The second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs featured an overtime thriller and a comeback in the fourth quarter.

No high-seeded team in the conference semifinals was able to win the first game. Since then, the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves have been able to rebound.

But the pressure is taking damage to stars like Stephen Curry and Karl-Anthony Towns.

After a round 2 full of surprises and back-and-forth series, our NBA insiders broke the biggest gains, players under pressure and things to watch out for when teams try to get to the conference finals.

Who is under the most pressure at 4 crucial matches on Monday?

I know what you Assumptions explain. This is Jayson Tatum and his Lightning Pole game that occasionally happens to avoid contact. Or Jaylen Brown, whose shooting in the series is only much better than Tatum’s tough percentage. (Brown was a tragic 23 on three.) But the reality is that the Celtics, despite all their external bricklayers, still have five people getting doubles on average, and the established track record is to destroy the ball.

Knicks real All-Star guard Jalen Brunson's signature game is available Monday night. His recognition rate in New York is high, which is correct because his clutch performance is legendary. But, taking a step back, the unsettling fact is that Brunson was shocked by the rotation of the Celtics, especially the rotation of Derrick White and Jrue Holiday. Brunson shot only 38% from the field in the series. Boston took him out of boundaries. Brunson had only 18 trips in three games, 33% less than his average against the Detroit Pistons in the first round. The Knicks averaged just 95 points in regulation, while shooting 42% lower in the series. Plus, Karl-Anthony Towns is now dealing with a left-hand injury, and the Celtics are more determined than ever, as Mitchell Robinson, who was deliberately fouled, stole the Knicks’ property with a devastating 7 goals in 23 on the foul line. - Brian Windhorst

If ____, will this series enter Game 7?

Nikola Jokic rediscovered his shooting tactics in one of the next two games. ESPN Research says the three-time MVP is in unprecedented funk, hitting under 40% in three straight games, and has made at least 15 attempts in his career (regular season or playoffs). Jokic, one of the most effective superstars in NBA history, shot 33.3% in those three games and made more mistakes than the series' assists. Oklahoma City’s highest-ranked defense deserves a mention, making Jokic’s job difficult and that will continue to put pressure on the line as the series progresses. - Tim MacMahon

What is the biggest weakness of a wolf? How did the Warriors exploit this weakness without Stephen Curry?

As one of four teams in the league in the top 10 offensive and defensive teams in the regular season, the Timberwolves don’t have many major loopholes. Minnesota's 23-6 record will only strengthen that since the calendar turns to March. But Wolves don't always protect basketball like teams they should completely It is expected to be locked in the value of each property. Although Minnesota rose 2-1 in Golden State, the Wolves made more mistakes in two of the three games than the Warriors, including 21-15 in Game 3. Despite the turnover, Golden State had only 13 points in Game 3, while Wolves scored 16 points in Game 3 and Wolves scored 16 points in 16 points. If the Warriors can continue to use Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Brandin Podziemski, Gary Payton II and Jonathan Kuminga to harass the Wolves' ball handlers and get a little more organized in their transition game when they do force a Minnesota blunder, Golden State might be able to steal a win to extend the series and give Curry a chance to heal his left hamstring for a Game 6 return. - Dave McMenamin

If the Cavaliers can rebound in this series, if they ____?

Rediscover their historical offense from the regular season. Cleveland scored the offensive rating of No. 1 in the NBA. But it was an offensive all-series outside Donovan Mitchell, which ultimately led to a blowout loss in Game 4, which put the Cavaliers on the verge of extinction. In the first half of Sunday night's game, the Cavaliers scored 39 points, simultaneously producing three assists and 14 turnovers. Worse, Mitchell, who has the highest average score in the Cavaliers, has not suffered an ankle injury in the second half since LeBron James. - Jamal Collier

bonus!

What was the biggest surprise in the second round so far?

This season, for the first time in NBA history, the average spread of three teams is 9 or higher. Then those same teams - the Thunder, the Cavaliers and the Celtics Tour in the first round, against over-matched games with a score of 12-1. They all seem to have participated in the collision courses between the conference finals and the NBA finals.

So it’s surprising that the trio collectively struggled in the second round even if they admitted the roles that were already played by the characters who were injured and shooting luck. In these playoffs, the regular season Big Three faced Denver, Indiana and New York 4-7 respectively. As expected, those same Big Three may still improve. However, unexpected parity makes more interesting games and overall competitiveness more competitive. - Zach Stall

My NBA Finals Draft pick is:

Even though I was trailing 2-1 as of Sunday morning, I stuck to the Celtics and the Thunder. Boston's third game performance reminded its advantage in the game with the Knicks in the 3s. With the top-seeded Cavaliers short of all efforts, the Celtics will certainly be favored if they make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. In the West, Minnesota is the safest bet to reach the finals and has played well against Oklahoma City this season. Still, the Thunder have a home advantage throughout the playoffs, making them a favorite. - Kevin Pelton