the first round, what is the offseason plan for the Grizzlies?
The Grizzlies need to secure their future by signing Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama to extensions. They must then choose a direction and stick with it. Over recent seasons, they’ve experimented with different offensive approaches, hiring three separate coaches (Patrick St. Andrews, Noah LaRoche, and Tuomas Iisalo) with distinct offensive visions, leading to confusion around continuity. Whatever path they choose, they need to establish a solid identity to compete in the competitive Western Conference. — Ramona Shelburne
The Lakers-Timberwolves series will come down to: _____?
Depth. The Wolves’ bench outscored Los Angeles’ reserves 25-6 in Game 4, after already being a plus-42 through the first three games of the series. Lakers coach JJ Redick went so far as to use only five players for the entire second half on Sunday, excluding Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jordan Goodwin, who had been consistent parts of L.A.’s second unit. Part of this gap is due to team construction. Redick isn’t convinced that Alex Len is a viable backup center, and the series trend suggests he isn’t keen on playing Jaxson Hayes either. Minnesota, meanwhile, has received significant contributions from Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid to complement the starring efforts of Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. — Dave McMenamin
What is the biggest surprise in the first round of the Western Conference series so far?
How quickly both Redick and Nuggets coach David Adelman relied almost exclusively on their top five players with their teams down 2-1 on the road. Adelman’s hand was forced by an injury to Russell Westbrook (foot), who missed Game 4, but only two teams in the past two decades had played reserves fewer than the 25.6 minutes Denver’s bench played on Saturday. Redick did Adelman one better on Sunday by becoming the first coach in the play-by-play era to play five players the entire second half without a sub, per the Elias Sports Bureau. — Pelton
Which team in the West has the best chance to knock off the Thunder?
The Clippers, who are battling the Nuggets for the right to face the No. 1 seed in the next round, have all the ingredients to rumble with the Thunder. Winners of 20 of their past 25 games, the Clips are an elite defensive team with a superstar in Kawhi Leonard capable of being the best player in any series, even if he is facing the likely MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Offseason additions Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. would spearhead the defensive effort against Gilgeous-Alexander, who can’t be completely shut down. But Gilgeous-Alexander’s former team can at least make him work for every shot. — Tim MacMahon
Originally Written by: NBA insiders
