2025 NBA Playoffs – Eastern Conference First – Round Takeaways

The NBA play -offs from 2025 are in full swing and our NBA insiders have covered you for every game in the march to the final.

The number 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers the no. 8 seed wiped Miami Heat On Monday, the first team in the east to go to the second round became. The Detroit Pistons‘Comeback to even their first round series shot short on Sunday, like the New York Knicks Go back to Madison Square Garden with a chance to close it on Tuesday.

The No. 2 Boston Celtics can wipe no. 7 seeds Orlando Magic On Tuesday after taking a 3-1 lead in the series. And the no. 4 Seed Indiana Pacers I also have the chance to close the series after beating the number 5 seeds Milwaukee Bucks On Sunday.

As the East Play -offs continues, this is what it goes the most and what you should pay attention to in all four series.

Jump to a series:
Cavaliers heating | Celtics-Magic
Knicks-Stistons | Pacers-Bucks

More coverage:
West First round take -away restaurants
Schedules and results | Guides out of season

Monday’s game

Game 4: Cavaliers 138, Heat 83

What we have learned:

It was 70-25 late in the second quarter of Game 4-one that represents a lot for both the cavs and the heat while the first continues to the second round of the play-offs after securing a four-game sweep from the latter. It was just as crooked as a score if you will probably ever see in an elimination play -off game. The cavs started the game 11-of-20 from 3-point range and the heat started 2-of-23. Let’s say that the intensity levels of the two teams were not leveled, the lethargy of the heat that formed the contrast with the cavs’. The cavs broke the heat with a strong finish of game 2. Then, in games 3 and 4, when Darius Garland Was out with a sprained toe, the cavs bowed to stimulate the playing time of De’andre Hunter and gave extra minutes Dean WadeTwo attackers who shared the available playing time. The result was a large setup that the paint effectively walled for the heat and combined with hard denials of Tyler Herrowho largely had a miserable series. Playing the big setup is a lesson for the cavs if they come into stronger teams in a pickle later in the late season; Going back to them can turn out to be a valuable curveball, because one of their few weaknesses is a lack of size on the half of the defense. Otherwise there would not be much to learn tonight.

– Brian Windhorst

Game 4: Knicks 94, Pistons 93

What we have learned:

More than whatever, we have learned that the officials would have the Knicks and Pistons fight physically on Sunday, with fewer whistles than you would expect given the amount of contact during the game. It was the case countless times in the first half. It was the case on a loose ball Jalen Brunson Furly for an ankle injury forced him to leave briefly. And to the dismay of the pistons it was the case with a controversial no-call to close the game when Deuce McBride Contact built up Tim Hardaway JR. – who fired a potential winning sweater on the horny-furious Detroit and his fans. The physicality of the game and the last game, in particular, will of course be enlarged. But Brunson’s shot and shot and Karl-Anthony Towns – who are the deep winning triple while drilling Jal Was draped over him – was remarkable. The Sterduo defeated the Pistons 22-21 in the fourth quarter.

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Kat touches huge 3 in the link for Knicks

Karl-Anthony Towns draws for a deep 3 and let it go in the coupling for the knicks versus the pistons.

Game 5: Knicks at Pistons (Tuesday 7.30 pm et, TNT))

What to see:

How do the young pistons, who were returning back and in position to win Game 4 until the last minute of playing, Game 5? The Knicks came out stronger in both games in Detroit-de Pistons started Game 4 with 10 turnover and 0-out-10 shooting from deep before they reached their first 3 forcing Cunningham gift & Co. To play from behind. The comebacks of the pistons were impressive, but eventually came in the Motor City both times. With the Knicks who have the chance to exclude things on Tuesday, the garden will be public on full gas valve. A better start for Detroit will be crucial.

– Chris Herring

Game 4: Celtics 107, Magic 98

What we have learned:

The seventh placed magic dictated the pace and style of the game in the past two games, the second placed Celtics with physically sown and an aggressive shift defense that has undermined the typical 3-point Onslaghts of Boston. But the Celtics proved in Game 4 that they can go through it and find a victory on the other side because of their wealth of talent. This was not how the Celtics would rather triumph, because the magic completely closed the talented supporting cast of Boston and scored the starters of the Celtics at only six of their 107 points. But the 37 points of Jayson Tatum and 14 rebounds made the difference. Boston also needed a bounce back game of Kristaps PorzingisAnd he delivered 19 points. Orlandos Paolo Banchero Also had a lively achievement with 31 points, even if it cost 32 field goal attempts. According to ESPN Research, his seven consecutive 25-point playoff games are for the most consecutive player who is young than 23 in the NBA-Playoff history in the NBA Playoff.

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The 37 points of Tatum help Celtics Magic push to the edge

Jayson Tatum has 37 points with 14 rebounds in the game 4 victory of the Celtics to take a 3-1 series a lead versus the magic.

Game 5: Orlando in Boston (Tuesday, 20:30 et, NBA TV))

What to see:

This has been a grinding, tiring series for the Celtics, and you can be sure that the title defender will be desperate to end it on Tuesday in Boston to get some much needed rest before they were confronted with the winner of the Pistons Knicks series. It will be interesting to see if the Celtics can play at home again – or whether the magic continues to play these games on their conditions.

– Baxter Holmes

Game 4: Pacers 129, Bucks 103

What we have learned:

The sold -out crowd in Milwaukee went quiet as Damian Lillard Stayed on the floor while the rest of the action went down the field. Lillard had worked his way back after missing the last month of the season because of a blood clot in his right leg, but he could not put a weight on his left leg because he was helped outside the field on Sunday evening. That nervous energy was still felt for the rest of the game, because the bucks fell into a 3-1 hole in the series, never took a lead and could not match the defensive intensity that they wore in the second half of Game 3. The Pacers shot 60% out of the field, and without Lillard the bucks did not have the attack to match Indiana’s scoring attack.

Game 5: Bucks in Indiana (Tuesday 6 pm et, NBA TV))

What to view:

Milwaukee will wait to learn the seriousness of Lillard’s injury to an MRI on MondayBut his status for the rest of the series is far from certain and the bucks will have to find a way to replicate its production to save their season. Giannis Antetokounmpo Scored 28 points at 9-of-20 shooting, but none of the other starters of the bucks reached double digits. Kevin Porter JR. Was the second leading scorer of the team with 23 points, but he only scored seven points in the second half. Milwaukee is confronted with a tough battle in the series – with an elimination game on the road, the status of Lillard in danger and pressure on the supporting cast, perhaps, to show Antetokounmpo that there is still championship hope in Milwaukee.

– Jamal Collier