New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Preview: 2025 NBA Playoffs series prediction, schedule, player to watch

This Eastern Conference Finals brings some deep history, going back to Reggie Miller taunting Spike Lee and Patrick Ewing dominating games (but missing a clutch finger roll). But there's also history from a year ago, when the Pacers beat the Knicks in the second round in seven games. Will history repeat itself?

When does the Knicks vs. the Celtics begin?

New York travels to Indianapolis for Game 1 of the series on Wednesday, May 21, at 8 p.m. Eastern. The series goes almost every other day the rest of the way.

New York vs. Boston Playoffs Schedule 2025

All times are Eastern (* = if necessary)
Game 1: Pacers vs. Knicks; Wednesday, May 21 (8 p.m., TNT)
Game 2: Pacers vs. Knicks; Friday, May 23 (8 p.m., TNT)
Game 3: Knicks vs. Pacers; Sunday, May 25 (8 p.m., TNT)
Game 4: Knicks vs. Pacers; Tuesday, May 27 (8 p.m., TNT)
Game 5: Pacers vs. Knicks; Thursday, May 29 (8 p.m., TNT)*
Game 6: Knicks vs. Pacers; Saturday, May 31 (8 p.m., TNT)*
Game 7: Pacers vs. Knicks; Monday, June 2 (8 p.m., TNT)*

Players to watch

Myles Turner

Turner's had a pretty good postseason thus far, averaging 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers per game, shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 80.4 percent from the foul line. However, Karl-Anthony Towns will be a more difficult matchup for the Pacers center than Brook Lopez (Milwaukee) or Jarrett Allen (Cleveland) were in the first two rounds. On one hand, it must be acknowledged that Indiana has been one of the NBA's best teams since the calendar turned to 2025. However, they had no answer for Towns in the teams' three meetings, two of which occurred in 2024. In the lone 2025 meeting, Towns went for 40 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three three-pointers, shooting 14-of-23 from the field. If the Pacers are to win this series, Turner will have to hold serve with Towns.
Raphielle Johnson, Rotoworld basketball analyst

Bennedict Mathurin

In a matchup between two teams with loaded starting lineups, depth should end up being a big factor. Bennedict Mathurin had a lot of success against New York during the regular season, and his instant offense could be the difference for Indiana. In three games against the Knicks this year, Mathurin averaged 25.3 points per game, which led all Pacers players. Through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Indiana has shot an absurd (and likely unsustainable) 50.1 percent from the floor and 40.6 percent on three-pointers. Mathurin had some strong performances against Milwaukee and Cleveland, but he also had some games where he didn't provide much. Having him at his best on offense will open things up for Indiana against a tough New York defense that has the fifth-best defensive rating in the playoffs.
Noah Rubin, Rotoworld basketball analyst

Keys to watch for in New York vs. Indiana

1) Pace

It's simplistic to say the Pacers want to run and the Knicks want to slow the game down — Indiana was top 10 in the league in offense started in transition in the regular season, New York was bottom 10 — but not totally accurate. In the playoffs, especially as teams have geared up to slow the Pacers in transition, the two teams have had about the same amount of offense started on the break.

The Knicks are actually at their best on offense when they force turnovers (or get stops) then get out and run, but they need to be selective with that in this series — if it's a track meet, Indy will win.

Pace, however, is more than running — Indiana is quicker in the halfcourt and uses that to get shots. Haliburton collapses defenses and finds the open man, but Indiana cuts and moves the ball far faster than the Knicks, and that will test New York's defense (both the Celtics and Pistons offenses are more station-to-station, the Pacers are a new kind of test). While New York moves the ball, its offense is more Brunson (and sometimes Towns) based, they can pound the ball a lot. If the Pacers get the ball flying around in the halfcourt and get clean looks because of that, it's a huge advantage.

2) Which team defends the paint better?

Both the Knicks and the Pacers were top-10 in the NBA in chasing teams off the 3-point line this season, but the cost came in allowing points in the paint (both teams were in the bottom half of the league in that stat, but the Pacers were 26th and much worse).

Whichever team does a better job of taking away those easy looks inside on drives (or in transition) will have a considerable advantage.

This is where Mitchel Robinson comes in. He didn't play in any of the meetings between these teams in the regular season and he has been the playoff X-factor for New York and will continue to be so in this series.

Rebounding is a part of the battle in the paint. Indiana has struggled on the glass in the playoffs while the Robinson-led Knicks have been beasts. Indiana has to focus on keeping New York off the glass and getting easy putback buckets.

3) Which team thrives in the clutch?

Comebacks and clutch plays could well decide this series — and both teams have thrived in them these playoffs.

New York was down 20 to Boston on the road in each of the first two games of the last series and came back to win. Indiana has three comebacks of at least 19 points to win this postseason.

Jalen Brunson has done this:

While Tyrese Haliburton has done this:

Multiple games in this series are going to come down to the wire, and it's going to be spectacular.
—Kurt Helin, NBC Sports lead NBA writer

Predictions

Jay Croucher (NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst): Pacers in 6

From January 1 to regular season end, Indiana had the 5th-best net rating in the NBA, and a +11.5 net rating when Haliburton and Siakam shared the court. The Pacers might be a juggernaut hiding in plain sight. Indiana's pace and ball movement stand in contrast to New York's relative lack of creativity on offense.

Drew Dinsick (NBC Sports Betting Analyst): Pacers in 6

My series price is dead even, and the most likely outcome by my numbers is Pacers 4-2 (at 17%). Pacers plus the points in Game 1 is also a bet for me. Pacers have the best offensive player in the series with Haliburton (narrowly edges Brunson with a 99th percentile oEPM) and they have the two best defensive players with Nembhard and Siakam (95th and 91st percentile dEPM, respectively). I give the coaching edge to Indiana as well.

