Unusual Playoff Scheduling
In an unusual scheduling twist, the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs will begin on Sunday before the conclusion of the first round. We will have to wait for the outcome of Game 7 between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors to finalize the second-round bracket, but the matchups in the Eastern Conference are already determined.
Eastern Conference Progress
As anticipated, the top four seeds in the East have progressed. The No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Miami Heat, while the Boston Celtics advanced past the determined Orlando Magic in five games. The New York Knicks fought through a close six-game series against the Detroit Pistons, and the Indiana Pacers took care of the injury-riddled Milwaukee Bucks in five games.
Upcoming Matchups
Next up, the Cavaliers will face the Pacers, and the Celtics will rekindle their rivalry with the Knicks. Unsurprisingly, Cleveland and the defending champion Celtics are favored to move on, with none of the experts predicting an upset. The only discussion among our analysts revolves around how many games each series will last.
Expert Predictions for Cavaliers vs. Pacers
Here’s a summary of CBS Sports’ predictions for the Cavaliers-Pacers matchup.
Series odds via BetMGM: Cavaliers -500, Pacers +375
Botkin: Cavs in 5. The Pacers will do all they can to defend against Cleveland’s shooters and can score against the Cavs’ defense, but they won’t win enough games to upset the top seed.
Herbert: Cavs in 5. The focus is on the Cavaliers, whose playstyle may render Indiana’s defensive improvements ineffective.
Predictions for Celtics vs. Knicks
Here’s a look at the predictions for the Celtics-Knicks matchup.
Series odds via BetMGM: Celtics -800, Knicks +550
Botkin: Celtics in 6. Despite the Knicks’ attempts to build a team to contend with Boston, their defense raises doubts, making it hard to trust them against a seasoned Celtics squad.
Herbert: Celtics in 5. With the Celtics’ strategic advantage over New York’s weaknesses, coupled with inconsistency in the Knicks’ offense, Boston is likely to win.
