As the NBA playoffs progress into the second round, exciting matchups promise a thrilling continuation of the journey towards the championship. The stage is set as defending champion Boston clashes with title-hungry New York, while high-scoring Cleveland faces the equally offensive Indiana. Denver, having claimed the trophy in 2023, now confronts the favored Oklahoma City, and a marquee bout between Golden State and Minnesota brings Stephen Curry face-to-face with the emerging Anthony Edwards.
The action has already begun with Indiana securing a road victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Cleveland. Meanwhile, the anticipated Boston-New York and Denver-Oklahoma City matchups are set to tip off Monday, with the Golden State-Minnesota series commencing on Tuesday.
Celtics forward and reigning NBA Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown, emphasizes the importance of these games, saying, “We’ve just got to come out and perform.” Despite the elimination of stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic when the Lakers lost to Minnesota and the exit of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard seeing the Clippers fall to Denver, the playoffs retain a galaxy of talent.
The stage is highlighted by Curry, Edwards, Boston’s dynamic duo of Brown and Jayson Tatum, likely MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City, Denver’s three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, scoring sensation Donovan Mitchell from Cleveland, Olympic gold medalist Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, and New York’s clutch player Jalen Brunson.
BetMGM Sportsbook ranks Oklahoma City as the favorite for the title, followed by Boston, Cleveland, and Minnesota. However, Indiana showed that predictions can be defied with their Game 1 win against the Cavs.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle noted the absence of expectation for his team in the series, saying, “We’ve got to use that as some level of motivation. But we know what we’re capable of.” The inclusion of Curry and the Warriors in Round 2 is a boon for ratings, with the Knicks, Warriors, and Celtics sustaining interest in three of the top television markets, despite the early exits of both Los Angeles teams.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed satisfaction with the opening round’s numbers, and the matchups promise to keep that momentum. Fans can enjoy the longstanding Knicks-Celtics rivalry, Curry and Edwards teaming up for Golden State-Minnesota, and the Cavs-Pacers series putting a No. 1 seed against the ropes. Furthermore, the Thunder-Nuggets matchup features a clash between Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander, the potential MVPs for upcoming seasons.
Though the league hasn’t announced when MVP voting results will be shared, it’s anticipated this news could drop during the series. Thunder coach, Mark Daigneault, assures that star players remain focused, suggesting that discussions about the MVP are merely an addition to the excitement of the series.
Adding an extra layer to the drama is the return of Golden State’s Jimmy Butler to Minnesota, his former team. Butler, though, states his primary concern is ensuring his coffee machine and his children accompany him to Minnesota, rather than any tension about his return.
The Warriors secured their progression through a decisive Game 7 win against Houston, and Butler remains confident, noting, “The confidence never went anywhere… That’s what I’m going to take into this next round.” It seems this confidence is echoed across all eight remaining playoff teams.