Brad Thomas (NBC Sports Betting Analyst): Pacers in 7

There's no reason to continue to doubt the Pacers. The Bucks did it, as well as the Cavaliers. Now they have the "overrated" moniker as their motto. Doubt them if you want but this is a crazy talented team.

Their biggest knock all season was their inability to play defense. However, the last month and a half of the season they were one of the best defensive units in the NBA.

They are a lethal offense with a floor general who gets others going and can find his own shot.

That's not a knock on the Knicks. It just feels like a massive let down after knocking off the defending NBA Champs. The price on the Pacers to win the East is too good to pass up.

Kurt Helin (NBC Sports lead NBA writer): Knicks in 7

This series is a coin flip. I came very close to picking the Pacers in 6, and that legitimately could happen — Indiana has more depth and more versatility than New York, and a coach in Rick Carlisle who knows how to exploit that. What is underrated about the Pacers is not Haliburton but their defense.

The Knicks bring size and a little more physicality, and in this postseason, that has generally won out. I think it will here, with Towns and Robinson being the keys that get New York back to the NBA Finals for the first time since Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca" topped the charts.

WNBA What to Watch Week 1: Paige Bueckers returns home, defending champs New York Liberty meet Indiana Fever

Opening weekend in the WNBA has come and gone with eight matchups taking place in the first three days of the regular season.

History was made with the first WNBA regular season game ever being played at the Chase Center for Valkyries vs. Sparks and the Liberty watched their first-ever championship banner hit the Barclays Center rafters.

But history couldn’t occur without also some major drama. All of the talk in WNBA circles right now is the aftermath of the Fever’s home opener against rival the Sky where Caitlin Clark committed a take foul on Angel Reese and as a result the WNBA opened an investigation into hate comments within Indiana’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse toward Reese. This all comes just days after the league announced their new campaign “No Space for Hate” a platform meant to target instances like these.

Once again the WNBA is enduring narratives questioning the league’s physicality following the flagrant foul from Clark and Reese’s subsequent reaction. Former WNBA player Chiney Ogwumike hopped onto ESPN’s First Take to explain that hate shouldn’t be tolerated in basketball and that the flagrant foul was a part of the game.

She explained that she saw tension between the Liberty’s Jonquel Jones and Chelsea Gray of the Aces in New York and then technicals flew in Connecticut after Washington’s Shakira Austin and Connecticut's Kariata Diaby were battling for position.

”This happens in the WNBA,” she said. “The WNBA is what a lot of people celebrate the NBA for embracing right now. It’s a physical league. This had gasoline because it had two megastar players, household names, but my number one theory is if the players are unbothered we should be too.”

In addition to drama, there was some injury news that rocked the league within its first few days of play. Sparks wing Rae Burrell lasted 41 seconds in the Sparks first game of the season before going down with an injury where she couldn’t put a lot of weight on her right knee. The Sparks expect Burrell to miss anywhere from six-to-eight weeks. So she’ll be out for a couple of months. Also, the Phoenix Mercury announced that franchise face Kahleah Copper got a left knee arthroscopy and gave her a four-to-six week timetable to return to basketball activities. Phoenix’s center Natasha Mack injured her back and will also be out for two-to-three weeks.

Anyway, the league's first weekend also produced a ton of impressive rookie performances especially coming from Washington duo in forward KiKi Iriafin and wing Sonia Citron. In two regular season games, Iriafin has established herself as the Mystics’ second option to Brittney Sykes. And Citron has had a slew of welcome to the league moments, but that hasn’t gotten her too rattled. In two games she averaged 17 points, 2.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds, shooting 64.7 % from the field and 40 % from three equating to 25 fantasy points.

Speaking of the Mystics, they shockingly remain 2-0 heading into the first full week of play. Will that continue?

WNBA: Chicago Sky at Indiana Fever
Check out Rotoworld’s newly-launched WNBA Player News section, the best place to keep up to date with transactions, injuries, and game results around the W this season!

Here are five matchups to watch in the WNBA’s first full week of regular season play:

Atlanta Dream @ Indiana Fever

(Tuesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV)

This is the first of two games in a home-and-home series between the Dream and the Fever. Atlanta is looking to bounce back after a 94-90 loss to the Washington Mystics where Atlanta struggled to defend and allowed Washington to shoot 50.8 % from the field. Head coach Karl Smesko explained postgame that in training camp his focus was more on the offense and he wasn’t surprised that his team’s defense struggled. I highlight this first matchup because I’ll be really curious to see how Brittney Griner matches up against Aliyah Boston, a matchup Boston has historically struggled with because of Griner’s strength, size and length. While Indiana’s defense was lauded for how it played against the Chicago Sky, it’s worth remembering the backcourt personnel the Fever were defending. A strength of Atlanta’s are their more dynamic guards in Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray who are better one-on-one shot creators than Chicago’s Ariel Atkins and Courtney Vandersloot.

Dallas Wings @ Minnesota Lynx

(Wednesday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass)

Paige Bueckers will return to home state Minnesota to play her first game as a pro in the arena she grew up going to against the team she grew up watching. While the Lynx won this first matchup on Friday handily 99-84 after a competitive three quarters, Bueckers will look to show out against her personal home crowd in Minneapolis. I’ll be curious to see what adjustments first-year head coach Chris Koclanes makes to counter the Lynx’s aggressive ball-pressure which is what Koclanes thought hindered the pace of the Wings’ offense. While the sample size is limited, after two games played, the Lynx are the third worst rebounding team in the league. What does Dallas do to take advantage? But also even if Bueckers comes out with a more dominant stat line, Wednesday night is the Lynx’s home opener. Sure the Minnesota crowd will welcome back Bueckers, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be rooting for her.

