2025 NBA Playoffs: Experts' Second Round Draft

The second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs is underway, with eight teams facing each other, with a chance to take their championship hopes one step closer.

After the Cavaliers swept the Miami Heat in the first round, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ No. 1 seed will beat the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers, while defending champion Boston Celtics’ No. 2 defending champion will have to fight against the No. 3 seed New York Knicks.

In the West, after an exciting seven-game series, the Denver Nuggets will continue to face the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Minnesota Timberwolves No. 6 seed will take over the Golden State Warriors.

After the first round of games was filled with scans and game 7, our NBA experts made the choice for each second round series.

Schedule and News | Round 2 Preview | Offseason Guide

East second round

Cleveland Cavaliers (1)
With the Indiana Pacers (4)

Tim McMahon: Knight 6
Kevin Pelton: Knight 6
Ramona Shelburne: Knight 6
Other noses: Knight 6
Jorge Sedano: The Knight in 7
Jerry Bembry: Knight 6
Dave McMenamin: Knight 6
Jamal Collier: Knight 6
Chris Herring: Knight 6
Mark Spears: Knight 6
Jeremy Wo: Knight 6
Tim Bontemps: The Knight in 7

Finally Tally:
Cleveland 12, Indiana 0

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

Tim McMahon: Celtics 6
Kevin Pelton: Celtics 5
Ramona Shelburne: Celtics 6
Other noses: Celtics 7
Jorge Sedano: Celtics 6
Jerry Bembry: Celtics 5
Dave McMenamin: Celtics 7
Jamal Collier: Celtics 6
Chris Herring: Celtics 5
Mark Spears: Celtics 6
Jeremy Wo: Celtics 6
Tim Bontemps: Celtics 5

Finally Tally:
Boston 12, New York 0

The second round of the West

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
Mark Spears: Thunder in 6
Jeremy Wo: Thunder in 7
Other noses: Thunder in 7

Finally Tally:
Oklahoma City 10, Denver 0

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

Omar King: 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 Wo: Timberwolves in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Timberwolves in 7
Other noses: Timberwolves in 6
Jerry Bembry: Timberwolves in 6
Ramona Shelburne: The Warriors are in 6

Finally Tally:
Minnesota 10, Golden State 1