The 2025 NBA Playoffs continue on Monday, May 12, with two pivotal Game 4 matchups.
The Boston Celtics play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, and the Minnesota Timberwolves take on the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco.
Before previewing tonight’s games, here’s a look back at Sunday’s action and the updated playoff bracket.
Updated 2025 NBA Playoffs Bracket
On Sunday, the Oklahoma City Thunder evened their series with the Denver Nuggets, while the Indiana Pacers dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers to take a commanding 3–1 lead.
Here’s what the 2025 NBA Playoffs bracket looks like after Sunday’s games:
Sunday, May 11 – Game Recaps
Oklahoma City Thunder 92, Denver Nuggets 87
Series tied 2–2
Game 4 between the Thunder and Nuggets got off to a brutally ugly start, with both teams combining for just 25 total points in the first quarter.
Despite the sluggish start, the Thunder rallied late, using an 11–0 run in the fourth quarter to erase an eight-point deficit and secure a gritty win that evened the series at 2–2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for Oklahoma City with 25 points, including nine in the final period. Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins gave the Thunder a major spark off the bench during the run.
The shooting numbers told the story: Oklahoma City shot just 35.6% from the field, while Denver fared even worse at 31.3%. Both teams shot 24.4% from three-point range. With so many missed shots, rebounding became central — the Thunder pulled down 55 boards, and the Nuggets grabbed 49.
Michael Porter Jr., who scored 21 points in Game 3, managed just three points on 1-of-7 shooting, missing all five of his three-point attempts. Russell Westbrook was similarly ineffective, going 2-of-12 from the field for just six points. Nikola Jokić led Denver with 27 points and 13 rebounds but shot just 7-of-22 from the field.
Series Prediction: Thunder in seven.
Next Game: Tuesday, May 13, 9:30 PM Eastern — Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Indiana Pacers 129, Cleveland Cavaliers 109
Pacers lead series 3–1
The Pacers utterly dominated the Cavaliers in Game 4 to take a 3–1 series lead. Indiana raced out to a 41-point halftime advantage — tying an NBA playoff record for the largest halftime margin.
It was a complete team effort: seven Pacers scored in double figures, with Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Obi Toppin each finishing with 20 or more. Toppin led all scorers with 20 off the bench, outscoring Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell had just 12 points before exiting at halftime due to a left ankle injury apparently sustained during shootaround.
By the time he bowed out, the game was already out of reach. Head coach Kenny Atkinson said Mitchell will undergo an MRI on Monday, and his status for Game 5 is uncertain — casting serious doubt on Cleveland’s playoff future.
Tyrese Haliburton added 11 points and five assists in a balanced effort, while Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 21 points. But Cleveland struggled defensively and turned the ball over 22 times, allowing Indiana to control the pace from start to finish. As for the Cavs, it looks like they’re finished.
Donovan Mitchell Status Update
UPDATE — 12:53 PM Eastern: ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Mitchell underwent an MRI on Monday morning and has been diagnosed with a reaggravation of a previous ankle injury and that he will be a game-time decision for Game 5.
Series Prediction: Pacers in five.
Next Game: Tuesday, May 13, 7:00 PM Eastern — Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Monday, May 12 – Game Previews
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks
Knicks lead series 2–1
The Celtics aim to even the series after a dominant Game 3 win at Madison Square Garden. Boston saw five players score at least 15 points, with Payton Pritchard leading the way off the bench with 23. Jayson Tatum contributed 22 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
Although the Knicks are technically up 2–1, the pressure is arguably squarely on them tonight. A loss would tie the series — and put New York just one game away from falling behind for the first time. That makes tonight’s matchup feel more like a must-win than a cushion.
To respond, the Knicks will need to clean up their defensive execution, particularly their rotations and their coverage on pick-and-rolls — both areas Boston exploited in Game 3. Offensively, New York must find better spacing and, above all, hit their open looks. They shot just 5-for-25 from beyond the arc in Game 3, missing numerous uncontested shots that allowed Boston to build and maintain its lead.
The Garden crowd could help swing momentum back in the Knicks’ favor, but the team will need a sharper all-around effort to avoid letting control of the series slip away.
Expect the Knicks to rebound tonight to take a 3-1 series lead.
Series Prediction: Knicks in six.
Time: 7:30 PM Eastern
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app and website, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, YouTube TV
Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors
Timberwolves lead series 2–1
The odds are certainly stacked against the Warriors heading into Game 4. Stephen Curry remains out with a hamstring injury and isn’t expected to return until at least Wednesday — if at all in this series.
Without their leader and top scorer, Golden State will need another near-flawless performance from its remaining stars to avoid falling into a 3–1 hole.
Game 3 showed that the Timberwolves aren’t invincible. While Minnesota came out on top, it took a dominant fourth quarter from Anthony Edwards — who scored 13 of his 36 points in the final frame — to put the game away.
Julius Randle has been a valuable complement to Edwards, but the rest of the Timberwolves’ supporting cast remains inconsistent on the offensive end. That inconsistency gives Golden State a narrow path back into the series.
If the Warriors want to level things tonight, they’ll need to capitalize on every one of those gaps. That starts with shot-making. Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga carried the load in Game 3, but other Warriors shooters must hit open looks. The Warriors’ margin for error is razor-thin — and closing out a win without Curry will take a complete, disciplined effort.
Time: 10:00 PM Eastern
Venue: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app and website, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, YouTube TV
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