The second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs are off to an unexpected start, with the league’s top three regular season teams all dropping the first game of their respective series.
The 64-win Cavaliers, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, fell to the Pacers on Sunday, and the No. 2 Celtics followed suit on Monday by losing to the Knicks. In Monday’s late game, the Thunder, who led the league with 68 regular season wins and dominated Memphis in round one, blew a late-game lead to the Nuggets and lost Game 1.
None of the three games were one-sided. The Pacers and Cavaliers were neck-and-neck through three-and-a-half quarters before Indiana pulled away late in the game; the Knicks required overtime to sneak past the Celtics; and the Thunder fell to the Nuggets on an Aaron Gordon three-pointer in the game’s final seconds.
It’s also worth noting that the Pacers are unlikely to make nearly 53% of their three-point tries (19-of-36) on a regular basis, as they did in Game 1. The Celtics probably aren’t going to miss 45 three-point attempts (they went 15-of-60) very often. And the Thunder could have easily won Game 1 if not for some questionable fouling decisions in crunch time.
In other words, the higher seeds may have no reason to panic — it’s not as if their opponents found glaring weaknesses that can be exploited for the rest of the series. Still, the margin for error in a competitive matchup can be slim, and the fact that those three higher seeds have all given up home-court advantage already could come back to haunt them later in the series.
Of the three teams who trail 1-0 in their respective series, the Cavaliers appear to be in the most danger due in large part to their injury situation. Darius Garland has been out since Game 2 of the first round due to a toe injury and is considered questionable to play in Game 2 vs. Indiana. Evan Mobley (ankle) and De’Andre Hunter (thumb) have joined him on the injury report with the same questionable designation after suffering injuries in Game 1.
Still, oddsmakers don’t appear overly concerned about the top seeds just yet. Despite the fact that they’re trailing in their series, the Cavaliers (-230), Thunder (-325), and Celtics (-355) are listed as solid favorites to advance by BetOnline.ag at the time of this writing. By comparison, the Timberwolves are just a -200 favorite against the lower-seeded Warriors despite that series not yet getting underway.
We want to know what you think. Do you still expect the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Thunder to make it through to the conference finals, or have the Game 1 results of any of those three series made you more inclined to pick an underdog to advance?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts.
Top seed means nothing
Home court means nothing
Winning 60+ means nothing
Anything can happen on any day
Its like people were born yesterday. Theres decades of nba history to prove the “top” teams dont always W. In fact in recent memory many of the best reg season tms didnt W a title or even advance very far in playoffs
I’m glad you brought that up, chandlerbing. I’m curious though: would you be willing to do a little research and maybe get back to me in this comment section? When was the last time there were 3+ 60-win teams and NONE of the 3+ teams eventually won the title that same season?
I still expect Boston and OKC to win, but it could be a long series for both of them.
Cleveland is in trouble with the injuries and the way Indiana is playing. If they go down 0-2 at home they are in deep trouble. The Pacers were a top team in the last weeks of the season.
It’s extremely tough to repeat in the NBA.
When Denver won it all a few years ago it was natural to slip back into the pack.
Giving 110% again is a lot to ask. But now that it’s been a couple of years Denver has regained the hunger and fire to go for it again.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win the whole thing. They’re the only team that scares me in the west as a warrior fan.
@ GaryRSW
I posted elsewhere that I expected the Nuggets to steal game 1. What I didn’t expect was OKC gifting the opportunity to them!
Jokic’s 42 pts and 22 rebs and 6 ast (but with 7 TOs) is why the Nuggets have a chance. That said, OKC winning the next 2 games is likely. Unlike the last series, if it goes 7 the Nuggets will be on the road.
You guys should absolutely be scared of the Wolves. They match up *extremely* well against Golden State. I expect them to control and ultimately win that series and then lose to OKC in the western conference finals.
If you are scared of a team you will lose. T-wolves ahve the bigger team advantage and home court advantage over the warriors. They can also match the warriors offense so its going to be a tough series. Warriors have the championship DNA that wolves do not have yet. Its going to come down to coaching and which coach will adjust to win. Right now T-wolves have the advantage in teh series but never count out Curry and the warriors.
Oh yeah, the wolves are a force that’s for sure. Their star is better than any single guy the Rockets have and then they’re also longer on defense than the Rockets.
Definitely a greater challenge and the Warriors went 7 games with the Rockets, so I’m not sure what to expect Minnesota. Hoping for the best !!
All three teams lost sharpness with the long wait after the 1st rd sweeps.
The Celtics shot 25% from three (15-60) and only lost by 3 pts, no way that happens again.
OKC got outrebounded by 20, led the game for 36 minutes and had a double digit lead in the 4th, and made not 1, not 2, but THREE dumb plays in the last half minute to lose.
IMO, the only team at risk is the Cavs, due to their questionable injury status.
One game does not make a seven-game series. Boston screwed up, they played a solid first half, had the Knicks in foul trouble. I did not see the same Celtic team the second half, let’s just shoot 3’s the second half, well you live by the 3 you will die by the 3. Celtics will not make the same mistake again. Still see Celtics in six. As far as OKC goes, they just got beat by a Denver team that is playing really well right now. This series will go seven and will be a great series. Like Denver in seven. Cleveland is the team that could be in trouble, especially with Garland out right now, really like Indiana in this series but again see another seven game series.
Celtics made the mistake of shooting too many 3s which cost them the game. Next game you will see them attack the basket. When teams get in that shoot 3 happy they lose all the time like how my warriors lose when they shoot too many 3s. Celtics will come back next game.
Porzingis was the difference bs the Knicks in the regular season, and Hauser pulled them out of many shooting slumps. If both those guys are unavailable going forward—and with Brown looking like a shell of himself since the knee injury—the Celtics could be in real trouble. Hart and Anunoby gave them fits with their athleticism. I’d rather let Brunson go off than get beat by Hart and Anunoby.
I don’t like the Celtics approach that only 2 players are allowed to have the ball in close games. They have the best team, but don’t play as a team. The starters don’t give the ball to the subs. Pritchard should be taking more shots.
A 7 game series means that the top teams are given runway to adapt and ultimately win the series. I expect all four higher seeds to win this round.
You’re not wrong, but I sure would like to see game one between the wolves and the Warriors.
I hope there’s not a big letdown after a long seven game series. Not sure if the Warriors will play horribly in the first half and concede game one early to rest up for game two and earn a split?
Cavs, Celtics, Thunder were best teams during season. They were the most consistent all year. In the playoffs experience always matters. As the Warrior’s just showed us. Teams are favored for a reason. Injuries are probably the thing that will derail most top teams. Something Cavs are experiencing right now.
Imo Thunder have issues with good bigs. It’s why they went and got IHart. And why Jokic abused them in gm1. Thunder still have to prove not only they are ready also they are a legit contender. Beating the Nuggets does that imo.
I really hope Cavs are good. Hate to see this end cause of injuries. I thought this could be their year.
Thunder have a tough road. TWolves are playing well and are a tough matchup.
Knicks stole a game. If Cavs are really hurt. Then a great opportunity has just opened up for Knicks.
2WayBridges ……..