2025 NBA playoffs: Conference semifinals takeaways - ESPN

The second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs is here, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game of the Eastern and Western Conference semifinals.

The No. 4 Indiana Pacers began the second round by taking home court from the No. 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers with a 121-112 victory in Game 1. The Cavaliers will try to bounce back Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, TNT).

On Monday, the No. 3 New York Knicks will travel to the No. 2 Boston Celtics for Game 1, and in the West, the No. 4 Denver Nuggets will take on the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder.

As teams continue to chase the Larry O'Brien Trophy, here's what matters most in both conferences and what to watch for in all four series.

More coverage:
Schedules and results | Offseason guides

Game 1: Pacers 121, Cavaliers 112

What we learned in Game 1:

Indiana threw the first punch and stole home-court advantage in the series after outscoring Cleveland 29-22 in the fourth quarter. The Pacers entered as the underdogs in this series against the top-seeded Cavs, but it was Indiana that raced out to a first-quarter advantage and dictated the flow of the game while handing Cleveland its first loss of the playoffs.

The Pacers made 19 3-pointers, the second most in a playoff game in franchise history, and had six players finish with double figures in scoring. Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton finished with 22 points, 13 assists, 3 blocks and a steal while Indiana shot 7 for 12 from 3 (58%) on his passes.

What to watch in Game 2:

Darius Garland's status is very important in this series. Cleveland got away with being less than 100% in the first round against the Miami Heat, but it was evident from the opening quarter Sunday that the Pacers are a level up in competition.

Indiana