NBA Playoffs 2025: First Round Drama Unfolds
The 2025 NBA playoffs are in full swing, and as we enter the second week of the first round, the action has been nothing short of thrilling. We’ve witnessed some captivating matchups, including a dominant performance by the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept the West No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies. This series was a testament to the Thunder’s prowess and their determination to make a deep playoff run.
Over in the Eastern Conference, the top-seeded teams are on the verge of advancing to the second round. The No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers are poised to complete a sweep of 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, a blow that could have long-term implications for the team.
In the Western Conference, the competition has been fierce. The No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets and the fifth-seeded LA Clippers are locked in a tight battle, with the series featuring an overtime thriller and a game-winning buzzer-beating dunk by Denver’s Aaron Gordon. The future of the 7-seed Golden State Warriors hangs in the balance as they await the status of Jimmy Butler III (pelvis). Meanwhile, the No. 3-seeded Los Angeles Lakers are looking to rebound after 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 delivered superstar performances and nail-biting fourth quarters. Our NBA insiders have been closely following the action, and here’s what they’ve observed and what to watch for in the coming days.
What’s next for the Bucks after Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury?
The Milwaukee Bucks find themselves in a precarious position, down 3-1 in their series against the Indiana Pacers, with two of the potential three remaining games in Indianapolis. The loss of Damian Lillard for the remainder of the playoffs and beyond due to an Achilles rupture is a significant setback.
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 will, averaging at least 120 points per 100 possessions in all three of their wins. One potential solution is to start 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.
Kevin Porter Jr. will play a crucial role 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 potential luxury tax implications 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. Looming over everything is whether Antetokounmpo believes Milwaukee can realistically contend for a championship. If the Bucks lose in the first round for a third consecutive season and head into 2025-26 with Lillard’s ability to return uncertain, it’s hard to consider them title contenders. — 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 Indiana Pacers, who are also up 3-1 on the injury-plagued Milwaukee Bucks. Indiana finished the season with a 14-4 record, and Tyrese Haliburton has been in excellent form, carrying that momentum into the postseason. The Pacers have the versatility to match up with the Cavaliers and stretch the floor effectively. Additionally, the Celtics have a favorable matchup against the Knicks, having swept the regular-season series 4-0. The Cavaliers are the favorites in the next round and have been playing their best basketball against the Miami Heat, but they will certainly respect the potential challenge posed by Indiana. — 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, resulting in a 3-1 deficit. In Game 4, Detroit committed 19 turnovers, mirroring their Game 1 performance. These lost possessions are game-changers, especially with the absence of a solid offensive rebounder like Isaiah Stewart and struggles from beyond the arc (35.2% from 3). The Pistons have yet to outshoot the Knicks in any game this series, which is not a winning formula. Leaning more on Dennis Schroder alongside Cade Cunningham could help Detroit 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 Jimmy Butler III back would be a significant boost for the Golden State Warriors. Butler is questionable but will have had five days to recover from a deep gluteal muscle contusion suffered in Game 2.
Even if the Warriors have to play without “Playoff Jimmy,” they have a blueprint for success from their 104-93 victory in Game 3. Stephen Curry will need to carry the team as he did in Game 3, where he recorded 36 points (25 in the second and third quarters), 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 just 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 Memphis Grizzlies need to solidify their future by signing Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama to extensions. They must then choose a clear direction and stick with it. Over the past few seasons, the Grizzlies have experimented with different offensive approaches, hiring three separate coaches with distinct visions, which has led to confusion and a lack of continuity. Establishing a solid identity is crucial if they want to compete in the highly competitive Western Conference. — Ramona Shelburne
The Lakers-Timberwolves series will come down to: _____?
Depth. The Timberwolves’ bench outscored the Lakers’ reserves 25-6 in Game 4, continuing a trend that has seen Minnesota’s bench as a plus-42 through the first three games of the series. Lakers coach JJ Redick even resorted to using just five players for the entire second half on Sunday, sidelining Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jordan Goodwin, who had been regular contributors off the bench. Part of this gap is due to team construction, as Redick isn’t convinced that Alex Len is a viable backup center, and he’s hesitant to play Jaxson Hayes. Meanwhile, Minnesota has received significant contributions from Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid to complement the star performances of Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. — Dave McMenamin
What is the biggest surprise in the first round of the Western Conference series so far?
One of the most surprising developments has been how quickly both JJ Redick and Nuggets coach David Adelman have 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 have played reserves fewer than the 25.6 minutes Denver’s bench played on Saturday. Redick took it a step further on Sunday by becoming the first coach in the play-by-play era to play five players the entire second half without a substitution, according to 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 challenge the Thunder. Winners of 20 of their past 25 games, the Clippers boast an elite defense and a superstar in Kawhi Leonard, who is capable of being the best player in any series, even against the likely MVP 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 can be made to work for every shot. — Tim MacMahon
Originally Written by: NBA insiders
