The second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs is now fully underway, with eight teams battling it out for a chance to advance closer to their ultimate goal of an NBA championship.
In the Eastern Conference, the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, fresh off a first-round sweep of the Miami Heat, are set to face the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers. Meanwhile, the reigning champions and No. 2 seed Boston Celtics will compete against the No. 3 seed New York Knicks.
Out West, following a hard-fought seven-game series, the Denver Nuggets have advanced to take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. The other Western Conference matchup pits the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves against the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors.
After a first round that featured both dominant sweeps and thrilling Game 7 finishes, our panel of NBA experts has made their predictions for the outcome of each second-round series.
Eastern Conference Second Round
Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs. Indiana Pacers (4)
Tim MacMahon: Cavaliers in 6
Kevin Pelton: Cavaliers in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Cavaliers in 6
Andre Snellings: Cavaliers in 6
Jorge Sedano: Cavaliers in 7
Jerry Bembry: Cavaliers in 6
Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers in 6
Jamal Collier: Cavaliers in 6
Chris Herring: Cavaliers in 6
Marc Spears: Cavaliers in 6
Jeremy Woo: Cavaliers in 6
Tim Bontemps: Cavaliers in 7
Final Tally:
Cleveland 12, Indiana 0
Boston Celtics (2) vs. New York Knicks (3)
Tim MacMahon: Celtics in 6
Kevin Pelton: Celtics in 5
Ramona Shelburne: Celtics in 6
Andre Snellings: Celtics in 7
Jorge Sedano: Celtics in 6
Jerry Bembry: Celtics in 5
Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 7
Jamal Collier: Celtics in 6
Chris Herring: Celtics in 5
Marc Spears: Celtics in 6
Jeremy Woo: Celtics in 6
Tim Bontemps: Celtics in 5
Final Tally:
Boston 12, New York 0
Western Conference Second Round
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Denver Nuggets (4)
Kevin Pelton: Thunder in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Thunder in 7
Jorge Sedano: Thunder in 6
Jerry Bembry: Thunder in 6
Dave McMenamin: Thunder in 6
Jamal Collier: Thunder in 7
Chris Herring: Thunder in 7
Marc Spears: Thunder in 6
Jeremy Woo: Thunder in 7
Andre Snellings: Thunder in 7
Final Tally:
Oklahoma City 10, Denver 0
Minnesota Timberwolves (6) vs. Golden State Warriors (7)
Omar Raja: Timberwolves in 7
Jamal Collier: Timberwolves in 6
Jorge Sedano: Timberwolves in 7
Chris Herring: Timberwolves in 7
Dave McMenamin: Timberwolves in 7
Kevin Pelton: Timberwolves in 7
Jeremy Woo: Timberwolves in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Timberwolves in 7
Andre Snellings: Timberwolves in 6
Jerry Bembry: Timberwolves in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Warriors in 6
Final Tally:
Minnesota 10, Golden State 1
