2025 NBA playoffs – Japanese Convention first-round takeaways

The 2025 NBA playoffs are in full swing, and our NBA insiders have you ever coated for each recreation within the march to the Finals.

Cade Cunningham and the No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons welcomed the No. 3 seed New York Knicks to the Motor Metropolis on Thursday, however dropped their first recreation at residence after Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities mixed for 61 factors to take a 2-1 collection lead.

Friday’s motion noticed the No. 2 Boston Celtics lose Sport 3 towards the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combing for 61 factors. The No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks defeated the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers for his or her first victory within the collection. Within the different East matchup, the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers will resume their collection with the No. 8 seed Miami Warmth on Saturday.

Because the East playoffs proceed, here is what issues most and what to observe for in all 4 collection.

Soar to a collection:
Cavaliers-Warmth | Celtics-Magic
Knicks-Pistons | Pacers-Bucks

Extra protection:
West first-round takeaways
Schedules and outcomes | Offseason guides

Friday’s video games

Sport 3: Magic 95, Celtics 93

What we discovered:

Jayson Tatum’s proper wrist seems to be wonderful. In his return after sitting out Sport 2 — the primary playoff recreation he has ever missed — the Celtics’ celebrity scored 36 factors, hitting from midrange, lengthy vary and on the rim. However Tatum’s effort was all for naught on this thrilling Magic win. In one other signal that the defending champions battle with Orlando’s rough-and-tumble physicality, the Celtics dedicated 21 turnovers, yet another than their season excessive, and made simply 9 3-pointers, two shy of their season low. Credit score the gritty Magic, who proved once more that they’ll knock Boston’s high-octane offense off observe whereas receiving massive nights from key gamers — on this occasion, 32 factors from Franz Wagner and 29 from Paolo Banchero.

Sport 4: Celtics at Magic (Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to observe:

Can the Celtics deal with the ball? Can their 3-point barrage get on observe? We’ll see. However this a lot is true: Boston is banged up, with three starters — Tatum (wrist), Jaylen Brown (proper knee) and Jrue Vacation (who missed Sport 3 with a proper hamstring pressure) — all struggling some ailment. If the second-seeded Celtics need to repeat, they need to wrap this collection up sooner slightly than later, particularly for some much-needed relaxation and recuperation between rounds.

— Baxter Holmes

Sport 3: Bucks 117, Pacers 101

What we discovered:

The Bucks are lastly on the board on this collection because of a career-high 37 factors from ahead Gary Trent Jr. His 9 3-pointers Friday matched Ray Allen for probably the most in a Bucks’ playoff recreation. Trent was inserted into the beginning lineup for the primary time this collection as coach Doc Rivers regarded for a spark a stagnant offense. And Trent helped unlock it within the third quarter, hitting 5 3-pointers for 18 factors as Milwaukee outscored Indiana by 21 within the quarter. It was a welcome scoring outburst to supply assist for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was good as soon as once more, including 37 factors, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.

Sport 4: Pacers at Bucks (Sunday, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to observe:

Milwaukee actually wanted each little bit of Trent’s offense to get again into this collection, nevertheless it wants extra constant manufacturing round Antetokounmpo if it plans to maintain it going. Damian Lillard struggled to search out his offensive rhythm, scoring seven factors on 2-of-12 capturing with 5 assists, and Kyle Kuzma went 4-of-9 and performed 19 minutes. The Pacers had been main by double digits at halftime and had been getting snug with wide-open seems to be within the first half as they did throughout the first two video games earlier than the Bucks got here out with a greater effort within the second half. Can Milwaukee preserve that very same defensive depth in Sport 4?

— Jamal Collier

Sport 3: Knicks 118, Pistons 116

What we discovered:

The Knicks have simply as a lot capability to mud themselves off after a tricky playoff loss because the Pistons.

Following a brutal Sport 2 from Karl-Anthony Cities during which he was roundly criticized for logging simply 10 factors and 6 rebounds, together with a scoreless second half, the massive man got here out aggressively and bounced again with a game-high 31 factors to go along with eight rebounds.

New York’s complete beginning 5 contributed to the victory. Cities, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges all scored 20 or extra factors, whereas Josh Hart had 11 rebounds and 9 assists.

New York withstood a number of Pistons runs and one of many extra hostile highway crowds this group of Knicks has encountered, together with a vulgar, stadium-wide chant aimed toward Brunson.

Sport 4: Knicks at Pistons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, ABC)

What to observe:

The place does the drama go from right here? The Pistons determine to convey a way of desperation into Sunday, understanding they doubtlessly might be down 3-1 on the way in which again to New York. The physicality and the frustration, which yielded 5 technicals and a flagrant, could also be at a fever pitch in Sport 4.

Secondarily, and key for Detroit: Will Malik Beasley, who completed second within the league in triples with 319, discover his rhythm Sunday? He has hit simply three of his previous 18 makes an attempt from exterior.

— Chris Herring

Sport 2: Cavaliers 121, Warmth 112

What we discovered:

The Cavs could be a devastating capturing group, however they have been streaky coming down the stretch, rating first in 3-point capturing over the season’s first 5 months however simply seventeenth over the season’s final six weeks. That manifested itself in Sport 2, because the Cavs set an NBA file by making 11 3-pointers within the second quarter — and made 14 of their first 21 total to take a 19-point lead — however went simply 4-of-15 from deep within the third quarter. The sport began to show, and it enabled the Warmth to make a turnaround led by Davion Mitchell and the relentless spirit they confirmed coming down the stretch of the season to make it a one-possession recreation within the fourth. But it surely was Donovan Mitchell who was the sport’s hero, scoring 17 factors within the fourth to rescue a flatlining Cavs offense.

Sport 3: Cavaliers at Warmth (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to observe:

Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra’s transfer to place Mitchell in his beginning lineup after a powerful previous few weeks was impressed. He practically led Miami to a shocking comeback by being a pest on protection and stressing out the Cavs’ protection with drives on offense, scoring 14 within the fourth alone. Tyler Herro, who had bother getting open within the second half of Sport 1, additionally gave the Warmth cause to consider in making this a collection with a 33-point recreation.

— Brian Windhorst