Golden State Valkyries @ Los Angeles Sparks

(Friday, May 23 at 10 p.m. ET on ION)

Not only are the Valkyries the first WNBA expansion franchise to play in 17 seasons, but they also give the W its first same state matchup since the Sacramento Monarchs folded in 2009. On opening night these two teams played in San Francisco and the Sparks won 84-67 pretty decisively on the back of new franchise player Kelsey Plum who had a historic night scoring 37 points (11-of-19 shooting), two rebounds, six assists, five steals and four three-pointers in her Sparks debut. How does Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase attempt to neutralize Plum who she coached for years in Las Vegas as an assistant? Nakase, an Anaheim native and UCLA alumna, will return home to LA for her very first game coaching at the helm. To defeat the Sparks in this second matchup, the Valkyries will have to get out more in transition as in game one they only had nine fast break points to the Sparks’ 17.

Phoenix Mercury @ Seattle Storm

(Friday, May 23 at 10 p.m. ET on ION)

While this matchup will be on at the exact same time as Valkyries vs. Sparks, I recommend watching both on multiview. The Storm were smacked 81-59 by the Mercury in the season opener on Saturday. How will Seattle respond to that in their home opener against the same team on Friday? Storm head coach Noelle Quinn explained that she believed her team didn’t get downhill enough in that first game against the Mercury, and didn’t put themselves in position to get shots at the rim. Phoenix appeared fine without Copper as superstars Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally took the brunt of the scoring load. The only other double-digit scorer for Phoenix was undrafted rookie guard Lexie Held who had 11 points (4-of-9 shooting), two rebounds, three assists and a three-pointer in her WNBA debut. Will that be enough for Phoenix in Game 2 against the Storm? We’ll have to watch to find out.

New York Liberty @ Indiana Fever

(Saturday, May 24 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS)

New York and Indiana had strong opening weekend debuts against their natural rivals in Las Vegas and Chicago. With two of the strongest schemers in the league in New York’s Sandy Brondello and Indiana’s Stephanie White going up against each other, this is bound to be a high level basketball game. Brondello has coached both new Fever acquisitions in DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard. And White helped create a scheme that neutralized Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu during multiple WNBA semifinal games during her tenure in Connecticut coaching the Sun. A matchup to watch will be following how Natasha Cloud defends Clark and how the Liberty use their length to their advantage to stop Indiana’s second most reliable option in Kelsey Mitchell. Expect Leonie Fiebich to take on this assignment. Another matchup to pay attention to will be Jonquel Jones vs. Aliyah Boston, two very physical centers who have previously frustrated each other with physicality and frustration over who’s getting calls and who’s not. Expect this game to be physical with a ton of threes taken. That’s how some of the best WNBA games are meant to be.

Forget playoff history, Knicks know Conference Finals matchup with Pacers 'a totally different situation'

Thanks to an exhilarating six-game series win over the Boston Celtics, the Knicks find themselves back in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. And the only team standing in their way of a trip to the NBA Finals is a familiar foe.

The Indiana Pacers.

Yes, those same Pacers who have also been the Knicks’ opponent in their previous three trips to the conference finals. Those same Pacers that saw Reggie Miller become persona non grata at Madison Square Garden. And the same team that sent the Knicks home in a seven-game conference semifinals series just a year ago.

But these Pacers are obviously not the exact same team the Knicks have faced in playoff series past, and the Knicks are also a new squad. So when the two teams meet for Game 1 at The Garden on Wednesday night, the Knicks know you can throw past playoff history out the window.

“Half the team didn’t play last year, they were hurt,” Josh Hart said on Monday. “[Julius Randle] and Donte [DiVincenzo] aren’t here anymore. [Isaiah Hartenstein] isn’t here anymore. We’ve got [Karl-Anthony Towns], [Mikal Bridges], OG [Anunoby] was hurt.

“It’s a totally different team, a totally different situation, a totally different round of the playoffs. So we just have to make sure we’re ready. That’s an extremely talented team whose offense is clicking on all cylinders right now. So, it’s nothing about revenge or anything. It’s about the next series.”

The Knicks indeed were very banged up in last year’s seven-game series with the Pacers. Anunoby was not himself, Mitchell Robinson was sidelined, and Brunson fractured his left hand in the third quarter of Game 7.

The disappointment from last season’s ending is not lost on the Knicks, but as Tom Thibodeau explained on Monday, the key to recovering from a tough series like that is to take a good, long look in the mirror in the offseason, and come back better than ever the following season.

“I think you have to study your team. You have to study the strengths and weaknesses of your team,” Thibodeau said. “Each team is different, and I think that’s the challenge that you have every year. Whether it’s draft picks, trades, free agency, whatever it might be, or maybe you get back a player who was injured the previous year, and then the challenge is how do you put it together and you have to get on the same page as quickly as possible.

“Sometimes you fall short, and you have to make sure that you’re making your corrections and moving forward. You always want to be moving forward and you never want to be satisfied with where you are, and you always have to have the belief that you can do something better.”

While there will be plenty of difference for both teams come the start of the series, one thing remains true for the fourth-seeded Pacers: guard Tyrese Haliburton is the star of the show.

A two-time All-Star, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists during the regular season, and his playoff numbers have been about the same. The Iowa State product had a huge Game 5 to eliminate the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring 31 points with eight assists and six rebounds, and the challenge of guarding Haliburton will be pivotal for the Knicks.

“Great player. He’s done a lot and quieted a lot of people,” said Brunson. “He’s obviously their engine. They go as he goes and he does a lot for their team, so it’s going to be a tough task. But I think as a team we need to stick together and do what we do and control what we can control. I’m happy, obviously, for his success, but this is a new challenge for us.”

That new challenge begins on Wednesday night, when the Eastern Conference Finals tip off at 8:00 p.m.

NBA Postseason Players Power Ranking: The 10 best players in conference finals

Welcome to the NBA's changing of the guard.

We're down to four teams, the NBA's conference finals, and the old guard is out. No LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant (his team didn't even make the postseason), or even a Jayson Tatum in sight.

There is still plenty of star power — the next generation is rising. Here are the top 10 players still playing as the NBA conference finals begin.

1) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City)

If he wasn't going to be on top of these power rankings before, he cemented his grip on the top spot Sunday with 35 points to lead the Thunder in a close-out Game 7 — the best performer stepped up on the biggest stage.

" You know who this is? The MVP," Chet Holmgren said, standing next to Gilgeous-Alexander in the team's walk-off interview after the win.

SGA is averaging 29 points, 6.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds a game in the playoffs, all while playing high-level defense and pitching in 1.5 steals a night. This is the best player on the best team remaining, and he is the best player left in the postseason.

2) Jalen Brunson (New York)

Sometimes a player wins one of the NBA's postseason awards, then goes out in the playoffs and shows exactly why — Jalen Brunson was voted the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year and has more than lived up to that in these playoffs.

Brunson is averaging 28.8 points and 7.7 assists a game for the Knicks this postseason, he is the engine of their playoff offense. The Knicks' offense falls off a cliff when Brunson is not on the court (New York has a 97.1 net rating when he is off the court this postseason, 18.7 points less than when he is on). Brunson has secured his Knicks legend status, which will only grow if he can lead New York to the NBA Finals.

3) Anthony Edwards (Minnesota)

We have been able to watch Edwards grow throughout these playoffs, to figure out the mental side of the game and take a step forward with each game. Golden State has a quality defense that threw different looks at him, and you could see him figuring out how to handle and attack them in real time. Edwards continues down the path to becoming one of the true faces of the league.

These playoffs, Edwards is averaging 26.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists a game, shooting 38.5% on 3-pointers (and taking 9.1 a game). Edwards is not done being tested by strong defenses — Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and the Oklahoma City Thunder are on another level, and Edwards being able to take care of the ball will be a key stat in that series.

4) Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana)

The focus coming into the last round was all the stars on the Cleveland Cavaliers, but while they stumbled through the series it was Haliburton who was the best player on the floor. Through the playoffs, he is averaging 17.5 points, 9.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds a game, but the numbers (especially his 33.8% shooting from 3) don't tell the story — he is the conductor of a high-paced symphony of an offense. Also, he's been as clutch as Brunson this postseason.

And don't forget this one:

5) Julius Randle (Minnesota)

Minnesota is in the Western Conference Finals because Julius Randle outplayed Draymond Green in the last round.

"I lost my matchup," Green said after the Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors. "Julius was incredible. He played great basketball. Honestly, some of the shots he was taking were shots you want him to take, and he made them. He made the shots. At the end of the day, the game comes down to shotmaking and he made the shots. So I got to give Ju a lot of credit."

Randle is averaging 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists a game this postseason. It took most of the regular season for Randle and Rudy Gobert to figure out how to fit next to each other, but they do now and the Timberwolves are a threat because of it.

6) Karl-Anthony Towns (New York)

Towns has already had a strong playoffs, averaging 19.9 points and 11.3 rebounds a game. With Mitchel Robinson healthy, the Knicks have two dominant bigs on the floor, which has been a big part of what has fueled them to this point.

Towns' biggest days may be ahead of him: He averaged 30.3 points and 12 rebounds a game against the Pacers this season, having some of his best nights of the regular season, including a 40-point, 12-rebound game after the All-Star break. He will need to do that again if the Knicks are going to advance.

7) Pascal Siakam (Indiana)

Siakam is arguably the most underrated player in the NBA, and he has experience on this stage that his team needs. Don't forget that he has a ring from Toronto. Siakam knows what is required in order to win at this level, and how to do so next to a red-hot superstar.

Siakam is averaging 18.8 points and 6.2 rebounds a game these playoffs, numbers close to what he did during Toronto's title run (19 points and 7.1 rebounds), plus he is a quality defender who gives Rick Carlisle options in slowing New York's attack.

8) Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City)

Williams has been incredibly inconsistent this postseason, but when the Thunder have needed him most he has stepped up, like his 24 points and +35 performance in Game 7 against Denver. For the playoffs, Williams is averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists a game. The Thunder need Williams to be more consistent in this series and especially in the NBA Finals (if they advance).

9) Myles Turner (Indiana)

Myles Turner was tough against the Cavaliers. Going up against a physical and impressive front court of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, Turner was the best big on the floor — and often the most physical — in helping spark the Indiana win. Turner is averaging 16.5 points and 6 rebounds a game, but most importantly, 2.5 blocked shots a game. He has been a force in the paint and needs to be again when facing Brunson and friends.

10) Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City)

Much like Jalen Williams, Holmgren has not been consistent or efficient as the Thunder need this postseason (which is why this spot almost went to Andrew Nembhard of the Pacers), but he's done just enough to earn it. Holmgren is averaging 15.7 points and 9.7 rebounds a game, plus 2.2 blocks a night in these playoffs. He's a big presence in the paint who needs to have a big series against the size of Minnesota if OKC is to advance.

How Brad Stevens is approaching Celtics' pivotal offseason

How Brad Stevens is approaching Celtics' pivotal offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Less than one year after raising Banner 18 into the TD Garden rafters, the Boston Celtics enter an offseason filled with uncertainty.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has several issues to address after watching the New York Knicks upset his team in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Most are related to Boston’s complicated financial situation, as it’s already committed to $228 million in contracts next season and is nearly $20 million over the second apron.

Given those financial constraints, running it back with the championship core will be next to impossible. Stevens must now make a pivotal decision: shed costs and embrace a bumpy 2025-26 campaign, or maintain as much of the group as he can to remain a top title contender.

🔊 Celtics Talk: What did we learn from Brad Stevens’ debriefing following Celtics’ early playoff exit? | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

Addressing the media on Monday, Stevens opened his press conference with a brief statement on what lies ahead.

“I think that will all be driven by the same thing that’s always driven us,” he said. “And that is, ‘How do we get ourselves in the mix to compete for championships best?’”

