Pacers Go Up 1-0 on Cavaliers; Warriors Advance with Game 7 Win over Rockets; Celtics vs. Knicks, Thunder vs. Nuggets Previews

The Indiana Pacers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-112 on Sunday in Game 1 of their second round series, while the second semifinal match-up in the Western Conference was decided as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 103-89 in Game 7 behind Buddy Hield's 33 points.

In Game 1 of their 4 vs. 1 match-up, the Pacers outscored the Cavaliers 29-22 in the fourth quarter, putting together an impressive performance with balance across the board.

Andrew Nembhard (7-for-10, 5-for-6 from 3-point range) scored 23 points with 6 assists, while Tyrese Haliburton (9-for-15) put up 22 points with 13 assists. Pascal Siakam registered 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists on 6-for-15 shooting, Aaron Nesmith was 4-for-6 from deep for 17 points and 8 rebounds, and Myles Turner collected a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Off the bench, Bennedict Mathurin scored 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting.

The Pacers shot 53% to the Cavaliers' 45.9%, and were 19-for-36 from downtown. The Cavaliers made only nine of their 38 attempts from deep. Rebounds were even at 43 apiece, a great sign for a Pacer team that only averaged 41.8 during the regular season.

Donovan Mitchell posted 33 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, but was just 13-for-30 from the field including 1-for-11 from 3-point range. Evan Mobley put up 20 points and 10 rebounds on 9-for-13 shooting, and Jarrett Allen was 6-for-7 from the field for 12 points and 5 rebounds. Guard Darius Garland did not play due to a toe injury, and Sam Merrill scored 6 points in his place. The Cavs will need Garland going forward if he is available. Off the bench, De'Andre Hunter was 4-for-8 for 11 points. Ty Jerome scored 21 points and had 8 assists, but needed 20 shots to get his 21 points. Game 2 goes Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

In Game 7 in Houston, Hield ignited the Warriors when Stephen Curry did not have it going early on, though Curry (22 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 4-for-10 from 3-point range) and Jimmy Butler (20 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 7-for-13 shooting) finished things off late in the Warriors' 14-point win.

As they had for the majority of the series, the Rockets struggled to find offense, particularly from Jalen Green (13.3 points, 37.2% shooting in the series). Alperen Sengun, despite 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists, was made to work by Draymond Green, as Sengun went just 9-for-23 from the field. All series long, Green (16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks on Sunday) did a great job with positioning and making Sengun take tough shots out of his comfort zone.

Hield finished 9-for-11 from downtown, and his nine trifectas tied the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a Game 7. His mark tied Donte DiVincenzo's from last season, who, then a New York Knick, splashed nine against the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the 2025 ECSF series.

The Rockets, 50-32 during the regular season, were an unexpected second seed. They have loads of young talent, but did not have the postseason experience nor the scoring punch needed to hang with a team like the Warriors. Still, Amen Thompson is a building block for the future. He has tremendous defensive ability and exceptional athleticism that allows him to excel in transition and when he attacks the basket. Fred VanVleet had a quality series, though there still left a lot to be wanted out of Green, who was needed offensively to deal with the Warriors. The Rockets, with many desired assets, could make a trade for more offense this off-season, but regardless are headed in the right direction. They play a physical brand of basketball with defenders and athletic wings.

The Warriors, who have won 20 of their last 25 clashes with the Rockets, will now play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round in what will be a fascinating match-up. It is another youth against experience series, and the Wolves have a supreme young scorer in Anthony Edwards and guards who can shoot and defend. Naz Reid off the bench is a difficult match-up for any Warrior. The Warriors can make things difficult on Rudy Gobert by employing Quinten Post at times, whose ability to shoot from the outside can stretch Gobert to the perimeter. Green historically also does well against Gobert. Julius Randle and Green is a quality match-up, and Jimmy Butler and Anthony Edwards is a must-see duel as well.

2nd Round Previews

(2) BOS vs. (3) NYK

The Celtics come into the second round off of a 4-1 series win in the first round over the Orlando Magic, with an average margin of victory in that series of 16.5. The Celtics swept the season series against the Knicks 4-0, with the closest contest on April 8 a 119-117 Celtic win on the road. The Celtics defeated the Knicks 132-109 on opening night in Boston, 131-104 on February 8 at Madison Square Garden, and 118-105 in Boston on February 23.

In the regular season, the Celtics (61-21) ranked second in the NBA in both opponent points (107.2) and offensive rating (119.5) and fourth in defensive rating (110.1), and were second in opponent field-goal percentage at 45%, and the league’s top team in both 3-pointers made (17.8) and attempted (48.2).

The Knicks, 51-31, defeated the Detroit Pistons in a thrilling six-game series in the opening round, with their Games 3, 4, and 6 victories coming by a combined six points. Jalen Brunson catapulted his team into the second round with a 3-pointer over Ausar Thompson in the final seconds of Game 6 in Detroit. In Games 1, 2, 4, and 6, Brunson was the leader in points, scoring 34, 37, 32 in games one, two, and four, and 40 in the sixth game. The Knicks in the regular season averaged 115.8 points (9th) and were also ninth in opponent points at 111.7. Their 117.3 offensive rating was fifth, while they were also in the top 10 in field-goal percentage (46.8, 4th), 3-point percentage (36.9, 8th) and free-throw percentage (80.0, 5th).

