About this Episode
In this episode of Podcasty NBA, hosts Niko and Stella analyze key moments from the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs across both conferences. They discuss Indiana Pacers' upset over top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers; New York Knicks' historic win against Boston Celtics without Jayson Tatum; Oklahoma City Thunder's decisive Game 7 victory over Denver Nuggets; and Minnesota Timberwolves advancing past Golden State Warriors amid Curry's absence. The conversation highlights standout player performances like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring surge and strategic defensive themes such as zone defense effectiveness heading into conference finals.
Article Discussed: "2025 NBA playoffs: Conference semifinals takeaways"
Author: NBA insiders
This podcast was generated by AI using Podcasty.
Episode Transcript
Niko: Welcome to Podcasty NBA! Today, we're diving into the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, covering all the action from both the Eastern and Western Conference semifinals. We've got some surprising upsets, standout performances, and intriguing matchups to break down.
Stella: Absolutely, Niko. The playoffs have been full of drama so far. From the Indiana Pacers upsetting the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the East to the Oklahoma City Thunder knocking out the Denver Nuggets in a thrilling seven-game series in the West. Plus, we saw the New York Knicks advance to their first Eastern Conference finals since 2000 after eliminating the Boston Celtics.
Niko: Let's start with a quick recap of what happened in each series. In the East, the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers took a commanding 2-0 lead over No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers and never looked back, finishing off the series last Tuesday night to become the first team to reach the Eastern Conference finals.
Stella: Meanwhile, in another Eastern semifinal matchup, despite missing Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics managed to hold off New York Knicks in Game 5. But it wasn’t enough as the Knicks scored their largest playoff win in franchise history by defeating Boston in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden to advance for the first time since 2000.
Niko: Over in the Western Conference, it was a nail-biter between No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder won Game 7 decisively with a score of 125-93 on Sunday, advancing to face Minnesota Timberwolves who had earlier defeated Golden State Warriors in five games.
Stella: Right, and speaking of that Warriors-Timberwolves series, Stephen Curry was sidelined due to injury during Game 5 which contributed heavily to Golden State's struggles. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle stepped up big time leading their team past a depleted Warriors squad.
Niko: Digging deeper into that Thunder-Nuggets series: Aaron Gordon showed incredible toughness playing through a Grade 2 hamstring strain but ultimately it wasn't enough for Denver. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 35 points on efficient shooting while Jalen Williams added 24 points including an explosive run late in second quarter that flipped Game 7 completely.
Stella: Denver’s Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., however, struggled offensively combining for just nine made shots out of twenty-four attempts. That lack of scoring punch really hurt them against Oklahoma City's superior depth and clutch performances from their stars.
Niko: Switching back east for a moment — Indiana’s victory over Cleveland featured stellar play from Tyrese Haliburton who scored 28 points with eight assists alongside Pascal Siakam’s solid all-around game: 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists. On Cleveland’s side Donovan Mitchell battled through an ankle injury but shot just eight-for-24.
Stella: And Cleveland's other core players also had uneven performances; Jarrett Allen only scored nine points while Evan Mobley had just four points in crunch time during fourth quarter. Darius Garland struggled too shooting four-for-sixteen overall which contributed to Cleveland becoming only the fourth team with over sixty wins this season to lose before conference finals so decisively.
Niko: "The Knicks-Celtics series was another fascinating storyline," especially considering Boston was without Jayson Tatum for crucial games. The Knicks delivered a dominant performance in Game 6 with a massive second quarter where they outscored Boston by twenty-one points alone — sealing their spot in Eastern Conference finals after years of waiting.
Stella: "That second quarter was described as 'a mix of physicality, desperation and incredible shotmaking.' It really extinguished what remained of Boston's championship hopes this year." Also notable is how both teams will face each other again soon given their postseason rematch looming ahead.
Niko: "Looking forward at Western Conference finals: Minnesota Timberwolves versus Oklahoma City Thunder promises some tactical battles." The teams split their regular-season meetings two apiece but Minnesota ran zone defense extensively against OKC — limiting them significantly on those possessions according to GeniusIQ data cited by Ramona Shelburne.
Stella: "Yes," she noted "the Thunder averaged just .81 points per possession against zone defense." So if Minnesota sticks with that approach it could challenge OKC's shooters who need better three-point accuracy than they showed this past series." Defensively OKC has multiple options like Lu Dort or Alex Caruso who can guard Anthony Edwards tightly too.
Niko: "To sum up our key takeaways: The Pacers' upset over Cavaliers marks them as confident contenders; Knicks' historic win signals resurgence; Thunder's depth overcame Nuggets’ grit; Timberwolves capitalize on Warriors’ injuries; and defensive strategies like zone will be pivotal moving forward."
Stella: "Exactly! This playoff round has shown how injuries impact outcomes but also how teams adapt strategically under pressure." As we look ahead at these conference finals matchups — expect intense battles shaped by experience, depth and tactical adjustments all chasing that Larry O'Brien Trophy glory." Thanks for joining us today on Podcasty NBA!
About Podcasty NBA
Podcasty NBA takes the best basketball writing and turns it into snackable audio, all with the power of AI. Built using the Podcasty app. Smarter than a robot, smoother than a hot take. Make your own with Podcasty https://podcasty.co