Gregg Popovich resigns as Spurs head coach
After suffering a stroke months ago, Gregg Popovich steps down as Spurs head coach.
We’re down, officially, to eight teams.
The field for the NBA’s second round of the playoffs, the conference semifinals, is set as teams continue their push for the NBA Finals.
The Boston Celtics are trying to become the first team in six seasons to repeat as NBA champions, and they’ll have to fend off legitimate threats to do so. The field is loaded with teams composed in different ways, from the young – but steady – Oklahoma City Thunder, to the Golden State Warriors, who are riding the momentum gained from a key trade acquisition in Jimmy Butler.
Here are six storylines to watch in the second round, the conference semifinals, of the 2025 NBA playoffs:
Eastern Conference
Can the Cavaliers bounce back?
Given the success the Pacers had at the end of the season, going 34-14 since the calendar turned to 2025, it’s hardly a surprise that the Pacers upset the Cavaliers in Game 1 Sunday night. But there were serious signs of concern for Cleveland. Namely, the Cavs were unable to present any viable perimeter defense against Indiana, primarily because the Pacers raced out in transition and Cleveland was unable to slow them for most of the game. The Cavs, however, were the NBA’s top-rated offense (121.0) and ranked third in net rating (9.2); this feels like the type of series that will go deep.
Can the Knicks play a complete game?
The Knicks withstood the Pistons in the first round, but New York needed a 21-0 run in the fourth quarter of Game 1, benefitted from a no-call officials later said should’ve been a foul and needed a Jalen Brunson game-winner in Game 6 to close out Detroit. The thread throughout the series was New York’s inability to evade disastrous quarters that allowed the Pistons to claw back into games. The Celtics, though, present a far more onerous matchup, with shooters all over the floor, cohesive defensive schemes and dynamic wings in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Knicks won’t have to play perfectly to beat Boston, but they’ll have to be pretty close.
The Celtics are finally healthy. Will it last?
Boston’s injury situation since the All-Star break was a mixed bag; every single starter missed time with some type of issue, though none of their ailments were serious enough to prompt extended absences. Still, it has been a rarity for the Celtics to be at full strength down the stretch. Point guard Jrue Holiday (hamstring) is off the injury report after missing three first-round games. Presumably, he will be instrumental as a defensive stopper in the game plan against Knicks All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson. The Celtics have enough depth to withstand injury issues. But over a seven-game series, missed time could prove to be costly, potentially even swinging the series.
Western Conference
Can the Nuggets handle another long series?
The Denver Nuggets advanced to the second round of the playoffs following a Game 7 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at home. In a series that featured four games decided by six or fewer points, including one that went into overtime, it will be worth seeing just how much energy the Nuggets will have for the second series. Nikola Jokic averaged a triple-double in 40 minutes per game in the first round. Michael Porter Jr. has also been playing through a shoulder injury.
Did the Thunder have too much rest?
Oklahoma City will be well-rested, but could that serve as a disadvantage? While the Nuggets will only be a few days removed from playing in Game 7, the Thunder had eight days off between games. OKC made quick work of the Memphis Grizzlies, sweeping the first-round series. The real benefit is that the rest should have helped the Thunder recover from any nagging injuries and enter the series fully healthy. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 27.8 points per game in the series and 30.3 points against the Nuggets this season. Gilgeous-Alexander will be important to the team’s success, while having a real opportunity to showcase that he has what it takes to lead his team to an NBA title while eliminating a fellow MVP finalist.
Can Anthony Edwards push Timberwolves past Warriors?
Anthony Edwards has continued to lead the way for the Minnesota Timberwolves again in the postseason. The T-Wolves got the best of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers, but they’ll have to take down another team with superstar talent. Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors are coming off a seven-game series against the Houston Rockets, but the veteran team has proven it can navigate its way through the postseason before. The Warriors got the best of Minnesota during the regular season, winning three of the four meetings against each other.
Edwards has averaged 26 points per game in the postseason and against the Warriors this season. Minnesota’s fate may be decided on the production of Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert, or if they can manage to stop Curry and Jimmy Butler, who are co-stars in Golden State.
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