Later in the session, Stevens spoke about the financial challenges he’ll face in the coming months.

“We’ve been talking about this for years,” Stevens said. “The CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) has been well-known for years, and so there are penalties associated with being at certain levels, and we know that. And you just weigh that, you weigh where we are, you weigh everything else, and you make those decisions.

“You have to have the clarity of a full season and the full playoffs and a couple good nights of sleep, and everybody gets in a room and put your heads together and figure out what’s next.”

The $228 million on the Celtics’ payroll doesn’t include big men Al Horford and Luke Kornet, who are about to hit the free-agent market. Jayson Tatum’s maximum-salary extension will kick in next season as he sits out much — if not all — of the campaign with a ruptured Achilles. Jaylen Brown will make $53.1 million in the second year of his max deal. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis are set to earn $32.4 million and $30.7 million, respectively. Derrick White’s salary will jump up to $28.1 million.

“The North Star is to have a championship contender,” Stevens continued. “You have to do what’s best to give yourself the best opportunity to do that, when you can do that. We just have to look at it all and decide how feasible that is on any given year, and then make sure we are making the decisions accordingly.

“But the reality is, like I said, we have a lot of good players. We’re in a unique situation. They’re all under contract, and obviously there are several basketball penalties that will come with that amount of salary. So we just have to weigh it all and make those decisions.”

The work will begin the day after the NBA Finals, when teams can start negotiations with their own free agents. Free agency officially begins on July 6.

Watch Stevens’ end-of-season press conference below, or on YouTube:

After early playoff exit, and Tatum’s torn Achilles, where does Boston go from here?

The NBA prioritizes parity over dynasties, and with that the path to repeat as NBA champions is intentionally difficult. The NBA is also set up to make it incredibly difficult to keep a contending team together for any reasonable length of time. That is especially true in the tax aprons era of the latest CBA.

The Boston Celtics have run headlong into the wall of both of those realities, which is why change is coming this summer.

The only question is how much.

How Boston got here

Boston was riding high after last season’s NBA title, so it didn’t make many changes last summer and ran it back, which was the right thing to do. Throw in the franchise sale and the decision was made to punt on the big financial questions for a year, knowing the price tag to continue down that path would eventually get too steep. Look at it this way: To bring back Boston’s starting five for next season (2025-26) would cost about $188 million, and the second apron of the luxury tax is expected to be $207.8 million. To keep this full Celtics roster together next season would set a record of more than $500 million in payroll and luxury tax (including a steep repeater tax that kicks in).

There had been buzz around the league for more than a year that the Celtics would have to trade away a core player or two to save money this coming summer, and that was before Tatum tore his Achilles and cast a shadow over next season.

This year, the Celtics were bounced from the playoffs much earlier than expected, in the second round at the hands of the New York Knicks. Part of that was this Boston team that leaned even more heavily into 3-pointers than the championship squad — 53.6% of their shot attempts were from beyond the arc during the season. Even with a top-five defense and a team that still scored well around the rim when they got there, this team was at the mercy of 3-point variance. When Orlando came out with a plan in the first round of the playoffs to take away those 3-point attempts (a model New York followed), it put the Celtics on their back foot and they had some less-than-stellar games.

Bad luck also played a role in the early exit. There was Kristaps Porzingis’ respiratory illness slowing him, Jaylen Brown playing through a torn meniscus, and then Jayson Tatum’s torn Achilles. That last injury leads to the big question before Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ brass heading into this offseason:

How big a change does Boston make?

If Tatum were healthy, we likely would have seen Boston move away from one (maybe two) rotation players, replace them with younger or minimum-contract players, and hope that the depth would hold out. That is still an option, perhaps even the most likely one.

Or, the Celtics can treat next season more as a “gap year” — not trying to lose, but accepting it may not be a championship season — giving them more time to be aggressive and retool the roster to contend with Tatum once he’s healthy. How many moves the Celtics make and who will be sent out depends on how Stevens answers the “how big” question.

Let’s look at players who could be on the move.

Jrue Holiday/Derrick White

We’re combining the guards because it was already expected that one of them would be out the door, even before Tatum’s injury.

Holiday is more likely to be moved, according to league sources. Holiday will be 35 next season and has three years, $104 million left on his contract, starting at $32.4 million. He’s a proven, winning two-way point guard who will draw interest — there are teams like Orlando where Holiday would be a fantastic fit — but with his age and contract, this is not an easy deal to make. The Celtics may need to attach a second-round pick or something else of value to get another team to take on that contract.

While rumors are flying around Holiday, he made it clear, speaking to reporters at his exit interview, he wants to stay in Boston and compete for a title.

“We still have a really, really great opportunity and a great window to be successful and win a championship again,” Holiday said. “I think the talent that we have on this team, not only on the court, but the coaching staff all the way up to Brad, has been amazing. So, the opportunity to win is now, and I still want to be a part of that.”

White, who will be 31 next season, has four years, $118 million remaining on his contract. That deal may be too good to trade away, other teams will ask but they will have to blow away Boston with an offer to make it a reality.

Kristaps Porzingis

He has an expiring $30.7 million contract and is the kind of stretch big in high demand all over the league. He’s also coming off two straight playoffs where he missed time due to injury, and he has been out for 65 regular-season games since coming to Boston.

The Celtics will make calls to try and find a new home for Porzingis, but the market for him is not that deep, especially at that price tag. Again, the Celtics might have to attach another player or a pick to move on from him.

Jaylen Brown

It would be devastating to the fan base — and the ultimate example of why the new CBA with its aprons is bad for fans who want to watch their team draft a player and win with him — but the Celtics have to at least consider trading him this summer.

Brown is 28, in his prime, and next season his five-year, $285.4 million contract kicks in. It's going to be expensive to keep Brown and Tatum together and have enough around them to contend, which is why if a team like Houston (with good young players and picks) calls and wants to talk Brown trade, Stevens has to consider it.

