The 2025 NBA Playoffs are heating up, with several second-round matchups intensifying over the weekend. The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves all secured crucial Game 3 victories on Friday and Saturday.
Boston responded to back-to-back losses against the New York Knicks by draining 20 three-pointers in a dominant 115-93 win in Game 3, trimming New York’s series lead to 2-1. Meanwhile, the short-handed Golden State Warriors—still without Steph Curry—put up a fight but ultimately fell to Minnesota, who now holds a 2-1 edge.
In the West, the defending champion Nuggets outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime on Friday, seizing a 2-1 lead in what has become a tightly contested series. Cleveland also got on the board in its matchup with Indiana, cutting the Pacers’ lead to 2-1 with a blowout win in Game 3.
Despite the Celtics trailing in their series, they still hold the second-best odds to win the NBA title (+225), behind only the Thunder (+175), according to DraftKings.
2025 NBA Playoff Bracket & Second-Round Schedule (All Times ET)
Friday, May 9
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Cavaliers 126, Pacers 104 (Indiana leads 2-1)
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Nuggets 113, Thunder 104 (OT) (Denver leads 2-1)
Saturday, May 10
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Celtics 115, Knicks 93 (New York leads 2-1)
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Timberwolves 102, Warriors 97 (Minnesota leads 2-1)
Sunday, May 11
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Game 4: Nuggets vs. Thunder, 3:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
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Game 4: Pacers vs. Cavaliers, 8 p.m., TNT/Max
Monday, May 12
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Game 4: Knicks vs. Celtics, 7:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
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Game 4: Warriors vs. Timberwolves, 10 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Tuesday, May 13
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Game 5: Cavaliers vs. Pacers, 7 p.m., TNT/Max
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Game 5: Thunder vs. Nuggets, 9:30 p.m., TNT/Max
Wednesday, May 14
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Game 5: Celtics vs. Knicks, Time/TV TBD
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Game 5: Timberwolves vs. Warriors, Time/TV TBD
If Necessary
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Game 6s: May 15–18
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Game 7s: May 18–20
First-Round Highlights
Several series in the opening round were one-sided, including 4-0 sweeps by the Thunder and Cavaliers. The Celtics and Timberwolves advanced in five games, while the Knicks and Warriors needed six and seven games, respectively.
Denver narrowly survived the Clippers in a Game 7, while Indiana handled Milwaukee in five.
2025 NBA Play-In Tournament Results
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Magic, Warriors, Heat, and Grizzlies claimed the final playoff spots during the Play-In Tournament held April 15–18.
Key 2025 NBA Playoff Dates
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May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
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May 20–21: Conference Finals begin
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June 5: NBA Finals begin
As the second round continues, fans can expect more fireworks with pivotal Game 4s on the horizon.