Everyone will need to contribute at a high level if the Knicks are to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, in a series that ignites an old 1970s rivalry when Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, and Dave DeBusschere went against Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White. The teams have met 67 times overall in the postseason, with the Celtics victorious 36 times. The last match-up was in the opening round of the 2013 playoffs, when the Knicks (54 regular season wins) defeated the Celtics in six games. It marked the end of a successful era in Boston as Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were traded to Brooklyn a couple of months later. The teams also met in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1972, 1973, and 1974, with the Knicks prevailing in five games in '72, seven games in '73, and the Celtics winning in five games in '74.

Brunson will be countered defensively by Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford will battle with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, and Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby will have to produce near the level of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. That is really where this series lies - the Celtics are so well rounded on both ends, and the Knicks need their wings to play to their top level. Josh Hart, who rebounds exceptionally for a guard (9.6 per game) is only 6 feet 4 inches tall and will need to play even bigger against the likes of Tatum and Brown. Tatum himself averages 8.7 rebounds per game.

Sam Hauser can shoot it off of the Celtic bench, but the dynamite belongs to Payton Pritchard, who averaged 14.3 points in the regular season and made 9-of-21 triples in the first round. The Knicks will need Robinson and guard Miles McBride to play great off of their bench.

In the end, the Celtics have too much firepower, though this series will be a lot more competitive than the four games that the team's played against one another in the regular season. Celtics in 6.

(1) OKC vs. (4) DEN

On opening night, the Thunder defeated the Nuggets at Ball Arena 102-87, lost on November 6 at Denver 124-122, won at home on March 9 by a 127-103 score, and lost 140-127 one day later.

The Thunder, 68-14 during the regular season, swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, winning Game 1 by a 51-point margin (131-80), Game 2 by 19 points, Game 3 by six points in a game where they trailed by 29 points, and Game 4 by a score of 117-115.

The West's top seed finished the regular season in the top 10 in 12 categories, leading the NBA in defensive rating (106.6), opponent field-goal percentage (43.6), and free-throw percentage (81.9). They were third in offensive rating (119.2) and opponent points per game (107.6) while their point per game average of 120.5 was fourth. The team finished fifth in defensive rebounds (34.2), and field-goal percentage (48.2), while sixth in 3-point percentage (37.4) and threes made (14.5). They finished 10th in 3-pointers attempted (38.8). 

The Nuggets come into the series off a first round series where they were made to sweat by the Los Angeles Clippers, taken to seven games. Denver dominated in the seventh game at home, leading 93-66 after three quarters. The Nuggets finished the regular season 50-32, fourth in the conference, and were in the top 10 in eight categories - points per game (120.8, 3rd), offensive rating (118.9, 4th), rebounding (45.7, 4th), defensive rebounds (34.5, 3rd), field-goal percentage (50.6, 1st), 3-point percentage (37.6, 5th), free-throws made (17.9, 4th), and free-throws attempted (23.3, 1st).

The Thunder have top level wing play and defense, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams leading the offensive charge while Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace are stalwart defenders. Gilgeous-Alexander and Wallace both finished in the top five in the NBA in steals in the regular season. Off the bench, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins can shoot the ball, and Caruso and Wallace both come off the bench and provide said defense.

Mark Diagnault's team fixed their one major whole and need with the acquisition of Isaiah Hartenstein in the off-season. Hartenstein is a strong rebounder and sturdy presence in the paint who blocks shots and is a great athlete. Nikola Jokic averaged 24.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 10.1 assists in round one and shot 50%, well below his season average of 57.6%. The Clippers employed Ivica Zubac at center, who is one of the best defensive centers in the league and a great rebounder himself who was a candidate for the league’s Most Improved Player. Hartenstein averages 10.7 rebounds, and offers considerably more athleticism than Zubac does. Jokic will get his numbers, but Hartenstein can make him work for them while also being a hindrance at the rim for the likes of Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, and Russell Westbrook when they attack.

Chet Holmgren's length is a tough match for Gordon, though Gordon is probably the more athletic player. Michael Porter Jr. is 6 feet 10 inches but does not defend at a high level and is not an overly athletic player, making Jalen Williams a difficult cover. The likes of Dort, Caruso, and Wallace can also bother Murray and make things tough for him. An x-factor in this series is Westbrook, whose presence can make a major difference if he plays up to standard. He has the size advantage on both Caruso and Wallace, though Dort at 6 feet, 4 inches is a built 220 pounds. Westbrook's play off the bench in a series where the Thunder have a decided bench advantage will be crucial.

Though Jokic gets his numbers, the Thunder have too many weapons and a deeper team. They are obviously one of the league's most complete teams (third in offensive rating, first in defensive rating), make more threes per game (15 to 12) and shoot the best in the league from the line. The Thunder also turn the ball over three less times than the Nuggets, as they took care of the ball better than any team in the regular season (11 turnovers per game). The team also led the NBA in point differential at +12.8. From top to bottom, they are one of the most complete teams in the NBA.

Though they may not have the best player in the series (Jokic still reigns as the league's top player even though Gilgeous-Alexander may take this year's MVP award), the Thunder have everything else. Thunder in 6.