Brown isn't looking to move on. He talked about playing through his meniscus injury and his desire to come back and win in Boston after the team was eliminated.

“Losing to the Knicks feels like death,” Brown said. “But I was always taught that there’s life after death, so we’ll get ready for whatever’s next in the journey. I’ll be ready for it.”

“I’m looking forward to coming back stronger, so you just take this with your chin up,” Brown added. “I know Boston, it looks gloomy right now, obviously with JT being out and us kind of ending the year, but it’s a lot to look forward to. I want the city to feel excited about that. This is not the end, so I’m looking forward to what’s next.”

Luke Kornet

Kornet is a free agent this summer who will have better offers from other teams than the Celtics are willing to pay. It’s difficult to see how Boston can afford to bring him back, unless there is room after a major move this summer. Kornet had a strong Game 5, and that should help him get a deal in a spot where he will get more run.

Al Horford

Horford is a free agent who will be 39 next season. He’s still good enough that will be a contract for him if he wants to play, but it won’t be in Boston.

Tatum talked about retirement at his exit interview.

"I'm going to take some time here with my wife and my kids," Horford said. "There's still a lot for me to process, feeling everything out from last night -- that was difficult.”

Timberwolves vs. Thunder Game 1 Prediction: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 22

On Thursday, May 22, the Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33) and Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) are all set to square off from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

Oklahoma City closeout Denver in Game 7 at home, 125-93 behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 35 points and exquisite defense from Alex Caruso and company. The Thunder will have a quick turnaround with a few days off to host the Timberwolves who last played on May 14.

Minnesota beat Golden State in five games after Steph Curry went down with an injury in Game 2. The Timberwolves beat the Lakers in five games over the first round, so Minnesota has a clear rest advantage. The Timberwolves won four-straight games to close out the Warriors series, but it's worth noting that both OKC and Minnesota are 1-1 in Game 1's this postseason.

The Timberwolves are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Thunder have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Timberwolves vs. Thunder live today

  • Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
  • Time: 8:30 PM EST
  • Site: Paycom Center
  • City: Oklahoma City, OK
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Timberwolves vs. Thunder

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Timberwolves (+245), Thunder (-305)
  • Spread:  Thunder -7.5
  • Over/Under: 215.5 points

That gives the Timberwolves an implied team point total of 103.5, and the Thunder 111.5

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Thursday’s Timberwolves vs. Thunder game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Thunder in 7 games, but is fading their team total in Game 1:

"Oklahoma City doesn't have any favors with limited rest as they take on Minnesota in the Conference Finals. The Thunder are almost -400 favorites to win the series and while they've been the best team in the West all year — there is a chance Minnesota gets a game or two in the first four.

I like the value of +370 to +400 on the Thunder to win in seven games compared to a gentleman's sweep of 4-1 for +300 (the favorite). I lean toward OKC 4-2 for +475 as my second choice.

With a little over a week of rest for Minnesota and OKC playing seven games in a grind of a series, I like the Thunder's Team Total Under 111.5 for Game 1. The Timberwolves held the Lakers to 95 points and the Warriors to 99 points in their two Game 1's. I would consider Minnesota ML as teams that likely cover win and that's the side I lean."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Timberwolves & Thunder game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Timberwolves at +7.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 215.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Timberwolves vs. Thunder on Thursday

  • Oklahoma City and Minnesota are 1-1 ATS and on the ML in Game 1's this postseason
  • Minnesota has four straight games and is 4-1 on the road this playoffs
  • Oklahoma City is 5-1 at home in the playoffs
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 or more points in three straight games
  • Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle combined to average 58.8 PPG in the second round

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Nuggets' Gordon cites Steph injury in plea to NBA over scheduling

Nuggets' Gordon cites Steph injury in plea to NBA over scheduling originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Nuggets star Aaron Gordon, who played through a Grade 2 hamstring strain in Denver’s Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday, cited Warriors icon Steph Curry’s Grade 1 hamstring strain in pleading for the NBA to offer players more rest in between playoff games.

“I think everybody could [benefit],” Gordon told reporters postgame on Sunday, before mentioning other derailing injuries to Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard. “You saw it around the league: Steph with a hamstring, JT, Dame.

“There are guys all around the league suffering fatigue-based injuries because the games are just so closely stacked together. It would just be nice for one or two more rest days throughout the postseason, just so we can come back fresh and compete. 

“Because a lot of the times, it’s the team that’s most healthy – it’s not even the best team, it’s the team that’s most healthy. When I tried to talk to [Michael Porter Jr.] about it, it’s just, ‘Rest your mind, rest your body, relax. And when it’s time to get back to training, refocus and narrow your focus, and understand what the goal is.’”

The San Jose native said what Dub Nation and several fan bases around the league want to hear, as fatigue-based injuries have clouded recent postseasons, including the current one. 

After the Warriors appeared to have the Minnesota Timberwolves on the ropes following a series-opening win, Curry’s four-game absence halted Golden State’s championship aspirations.

Tatum and Lillard’s injuries spoiled what were compelling Celtics-New York Knicks and Bucks-Indiana Pacers series. And Gordon’s injury, of course, made his Nuggets’ failed push for the Western Conference finals that much harder.

Gordon expanded on increasing rest days during the NBA playoffs.

“Health is a lot, you know,” Gordon told reporters. “I would really, really appreciate it if there were a couple of days in between games in the playoffs instead of every other day, regardless of if you go seven games. I understand if you do your work early and get first seed, you can have some time off. 

“But I think the days in between games – not just off days and a travel day, [but] a travel day – just two days. I think the product of the game would be a lot better, a better product on the floor. Just to give all these professional athletes just one more day of rest, and you’d see a higher level of basketball. Probably less blowouts.”

The Nuggets lost to the Thunder, 125-93, in Sunday’s Game 7. The younger Oklahoma City entered the series with a week of rest after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, whereas Denver had defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in a seven-game series.

