NBA playoffs 2025: League insiders break down Round 1 games - ESPN

It's already been an eventful start to the NBA's postseason.

We've seen five of the eight first-round matchups split the first two games, with huge performances from players with extensive playoff experience — including former champions Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard — and from young stars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cade Cunningham.

It all sets up for an intriguing second weekend of the playoffs — with three games Friday and all eight series in action over Saturday and Sunday — with the potential of some teams getting swept if they don't grab a win.

With that in mind, here's a look at where things stand in each first-round series and what to watch as we await which eight teams will advance to the conference semifinals.

Jump to an East series:
Bucks-Pacers: Can anyone help Giannis?
Knicks-Pistons: Expect a long series?
Cavs, Celtics in control: Should they worry?

Jump to a West series:
Nuggets-Clippers: Peak Kawhi is back?
Rockets-Warriors: Butler's injury the X factor?
Lakers-Timberwolves: Which star will rise up?
Thunder vs. Grizzlies: A collapse spells doom?

No. 4 Indiana leads No. 5 Milwaukee, 2-0

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been sensational through the first two games of this series, and his averages back that up: 35 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.5 blocks on 65% shooting. That's otherworldly production.

And yet, the Milwaukee Bucks were outscored by 29 points with Antetokounmpo on the floor in 38 minutes so far in this series. And now that the series shifts back to Milwaukee for Game 3 on Friday (8 p.m. ET, ESPNU), there's not a lot of optimism that Milwaukee can find its way back into it.

When asked whether Milwaukee has a chance in this series, one NBA executive was blunt: «I really don't… Giannis has