The Pacers and Thunder are close to qualifying for the 2025 NBA Finals. Both teams raced to 2-0 leads, though their wins couldn’t be more different. However, they’ll take it as they switch venue for Games 3 and 4.
Just like against the Cavaliers in the second round, the Pacers took the first two games on the road after outlasting the Knicks in back-to-back close games. On the other hand, the Thunder have learned from the previous round against the Nuggets and dominated the Timberwolves at home.
A 2-0 series lead greatly swings the NBA 2025 odds in your favor. However, Indiana and Oklahoma City know their Conference Finals series are far from over.
Meanwhile, the Celtics, who are no longer the champions, are entering a pivotal offseason filled with uncertainty since they must make difficult roster decisions to alleviate their complicated salary cap situation.
In case you missed it, SBOTOP has you covered with the latest NBA 2025 updates.
Pacers outlast the Knicks yet again
The Pacers will head back to Indiana in good spirits after stealing the first two games at Madison Square Garden. In Game 1, Aaron Nesmith went off from the three-point line in the fourth period to spark their comeback, capped off by Tyrese Haliburton’s game-tying step-back jumper. And Indiana eventually came away with a 138-135 overtime win.
In Game 2, it was Pascal Siakam’s turn to go off. The one-time NBA champions caught fire in the first period and finished the match with 39 points, five rebounds, and three assists on 15-for-23 shooting from the field. Myles Turner notched 16 points, and Tyrese Haliburton flirted with a triple-double with 14 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals. Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and TJ McConnell added 12, 12, and 10 points.
With the game tied at 81 points entering the final period, the Pacers opened the fourth with a 13-4 run to move ahead 94-85 on Siakam’s three-pointer with less than 10 minutes left. However, the Knicks weren’t going down without a fight.
With the game at 110-100 with 2:45 left to play, New York scored nine unanswered points to make it 110-109 with 14 seconds left. Nesmith made two free throws for Indiana. Jalen Brunson’s three-point shot was off, and Myles Turner iced the game with two more free throws. Indiana picked up their sixth consecutive playoff road win this season, improving to 6-1.
Jalen Brunson top-scored for the Knicks with 36 points, three rebounds, 11 assists, and five three-pointers on 13-for-27 shooting from the field. Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby added 20, 20, and 16 in the losing effort.
Timberwolves are no match for the Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved to everyone why he deserves to win the NBA MVP during the Thunder’s 118-103 Game 2 win against the Timberwolves.
The three-time NBA All-Star picked apart Minnesota’s defense and notched 38 points, three rebounds, eight assists, and three steals on 12-for-21 shooting from the field and 13-for-15 from the charity stripe, so much so that Jaden McDaniels registered a flagrant 1 foul in the final period out of frustration. Oklahoma City also received meaningful contributions from Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who had 26 and 22 points.
The stifling Thunder defense also deserves plaudits for shutting down Julius Randle in Game 2. After going off for 28 points in Game 1, Randle only had six points, five rebounds, and five assists on 2-for-11 shooting from the field and was benched late in the game. Anthony Edwards did better, though, recording 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists on 12-for-16 shooting. Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Naz Reid added 22, 17, and 10 points.
Hazy future looms for the Celtics
Whether they like it or not, the Celtics might have to trade some key players to alleviate their salary cap situation. Boston are way over the second apron, as they’re staring down a 2025-26 roster projected to cost roughly $500 million between salaries and luxury tax penalties.
Being over the second apron has punitive roster-building restrictions, such as the inability to use the mid-level exception, aggregate salaries in trades, or trade first-round picks in the next seven drafts, among others.
The Celtics will unlikely trade Jayson Tatum, since he’s out for at least one year due to a torn Achilles, and Jaylen Brown, whom they’ve given a massive contract extension in 2023. The likely trade candidates for this team are Jrue Holiday, since he’s already 34, and Kristaps Porzingis, for virtually being a no-show this postseason.
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