The 2025 NBA playoffs have begun, and our NBA experts are providing coverage for every game on the road to the Finals.
In Saturday`s Eastern Conference matchups, the Indiana Pacers, seeded No. 4, easily defeated the No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks are now uncertain about Damian Lillard`s availability for Game 2. Meanwhile, the No. 3 seed New York Knicks, fueled by an energetic home crowd at Madison Square Garden, secured a Game 1 victory against the No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons.
Sunday`s schedule features the top two teams in the East commencing their postseason campaigns. The top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Miami Heat, who made history as the first 10th-seeded team to advance from the play-in tournament to the playoffs. Following that game, the reigning champion Boston Celtics, seeded No. 2, will begin their title defense against the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic.
Here are the main points from Saturday`s games as we prepare you for Sunday`s action.
Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
Key Lesson: Pre-series discussions focused heavily on the Knicks` superior playoff experience compared to the Pistons, who have several young key players. This difference became apparent late in the game. Detroit started the fourth quarter with two crucial turnovers – a five-second inbound violation and a shot clock violation. New York capitalized on these errors, launching a 21-0 run in just 4½ minutes, their best of the season.
Detroit had performed well for three quarters, effectively defending Jalen Brunson and limiting OG Anunoby`s offensive impact to solo plays. The Pistons` spacing and ball movement were effective, even though Cade Cunningham`s scoring was inconsistent. However, it all unraveled at the start of the fourth quarter, where New York outscored Detroit 40-21, and the more experienced Knicks maintained control.
Game 2: Pistons at Knicks (Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Key Watch: The condition of Brunson is crucial. He started the game poorly, shooting 2-for-13, but after appearing to injure his ankle and changing shoes, he transformed. He made five of seven shots in the dominant fourth quarter. Coach Tom Thibodeau humorously commented on Brunson`s late-game surge and shoe change, saying, `I think he grabbed his cape.`
For the Pistons, Isaiah Stewart`s health is arguably more critical, as his availability is uncertain. He left Game 1 with a knee issue and did not return. His physicality alongside Jalen Duren could be vital in this series, especially with Mitchell Robinson playing strongly off New York`s bench.
Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
(4) Indiana Pacers lead (5) Milwaukee Bucks, 1-0
Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Key Lesson: The Pacers` depth was a major factor throughout the game, as their extensive rotation overcame the Bucks` reliance on Giannis Antetokounmpo. While Indiana struggled to defend Antetokounmpo, who scored 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, showing dominance at times in this rematch of last season`s first round, he only had one assist. The Pacers effectively contained Milwaukee`s other players, limiting them to 34% shooting from the field.
A significant indicator of the difference in team play was the assist count: Indiana had 28 assists compared to Milwaukee`s 15. This resulted in typical balanced scoring for the Pacers, with five players scoring in double figures, led by Pascal Siakam`s 25 points.
Game 2: Bucks at Pacers (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
Key Watch: The focus now shifts to whether Bucks guard Damian Lillard will return for Game 2. He has been sidelined since March 18 due to a blood clot in his right calf. Lillard has returned to practice this week after being cleared of deep vein thrombosis, and the Bucks could certainly use his scoring ability after their supporting cast`s poor shooting performance in Game 1.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat
Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers (Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Cavaliers Watch: Will their 3-point shooting return to elite levels? Before March 11, the Cavs were ranked No. 1 in 3-point percentage for months. Since then, they have dropped to 19th. Their performance from beyond the arc will be crucial. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are excellent playmakers and shooters, and Cleveland compensates for defensive weaknesses with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the paint. However, their system works best when Mitchell and Garland are hitting 3s. Mitchell`s 3-point percentage fell from 39% before the All-Star break to 30% after, and Garland`s from 43% to 34%. They attempt 16 three-pointers per game combined, so these percentage changes significantly impact their margin for error.
Heat Watch: Can the Heat repeat their play-in success? After becoming the first 10th seed to reach the playoffs by winning on the road against both the Bulls and Hawks in three days, the Heat now aim to advance from the first round after coming through the play-in again. A major difference this time is the absence of Jimmy Butler III. The Heat have consistently played well for three quarters this season, only to falter in the fourth. Avoiding fourth-quarter collapses in this series is key for them to make it competitive.
Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic
Game 1: Magic at Celtics (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Celtics Watch: Given Orlando`s offensive challenges, this series shouldn`t be overly dramatic on the court. For the Celtics, the primary concern is Jaylen Brown`s right knee. The All-Star guard has been managing a bone bruise for weeks and has received injections for pain relief. Boston doesn`t need Brown at his peak to win this series or even the next, but his health is crucial for their title defense. His condition after rest will be closely monitored after this series.
Magic Watch: Can Orlando exploit Brown`s knee issue by increasing defensive pressure on Jayson Tatum and the rest of the Celtics? Orlando`s defense is relentless, and capitalizing on any weakness could turn this into a slow-paced, defensive series, which would favor the lower-scoring Magic.