Gordon makes a strong case for the NBA to consider expanding rest days during the playoffs. Curry and the Warriors certainly would be in support of updates to the current format.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Warriors report card: Team grades for roller coaster 2024-25 season

Warriors report card: Team grades for roller coaster 2024-25 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The conference finals are set, and the Warriors will be watching like the rest of us. 

An injured Steph Curry saw the Warriors drop four straight games to the Minnesota Timberwolves to end their season. Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Co. couldn’t get the job done for who Steve Kerr called the sun of their solar system.

There were never-ending storylines this season, and playoff basketball at Chase Center with another star next to Curry. Telling the story of the 2024-25 Warriors would take hours. A close second is breaking it down by these categories, getting as close as we can to a final assertion of what all happened.

Offense 

From Butler’s team debut to the end of the regular season, the Warriors ranked 11th in points per game (117.5) and eighth in offensive rating (118.2). They were third in 3-point attempts (42.1) and makes per game (15.4), but 15th in 3-point percentage (36.6 percent) and 21st in field goal percentage (46.2 percent). Their offense changed in a handful of ways after Butler’s arrival. 

Most noticeable was the free-throw line. Butler’s ability to get to the line is something they haven’t had since … ever? Kevin Durant? Butler averaged 7.7 free throw attempts in the 30 regular-season games he played for the Warriors. The most Durant averaged with the Warriors was 6.5 in his final season.

The Warriors through the rest of the regular season made the most free throws per game (20.5), attempted the third-most (24.9) and had the third-best free-throw percentage (82.2 percent). Butler quickly figured out how to be Curry’s co-star. He’s an isolation player in a movement offense whose basketball IQ made it all work. 

But the Warriors’ lack of shooting without Curry in the playoffs was alarming. It became clear Butler really needs shooting around him. The offense will largely remain the same, but it will be very interesting watching a full season of it with Butler.

Grade: B

Defense

Defense became the Warriors’ calling card down the stretch. They had the best defensive rating in the game following Butler’s trade (109.0), and had everyone buying in. The Warriors held teams to under 100 points seven times post-Butler in the regular season, and three of their four wins against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. Same with their one win in the conference semifinals. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves also figured out the Warriors’ defense the final few games and shot 62.8 percent in the season-ender. That’s a tough way to end, but the Warriors’ defense was a problem when it was humming. 

The best of Andrew Wiggins was missed, though Butler improves the unit in ways Wiggins doesn’t. This was a group Jerry Stackhouse can be proud of. 

Grade: B+

Stars 

Bringing in Butler revitalized Curry. He played 28 games to end of the regular season and averaged 27.3 points on 47.3 percent shooting, 40.8 percent from 92.4 percent from the free-throw line. Curry played his way into a real argument for All-NBA First Team. 

Green nearly became the oldest Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history. He finished third in voting instead, but will be All-Defensive First Team, which was his main goal coming into the season. 

Butler proved exactly who he is at this stage of his career. He’s incredibly smart, makes his teammates better and does a little bit of everything. He also isn’t a 3-point threat, will likely float closer to 20 points than 30 points and can frustrate some fans after watching a different brand for so long. 

Butler averaged 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the Warriors in the regular season, and 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assist and 1.3 steals per game. He scored more than 20 points in six of his 11 playoff games, and fewer than 20 five times. The Warriors went 4-2 when Butler scored at least 20 points in the playoffs, and 0-5 in the games he didn’t score at least 20 points.

Grade: A-

Additions

Really, this could just be another section about Butler. Let’s dig a little deeper. 

General manager Mike Dunleavy in the offseason brought in four players: Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson and Lindy Waters III. Only Hield made it through the season on the roster. The Warriors traded for Dennis Schröder in December, and then dealt him to Detroit two months later as part of the move that added Butler. 

With the loss of Klay Thompson, the Warriors needed another outside threat and Hield held down the fort. The longtime 3-point ace made 200 threes for his seventh consecutive season. The experience is up-and-down on the floor, but the Warriors love having Hield in the locker room and the stars are fond of playing with him.

Some additions found success and others struggled. They all led to Butler.

Grade: B+

Youth

Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody were the two pieces that fit best next to Curry, Butler and Green, forming a starting five that rarely lost. Podziemski and Moody then struggled more than not in the playoffs. The good still outweighed the bad. 

There aren’t enough words to go through Kuminga’s season. It’d be easy to forget at one point Draymond was sent to the bench to hand the keys to Kuminga. His season was then derailed by an injury and not fitting next to Butler once he was healthy. He proved what a scorer he is without Curry, but that never amounts to wins.

At center, the Warriors had two young players who had much different seasons. Trayce Jackson-Davis was a Ring Star at All-Star weekend, but was mostly out of the rotation by then after beginning the season as the Warriors’ starting center. Rookie Quinten Post went from being on a two-way contract and calling Santa Cruz home, to carving out a needed role for the big team and signing a standard contract.

Gui Santos, 22, should be part of this conversation too. Kerr has always been a fan, and Santos this season earned his trust to get minutes in big situations. His energy is infectious, making up for what he lacks elsewhere.

Grade: B-

Health 

Curry played 70 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since he did from his age-24 through age-28 seasons. Green played 68, and Butler only missed one in the regular season after the trade. 

The Kuminga injury threw a wrench nobody expected. There’s only one reason why this section deserves two thumbs down: Curry’s left hamstring

Golden State’s season ended on four straight losses without Curry. Butler missed the majority of a Game 2 loss to Houston because of a pelvic contusion, and missed all of Game 3. The effects from that fall were underplayed. As was Curry’s right thumb, and his own pelvic contusion. 

Multiple illnesses ran through the Warriors in the playoffs, Podziemski was beat up and so was Gary Payton II. 

Grade: F

Coaching 

Between injuries and a giant mid-season trade, Kerr had his hands full. He adjusted and also had to use some of the most starting lineups in the NBA. Even in the playoffs, and not just because of injuries, he still was searching. 

