Eastern Conference playoffs: Magic, Bucks win Game 3 to increase collection

The 2025 NBA playoffs are in complete swing, and our NBA insiders have you ever coated for each sport within the march to the Finals.

Cade Cunningham and the No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons welcomed the No. 3 seed New York Knicks to the Motor City on Thursday, however dropped their first sport at house after Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns blended for 61 issues to take a 2-1 collection lead.

Friday’s motion noticed the No. 2 Boston Celtics lose Game 3 in opposition to the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combing for 61 issues. The No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks defeated the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers for his or her first victory within the collection. In the opposite East matchup, the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers will resume their collection with the No. 8 seed Miami Heat on Saturday.

As the East playoffs proceed, here is what issues maximum and what to wait for in all 4 collection.

Jump to a chain:
Cavaliers-Heat | Celtics-Magic
Knicks-Pistons | Pacers-Bucks

More protection:
West first-round takeaways
Schedules and effects | Offseason guides

Friday’s video games

Game 3: Magic 95, Celtics 93

What we realized:

Jayson Tatum’s proper wrist seems to be nice. In his go back after sitting out Game 2 — the primary playoff sport he has ever neglected — the Celtics’ celebrity scored 36 issues, hitting from midrange, lengthy vary and on the rim. But Tatum’s effort used to be interested in naught on this exciting Magic win. In any other signal that the protecting champions fight with Orlando’s rough-and-tumble physicality, the Celtics dedicated 21 turnovers, yet one more than their season excessive, and made simply 9 3-pointers, two shy in their season low. Credit the gritty Magic, who proved once more that they may be able to knock Boston’s high-octane offense off observe whilst receiving large nights from key gamers — on this example, 32 issues from Franz Wagner and 29 from Paolo Banchero.

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Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner shine in Magic’s Game 3 victory

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner mix for 61 issues within the Magic’s 95-93 Game 3 win over the Celtics.

Game 4: Celtics at Magic (Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to look at:

Can the Celtics deal with the ball? Can their 3-point barrage get on course? We’ll see. But this a lot is right: Boston is banged up, with 3 starters — Tatum (wrist), Jaylen Brown (proper knee) and Jrue Holiday (who neglected Game 3 with a proper hamstring pressure) — all struggling some ailment. If the second-seeded Celtics need to repeat, they will have to wrap this collection up faster slightly than later, particularly for some much-needed leisure and recuperation between rounds.

— Baxter Holmes

Game 3: Bucks 117, Pacers 101

What we realized:

The Bucks are in any case at the board on this collection due to a career-high 37 issues from ahead Gary Trent Jr. His 9 3-pointers Friday matched Ray Allen for essentially the most in a Bucks’ playoff sport. Trent used to be inserted into the beginning lineup for the primary time this collection as trainer Doc Rivers regarded for a spark a stagnant offense. And Trent helped release it within the 3rd quarter, hitting 5 3-pointers for 18 issues as Milwaukee outscored Indiana by means of 21 within the quarter. It used to be a welcome scoring outburst to supply lend a hand for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who used to be good as soon as once more, including 37 issues, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.

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Mathurin T’d up after having selection phrases for Giannis

Bennedict Mathurin receives a technical foul for jawing at Giannis Antetokounmpo all through his unfastened throws.

Game 4: Pacers at Bucks (Sunday, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to look at:

Milwaukee indubitably mandatory each little bit of Trent’s offense to get again into this collection, but it surely wishes extra constant manufacturing round Antetokounmpo if it plans to stay it going. Damian Lillard struggled to seek out his offensive rhythm, scoring seven issues on 2-of-12 taking pictures with 5 assists, and Kyle Kuzma went 4-of-9 and performed 19 mins. The Pacers have been main by means of double digits at halftime and have been getting pleased with wide-open appears within the first part as they did all through the primary two video games ahead of the Bucks got here out with a greater effort in the second one part. Can Milwaukee care for that very same defensive depth in Game 4?

— Jamal Collier

Game 3: Knicks 118, Pistons 116

What we realized:

The Knicks have simply as a lot talent to mud themselves off after a tricky playoff loss because the Pistons.

Following a brutal Game 2 from Karl-Anthony Towns wherein he used to be roundly criticized for logging simply 10 issues and 6 rebounds, together with a scoreless moment part, the large guy got here out aggressively and bounced again with a game-high 31 issues to move with 8 rebounds.

New York’s complete beginning 5 contributed to the victory. Towns, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges all scored 20 or extra issues, whilst Josh Hart had 11 rebounds and 9 assists.

New York withstood a number of Pistons runs and one of the most extra antagonistic highway crowds this workforce of Knicks has encountered, together with a vulgar, stadium-wide chant aimed toward Brunson.

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KAT bounces again with 31-point appearing in Game 3 win

Karl-Anthony Towns bounces again from a deficient moment part in Game 2 with 31 large issues within the Knicks’ Game 3 win over the Pistons.

Game 4: Knicks at Pistons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, ABC)

What to look at:

Where does the drama pass from right here? The Pistons determine to deliver a way of desperation into Sunday, realizing they doubtlessly may well be down 3-1 at the as far back as New York. The physicality and the disappointment, which yielded 5 technicals and a flagrant, could also be at a fever pitch in Game 4.

Secondarily, and key for Detroit: Will Malik Beasley, who completed moment within the league in triples with 319, in finding his rhythm Sunday? He has hit simply 3 of his previous 18 makes an attempt from outdoor.

— Chris Herring

Game 2: Cavaliers 121, Heat 112

What we realized:

The Cavs is usually a devastating taking pictures workforce, however they have been streaky coming down the stretch, rating first in 3-point taking pictures over the season’s first 5 months however simply 17th over the season’s closing six weeks. That manifested itself in Game 2, because the Cavs set an NBA report by means of making 11 3-pointers in the second one quarter — and made 14 in their first 21 general to take a 19-point lead — however went simply 4-of-15 from deep within the 3rd quarter. The sport began to show, and it enabled the Heat to make a turnaround led by means of Davion Mitchell and the relentless spirit they confirmed coming down the stretch of the season to make it a one-possession sport within the fourth. But it used to be Donovan Mitchell who used to be the sport’s hero, scoring 17 issues within the fourth to rescue a flatlining Cavs offense.

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Donovan Mitchell’s late-game takeover fuels Cavs to 2-0 collection lead

Donovan Mitchell tallies 30 issues, together with 17 issues within the fourth quarter, within the Cavaliers’ Game 2 win vs. the Heat.

Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to look at:

Heat trainer Erik Spoelstra’s transfer to position Mitchell in his beginning lineup after an outstanding previous few weeks used to be impressed. He just about led Miami to a surprising comeback by means of being a pest on protection and stressing out the Cavs’ protection with drives on offense, scoring 14 within the fourth on my own. Tyler Herro, who had bother getting open in the second one part of Game 1, additionally gave the Heat reason why to consider in making this a chain with a 33-point sport.

— Brian Windhorst