April 29, 2025, 09:15 PM ET
The 2025 NBA playoffs are in full swing, with NBA Insiders covering all the games of the final march.
One Eastern Conference semi-final series will be set after the fourth-placed Indiana Pacers eliminated the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday in an overtime thriller. The Pacers now have the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers, who wiped out No. 8 seed Miami Heat on Monday.
Two more teams with the advantages of the 3-1 series are also making progress on Tuesday. The No. 3 New York Knicks are aiming to close No. 6 Detroit Pistons, but the second Boston Celtics are trying to eliminate No. 7 seed Orlando Magic on Tuesday after taking a 3-1 lead in the series. Teams clinching these matchups will meet in other Eastern second round series.
As the East Playoffs continue, this shows what is most important and what to watch with what the second round is looming.
Jump to the series:
Cavs Heat | Celtics Magic
Knicks Piston | Pacers Backs
Other coverage:
Takeout of the first round of the west
Schedule and Results | Offseason Guide
Tuesday’s Game
Game 5: Pacer 119, Bucks 118 (OT)
What we learned:
The Pacers continued to dominate the Bucks, gathering from a 20-point deficit in Game 5 and winning the series in overtime with a layup in the game from Tyree Halliburton. Indiana eliminated Milwaukee for the second consecutive season, with the Pacers 8-3 against the Bucks in the playoffs during that period.
Set up a second matchup between the Pacers and Top-Seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cheveland Cavaliers made their best offense in the NBA, wiping out the Miami Heat in a one-round series. If the Pacers can elicit the upset, they can return to the Eastern Conference Finals for their second straight win.
The Bucks didn’t fall without a fight thanks to a 30-point, 20 rebound triple double from Giannis Antetocomo and a brand new starting lineup that started the game with a 13-0 run. Coach Doc Rivers made fundamental changes to the starting lineup, inserting Bobby Portis, AJ Green and Kevin Porter Jr. into the starting force in favour of Kyle Kuzma, Brook Lopez and the injured Damien Lillard. However, the season ended in a heartbreaking way, committing two turnovers in the final 30 seconds of the OT after having only one entire series before Tuesday’s game.
– Jamal Collier
play
1:42
Why Stephen A. says that Giannis might consider leaving Milwaukee
Stephen A. Smith breaks down the reasons why he predicts that Giannis Antetocomo will consider leaving the Bucks in Milwaukee.
Game 5: The Pistons Knicks (Tuesday, 7:30pm, TNT)
What to see:
How will a young piston, who is in a position to win Game 4 until the final minute of play, start Game 5? The Knicks got stronger in both Detroit games – the Pistons started game 4 with 10 turnovers and 0-10 firing from the deep before hitting the first three. The Pistons’ comeback was impressive, but in the end they both took less time at Motor City. The garden crowd will be full throttle as the Knicks have the opportunity to close things on Tuesday. A better start to Detroit is important.
– Chris Haring
play
1:37
Greeny looks at Jalen Branson’s Clutchtime greatness
Mike Greenberg calls Jalen Brunson the “most clutch player” of the NBA, and questions the Mavericks how he left for the Knicks.
Game 5: Orlando, Boston (Tuesday, 8:30pm, NBA TV)
What to see:
This is the Celtics’ crushing series, and the defending champions are desperate to finish it in Boston on Tuesday, and can be assured they’ll have the necessary rest before facing the winner of the Piston Zuknik series. It will be interesting to see if the Celtics can go back to playing their style at home, or if the magic continues to play these games on their terms.
– Baxter Holmes
play
2:09
Tatum’s 37 points help the Celtics push their magic to the brink
Jason Tatum tallied 37 points with 14 rebounds in the Celtics’ Game 4 victory to score a 3-1 series lead vs. Magic.
Game 4: Cavaliers 138, Heat 83
What we learned:
It was 70-25 in the second half of Game 4’s second quarter. After the former secured the latter four-game sweep, it’s a margin that represents many margins for both Cavs and Heat as they progress to the second round of the playoffs.
It was something you put away the scores as you could possibly see in the elimination game. The Cavs started 11/20 from the 3-point range and the fever began 2/23. Let’s say the strength level of the two teams has not been improved. The Heat’s lethargic environment is in stark contrast to that of Cavs.
Cleveland broke the heat with a strong finish in Game 2. In games 3 and 4, when Cleveland guard Darius Garland went out with his toes scattered, the cab boosted DeAndre Hunter’s playing time, giving Dean Wade a few more minutes. The result was a large lineup that effectively walled the paint out due to the heat and created a harsh denial of Tyler Hero, who had a largely disastrous series.
Playing the big lineup is a Cavs lesson if you enter Pickles against a stronger team later in the postseason. One of Cleveland’s few weaknesses is the lack of backcourt size, so returning to them could prove to be a valuable curveball. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have learned much tonight.
– Brian Windholst
play
2:03
Stephen A. : It’s time for Pat Riley to move on
Stephen A. Smith says it’s time for a change in Miami and question whether Pat Riley is still the right person to lead the Heat front office.