The coaches Kerr brought in during the offseason, Stackhouse and Terry Stotts, made positive impacts on both sides of the ball, and this might have been the best integration between Santa Cruz and San Francisco yet. 

Grade: B+

Overall

As previously noted, this season was a win. Curry having to watch it crumble without him made it an incomplete win. The Warriors ending as one of the best eight teams in the NBA does deserve its due. 

The Warriors didn’t come into this season expecting to compete for a championship. They wanted to play meaningful basketball and establish more of a foundation. Another star was added, and the Warriors know the three aging players who will lead their championship window that appears to be open for maybe a year or two. 

Many of their goals were achieved, and it’s still impossible not to wonder what-if.

Grade: B+

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals preview and prediction

After 25 long years, the Knicks find themselves on the cusp of the NBA Finals, with the Indiana Pacers as the lone obstacle in their way.

After beating the vaunted Boston Celtics in six games, some may feel confidence going against an arguably worse Indiana squad that took seven games to eliminate the injured Knicks last year. 

But this isn’t the same Knicks team. And although they boast the same players, it’s not the same Pacers team, either.

Let’s dive into this historic matchup...

New York went 2-1 against Indiana during the regular season, with the two teams swapping blowouts. Although we can’t overly rely on those games to predict postseason results, there are insights to glean.

For one, the Knicks need to win this series on defense. In all three games against the Pacers, they scored above 120 points, and have some glaring advantages on the offensive end. But it’s a matter of how much they can slow the Pacers on the other end. 

That starts with their engine Tyrese Haliburton, who is averaging 17.5 points and 9.3 assists this postseason. The natural matchup for him is Mikal Bridges, who possesses the requisite speed and length to handle someone of Haliburton’s size and dexterity.

But the Pacers will fight to take away New York’s preferred matchups, and pick on their "weak spots" Jalen Brunsonand Karl-Anthony Towns by targeting them in actions. The Celtics tried and failed at the same strategy, but the Pacers arguably have a deeper rotation of threats. 

There’s also Pascal Siakam, the mid-post monster currently averaging 19 points on 55 percent shooting in the playoffs. He’s a tough cover for smaller wings likeJosh Hartand OG Anunoby, and can punish them on the offensive glass. So it will be curious to see if head coach Tom Thibodeau maybe employs Towns on him for stretches.

May 16, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau talks to center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Josh Hart (3) and forward OG Anunoby (8) during a time out during the third quarter of game six in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
May 16, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau talks to center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Josh Hart (3) and forward OG Anunoby (8) during a time out during the third quarter of game six in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / © Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Knicks have reasons to fall back on the defensive approach they used against the Celtics. This is another team that thrives off advantage creation, ball movement and open threes.

Switching against them could force them to iso-hunt, which has proven out to be a not-so-simple solution.

Indiana has the potential to be much craftier than Boston in adjusting, working in more off-ball action, slips and other counters to this scheme. 

There was some success last year in deploying aggressive coverages to make Haliburton give it up and have a big make a play in open space. Siakam and Myles Turner can sneak up on you with 20 points though, so it’ll take a huge team effort equivalent to what the Knicks brought against Boston. 

The Knicks need to be ready for it. The Pacers are much quicker than the Celtics, much deeper, and have stayed relatively healthy through two quick series. 

If Brunson and Towns can pick up their individual efforts again, and Thibodeau can adjust on the fly with his schemes, the Knicks should be in a good spot. But their offense has struggled these playoffs, and they’ll need their best version to go shot-for-shot with Indiana. 

The Pacers have the second-highest offensive rating this postseason, and a much improved defense from last year.

Luckily, the Knicks have two massive problems for them to deal with defensively.

First is Brunson, in full playoff mode, who gave the Pacers fits when they met last year. There’s no real one-on-one answer for him, but expect a lot of Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard to try to bother him with size.

May 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots the ball as Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) defends in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
May 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots the ball as Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) defends in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images

Indiana has gotten burned trying to send extra attention his way, so perhaps this series they let Brunson get his and shut everybody else out? This will be tough given their second weapon in Towns.

Towns has owned this matchup all year, averaging 30.3 points and 12 rebounds in those three games. Turner can’t be his effective self defensively having to stretch out to guard Towns, who has a mobility edge and can blow by him if he’s out of position. 

For all its depth, Indiana is lacking in the backup big position, and its wings are much less suited to guard Towns than Boston’s were.

There’s a chance the Pacers still go ahead with that strategy, but the Knicks have gotten used to it and should be able to find Towns and Hart opportunities to take advantage. 

New York has a chance to secure this series on the glass, and should look to more Mitchell Robinson minutes to do so.

They also need Bridges and Anunoby to maintain their confidence in attacking the rim and smaller mismatches, as they can poke holes in this Pacers defense.

In a postseason full of things people thought the Knicks couldn't do, it feels odd saying they should win this series and advance to the NBA Finals. The Pacers are no pushovers, and will put up a hard fought series, but the Knicks have the talent and coaching to trump them.

Prediction: Knicks in 6

Watch Brad Stevens' end-of-season press conference with Celtics

Watch Brad Stevens' end-of-season press conference with Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics’ season is over, but Brad Stevens’ work has just begun.

The Celtics’ president of basketball operations will hold an end-of-season press conference at the Auerbach Center on Monday, three days after Boston fell to the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the teams’ second-round playoff series.

There are plenty of topics for Stevens to discuss, from the status of superstar Jayson Tatum — who had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon last Tuesday — to a looming roster crunch that could force the front office to make several tough decisions this summer.

NBC Sports Boston will have live coverage of Stevens’ press conference beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET, with co-hosts Trenni Casey and Brian Scalabrine providing their reactions and Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg weighing in from the Auerbach Center.

You can watch Stevens’ press conference in the video player above, or on YouTube below.