The second second of the NBA Playoffs are underway!
Western Conference
(No. 1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (No. 4) Denver Nuggets
The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in four games. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets are coming off a seven-game series against the LA Clippers.
This matchup will be between of this season’s top MVP candidates: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. Oklahoma City enters the series as the deeper and more talented team, proven by their league-best 68 wins during the regular season. With defensive minded 7-footers like Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein controling the paint, along with a group of athletic guards and wings who excel at disrupting passing lanes, the Thunder have the team to make things tougher for Jokic.
However, Denver holds a the edge in playoff experience. If they are to pull off the upset, they’ll need dominant performances from both Jokic and Jamal Murray throughout the series.
(No. 6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs (No. 7) Golden State Warriors
The Minnesota Timberwolves upset the No. 3 seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round and now face the Golden State Warriors, who advanced after a seven-game series against the Houston Rockets.
Anthony Edwards has been playing his best basketball, averaging 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists against the Lakers in the first round. The Warriors will need to throw a variety of defenders at him to attempt to slow down his impact. While Golden State brings championship experience they’ll be physically overmatched by Minnesota’s size—Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid.
Draymond Green remains the Warriors’ most important defender, but he’ll need to stay out of foul trouble to avoid giving Minnesota an even bigger advantage in the frontcourt.
Eastern Conference
(No. 1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (No. 4) Indiana Pacers
The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their strong season by sweeping the Miami Heat in the first round, while the Indiana Pacers knocked out the Milwaukee Bucks for the second consecutive postseason—this time in five games.
Both teams come into this series playing their best basketball at the right time. Tyrese Haliburton will be a key player to watch as he matches up against Cleveland’s All-Star backcourt. The Pacers have the edge in playoff experience after making a deeper playoff run last season than most of the Cavaliers’ current roster.
Cleveland could be without two-time All-Star Darius Garland, who missed the final two games of the Miami series due to a sprained left big toe. Haliburton’s ability to stretch the floor and pull Cleveland’s bigs out to the perimeter could be the deciding factor in the series.
(No. 2) Boston Celtics vs (No. 3) New York Knicks
The defending champion Boston Celtics are one step closer to a repeat after defeating the Orlando Magic in the first round. They’ll now take on the New York Knicks, who advance from a physical six-game series against the Detroit Pistons.
Boston has dominated the recent head-to-head matchups, winning eight of their last nine games against the Knicks. Slowing down the Celtics’ high-powered three-point offense will be essential for New York. Jalen Brunson has been in elite form, scoring 30 or more points in five of six games in the opening round, and will be the focal point of the Knicks’ offense again.
Jrue Holiday’s status remains questionable for the Celtics—he missed the last three games against Orlando with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable. If healthy, Holiday would be Boston’s best option for defending Brunson on the perimeter.
