Playoffs: Round #2 is LIVE! Who Will Advance? Recap, Predictions and More...

Joel Piton
May 6
4 min read

Round two of the NBA playoffs is officially underway, and if the first round taught us anything, it's to expect the unexpected. From shocking upsets to clutch performances that left fans on the edge, the postseason has delivered everything we hoped for and then some. As the championship stakes get higher, the only questions that matter now are: who will survive, and who will be booking an early trip to Cancun? Let’s dive in.

Wolves vs. Warriors

In a brutal 4-1 series that was tough to watch at times, LeBron James and the Lakers were overwhelmed by Anthony Edwards and the surging Minnesota Timberwolves. Los Angeles’ lack of a true big man was glaring, with Rudy Gobert dominating the paint and utterly exposing the Lakers’ interior defense. Now, Minnesota moves on to face a Golden State Warriors squad that barely scraped through their first-round series in seven games against a young Houston squad. The Wolves come into this matchup with momentum and a clear advantage. Golden State doesn't have a true defensive answer for Anthony Edwards, especially with Kerr's defensive system putting Jimmy Butler on Julius Randle as he did throughout the regular season. The Draymond Green vs. Rudy Gobert battle promises media coverage (and probably a few technical fouls along the way). Stephen Curry will have the freedom to get his shots up against a 38-year-old Mike Conley, but the question remains: will it be enough to tip the series in the Warriors' favor? We're about to find out.

As for LeBron James, what’s next? At 40 years old, the four-time champion has endured back-to-back first-round exits, along with a conference finals sweep three years ago. LeBron has done it all—and more. He achieved the once-unthinkable milestone of sharing the court with his son. There's nothing left for him to prove. With a nagging knee injury expected to sideline him for much of the summer, the thought of retirement looms larger than ever. Is this the final chapter of one of the greatest careers in sports history? Only time will tell.

Pacers vs. Cavaliers

Sunday caught everyone off guard as the top-seeded Cavaliers fell to the Pacers in a stunning Game 1 upset. With potentially six more games ahead, the big question now is: what went wrong with Cleveland? Donovan Mitchell did his part, dropping a game-high 33 points and setting a new NBA record with his eighth straight playoff opener scoring at least 30—breaking Michael Jeffrey Jordan’s previous mark of seven. So if Mitchell wasn't the issue, what went wrong? Darius Garland’s absence loomed large, giving Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard more room to operate at the point guard position. Even so, on paper, Cleveland is the more talented team. But shots simply weren’t falling, and Indiana showed they belong—matching Cleveland’s 35-15 record over the last 50 games both squads have played. With Garland’s return expected soon, we’re eager to see these teams at full strength. Until then, it’s anyone’s series to steal.

Knicks vs. Celtics

Game 1 was a tough pill to swallow for Celtics fans. Boston blew a 20-point lead and ended up losing in overtime in a game that felt as dangerous for team morale as it looked. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each dropped 29 points, but it was Mikal Bridges who delivered the final blow, stealing the ball from Jaylen Brown with a second left to seal a stunning 108-105 Knicks win on Monday night. Jrue Holiday is still battling a hamstring injury, and Kristaps Porziņģis exited at halftime with an illness, so no—the Celtics weren’t at full strength. But the Knicks looked scary regardless. Brunson admitted Monday’s win was a good start, but not a roadmap to winning the series. Still, you can’t sell Game 1 short. The Celtics aren't in Orlando anymore. There's no room for off nights, and shooting 15-for-60 from deep just won’t cut it. Brown and Tatum both finished with 23 points, which is solid, but it’s below what’s expected, especially from Tatum. Game 2 is going to have all eyes glued to it, because if Monday night was any indication, the Knicks came ready to make a statement.

Thunder vs. Nuggets

It’s here: Jokic vs. Shai. The two leading MVP candidates are set to battle it out in a series that, in the eyes of many fans, could determine who truly deserves the title of Most Valuable Player. And if Game 1 was any indication, we’re in for a long, but thrilling series. In a 121-119 juggernaut, Nikola Jokic powered the Nuggets to victory with a monster 42-point, 22-rebound performance while and asserted himself on the defensive end. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nearly notched a triple-double with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, but apart from a strong showing by Alex Caruso, the Thunder struggled to find consistent offensive help. Ironically, former OKC MVP Russell Westbrook made noise for Denver, delivering a bit of a revenge statement against his old squad. The fourth quarter was where it all unraveled for Oklahoma City. Up by double digits, the Thunder couldn’t close it out. A lack of late-game reps showed, not just with the players but with head coach Mark Daigneault, who played it safe. On the flip side, Denver is running with an interim coach who had never led at this level before. It’ll be a major statement an undeniable insult to a Thunder coaching squad that has been elite all year if Denver pulls this series off.

Round two is delivering the excitement we all hoped for—and the madness is just getting started. From MVP showdowns to unexpected upsets, the battles ahead promise to be nothing short of elite. We’ve got you covered with full breakdowns and updates every step of the way. Stay locked in—you won’t want to miss a second.

Catch you next time!