NBA Notebook: 2nd Round Recaps

Here’s a concise breakdown of how each second-round series in the NBA postseason played out. We’ll post each series as they conclude:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Indiana over Cleveland 4-1
If this surprise domination was going to be different, it would have to have been in the fourth quarter of Game 2. While Cleveland losing the opener at home was disappointing, it didn’t have to be devastating. And the Cavs led the second game by fourteen points after three quarters. They collapsed and blew it. They were hammered in Game 4, down 41 at the half. Cleveland has some legitimate excuses—Darius Garland was hurt the first two games and probably never even really healthy when he played. Donovan Mitchell played Game 5 hurt. But in reality, the Pacers just completely outplayed the East’s top seed.

Indiana simply outexecuted Cleveland on the offensive end. The Cavs outrebounded the Pacers and were basically even in turnovers. But the Pacers shot 50 percent over the five games and the Cavs were only 42 percent. You aren’t going to win a playoff series letting an opponent shoot like that. Tyrese Haliburton, who can be inefficient, shot 54 percent, including 10-for-15 in Cleveland’s own building in Game 5. Indiana’s balanced attack continued to get contributions everywhere. For the Cavs, Evan Mobley (18 points/10 rebounds per game) distinguished himself and Jarrett Allen rebounded well. Mitchell’s 34 points per game came at the heavy cost of 42 percent from the floor.

New York over Boston 4-2
It’s going to be a long offseason in Boston. They blew leads of 20-plus points in each of the first two games at home, the second of those taking place within the final six minutes. They blew a double-digit second-half lead in Game 4. Jayson Tatum’s devastating Achilles injury didn’t take place until late in Game 4, when the Celtics were already on their way to defeat. In Game 6, Boston completely no-showed in an embarrassing loss. They shot 35 percent from behind the arc for the series, which is good enough on the surface. But in context, they took far too many treys in their losses, and given their reliance on it, matching the Knicks at 35 percent apiece wasn’t going to cut it.

But give New York their own credit. When Karl Anthony-Towns comes to play, New York plays like an elite team. KAT averaged a 20/13 line for the series and was the team’s best player in the close-out Game 6. Josh Hart rebounded and moved the ball all series along, capped off with 11 boards and 11 assists in the clincher. And Jalen Brunson got his numbers (26ppg), shot efficiently enough (45 percent) and played with his usual aggressive, killer-instinct zest.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Minnesota over Golden State 4-1
The Warriors grabbed the opener on the road, and it looked like this veteran team had at least one more conference finals run left in them. Then Steph Curry hurt his hamstring, and the Timberwolves took over from there. A closely contested Game 3 in the Bay Area was the last really good game of this series. Minnesota blew open Game 4—and the series—with a dominant third quarter, and they were plus-21 going into the fourth quarter of the Game 5 clincher. Jonathan Kuminga, the 22-year-old coming off the Golden State bench was noble in defeat—21ppg. But Jimmy Butler, the veteran who had to take over in Curry’s absence, wasn’t up to snuff—while Butler averaged a 20/7/6 line, he only shot 43 percent, and was a non-factor in Games 2, 4 and 5.

Anthony Edwards continues to emerge as a star for the T-Wolves, dropping 36 in the crucial Game 3 that reclaimed homecourt advantage, and averaging 26/8/6 for the series. Julius Randle was similarly magnificent, averaging 25/6/7, and getting better as the series went on. Minnesota held Golden State to 43 percent shooting as a team. Good defense and a couple of big-time stars playing well will take you a long way. For the Timberwolves, that’s the Western Conference Finals for a second straight year.