The early rounds of the 2025 NBA Playoffs have obliterated assumptions. They’re tossing the script in the trash and writing a new one in real time. Favorites are falling, underdogs are thriving, and long-held truths about the postseason are being thoroughly tested.
Here are the top moments (and patterns) that have flipped the playoffs update down
Tyrese Haliburton Is Rewriting His Own Narrative
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Remember that anonymous player poll that called Haliburton overrated? Safe to say, it’s not aging well. He’s running the Pacers’ offense like he’s got cheat codes, averaging 9.2 assists to just 1.6 turnovers. His clutch isolation play against Giannis and a stepback game-winner in Cleveland highlight a point guard who’s making elite defenses irrelevant.
Denver Is Winning With Fewer Guys, Not Lesser Ones
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The Nuggets may have the shallowest rotation left, but their top six are delivering. Aaron Gordon has become the surprise shot-maker of the playoffs, while Jamal Murray and Christian Braun have stepped up under pressure. With a +12.9 net rating from their starters, Denver’s cohesion is doing the heavy lifting.
Home-Court Advantage Is Becoming Meaningless
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For the first time ever, all four road teams won Game 1 in the second round. Through Round 2, home teams are barely staying above .500. Crowd noise and familiar rims don’t mean as much when execution travels better than energy.
The Knicks Are Closing Games Better Than Anyone
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New York’s late-game magic has been unmatched. No team has scored more efficiently in tight moments, and Jalen Brunson is casually dropping 35 clutch points like it’s a side hobby. Their Game 1 win over Boston came from a 19-8 edge in crunch time.
Youthful Top Seeds Are Learning Hard Lessons
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Regular-season swagger doesn’t always translate in the playoffs. Just ask OKC and Cleveland, who both let late leads slip at home. Cleveland’s Game 2 collapse against Indiana and OKC’s miscues versus Denver weren’t just bad luck. They had poor execution under pressure. Talent’s not the issue. Poise is.
Curry’s Brilliance Is Also a Warning Sign
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Stephen Curry led the Warriors in scoring, passing, and, yes, even rebounding in Round 1. That sounds heroic, until you realize it’s also a red flag. By the start of Round 2, he was already banged up, and the Warriors looked undersized and overreliant. Against Minnesota’s bigs, that’s not a winning formula.
Boston’s Love for the Three-Point Line Went Too Far
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Fifty-eight threes in one game? Sure, if they were hitting them. But Boston bricked 45 of those in a record-setting Game 1 loss. Without Porzingis, their interior scoring vanished, and they only attempted 12 two-pointers after halftime. Sometimes, Plan A needs a backup.
Aaron Gordon Is Morphing Into Playoff Royalty
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Not long ago, Gordon was the guy who played defense and dunked. Now, he’s the guy hitting game-winners and clutch threes. His playoff tape so far is full of “wait, he hit that?” moments. On a team full of stars, he’s becoming the unexpected heartbeat in the biggest minutes.
Indiana’s Offense Is Firing on Elite Efficiency
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The Pacers’ playoff offense ranks second overall, thanks to Haliburton’s passing genius. His potential assists are yielding 1.50 points per shot, far above the playoff average. Guys like Nembhard and Nesmith are feasting because the ball movement is slicing defenses apart.
The Clippers’ Leadership Vacuum Reappeared
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For all the talent and advanced metrics, the same old problem showed up. When the Clippers needed someone to take charge, it wasn’t Harden, and it definitely wasn’t Kawhi. Against Denver, the Clippers’ talent looked unmoored. Stats couldn’t mask the lack of an emotional or tactical centerpiece.
Julius Randle Is Changing His Postseason Legacy
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Once defined by erratic playoff showings, Randle is now stabilizing Minnesota’s offense. He’s quietly become Minnesota’s offensive steady hand with 23 points per game and 48% from the field. He’s making the right read and punishing mismatches. And it’s helping the Wolves stay grounded when things get chaotic.
All Four Second-Round Openers Flipped Home Advantage
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Cleveland, OKC, Boston, and Minnesota all opened Round 2 at home and all lost. It wasn’t about buzzer-beaters or lucky bounces either. The lower seeds just looked calmer, cleaner, and more prepared. Seeding means nothing if your execution doesn’t travel.
Thunder’s Inexperience Showed in the Details
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OKC’s late-game fouling in Game 1 was textbook in theory, but flawed in execution. They fouled too early and far from the basket, which allowed Denver to capitalize. Jalen Williams and Holmgren also struggled under pressure.
Boston Forgot the Paint Exists
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In the second half of Game 1, the Celtics took 49 shots, but only 12 of them were twos. That’s not just perimeter-heavy, that’s perimeter-exclusive. And with Porzingis out, they had even more reason to probe inside, but didn’t. Jaylen Brown said it best that they settled. And when the threes stopped falling, they had nowhere else to go.
James Harden’s Reputation Took Another Hit
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Harden’s postseason struggles continued, this time with little resistance. He struggled to assert himself against Denver, and when Kawhi stayed quiet, there was no backup voice in the room. Harden has a player option this summer, but whether he stays or goes, front offices everywhere are watching the same film.
