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NBA playoffs 2025: Second-round news, schedule, scores and highlights

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Haliburton guides Pacers to impressive Game 1 win over Cavs (2:26)

Tyrese Haliburton goes off for 22 points and 13 assists to power the Pacers to a Game 1 win over the Cavaliers. (2:26)

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

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers trail (4) Indiana Pacers, 1-0

  • Game 1: Pacers 121, Cavaliers 112

  • Game 2: Pacers at Cavaliers | Tuesday, 7 ET, TNT

  • Game 3: Cavaliers at Pacers | Friday, 7:30 ET, ESPN

  • Game 4: Cavaliers at Pacers | Sunday, 8 ET, TNT

  • Game 5*: Pacers at Cavaliers | Tue., May 13 (TBD, TNT)

  • Game 6*: Cavaliers at Pacers | Thu., May 15 (TBD, ESPN)

  • Game 7*: Pacers at Cavaliers | Sun., May 18 (TBD)

* If necessary

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Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game Highlights

Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game Highlights

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(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) New York Knicks

  • Game 1: Knicks at Celtics | Monday, 7 ET, TNT

  • Game 2: Knicks at Celtics | Wednesday, 7 ET, TNT

  • Game 3: Celtics at Knicks | Saturday, 3:30 ET, ABC

  • Game 4: Celtics at Knicks | Mon., May 12 (7:30 ET, ESPN)

  • Game 5*: Knicks at Celtics | Wed., May 14 (TBD, TNT)

  • Game 6*: Celtics at Knicks | Fri., May 16 (8 ET, ESPN)

  • Game 7*: Knicks at Celtics | Mon., May 19 (8 ET, TNT)

* If necessary

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Jalen Brunson takes over with 40 points to clinch series for Knicks

Jalen Brunson cooks the Pistons for 40 points to secure the series win on the road in Game 6.

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WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (4) Denver Nuggets

  • Game 1: Nuggets at Thunder | Mon., May 5 (9:30 ET, TNT)

  • Game 2: Nuggets at Thunder | Wed., May 7 (9:30 ET, TNT)

  • Game 3: Thunder at Nuggets | Fri., May 9 (10 ET, ESPN)

  • Game 4: Thunder at Nuggets | Sun., May 11 (3:30 ET, ABC)

  • Game 5*: Nuggets at Thunder | Tue., May 13 (TNT)

  • Game 6*: Thunder at Nuggets | Thu., May 15 (ESPN)

  • Game 7*: Nuggets at Thunder | Sun., May 18 (TBD)

* If necessary

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Can the Nuggets take down the Thunder?

Quentin Richardson and David Dennis Jr. preview the Nuggets' playoff series vs. the Thunder.

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(6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (7) Golden State Warriors

  • Game 1: Warriors. vs. Wolves | Tuesday, 9:30 ET, TNT

  • Game 2: Warriors vs. Wolves | Thursday, 8:30 ET, TNT

  • Game 3: Wolves vs. Warriors | Saturday, 8:30 ET, ABC

  • Game 4: Wolves vs. Warriors | Mon., May 12 (10 ET, ESPN)

  • Game 5*: Warriors vs. Wolves | Wed., May 14 (TNT)

  • Game 6*: Wolves vs. Warriors | Sun., May 18 (TBD)

  • Game 7*: Warriors vs. Wolves | Tue. May 20 (8:30 ET, ESPN)

*If necessary

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Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Game Highlights

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Game Highlights

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