Eastern Conference playoffs: Cavs advance with largest playoff win in franchise history

The 2025 NBA playoffs are in full swing, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game in the march to the Finals.

The No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers swept the No. 8 seed Miami Heat on Monday, becoming the first team in the East to advance to the second round. The Detroit Pistons' comeback to even their first-round series fell short Sunday, as the New York Knicks head back to Madison Square Garden with a chance to close it out Tuesday.

The No. 2 Boston Celtics can sweep the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic on Tuesday after taking a 3-1 lead in the series. And the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers also have a chance to close out the series after the defeating the No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.

As the East playoffs continue, here's what matters most and what to watch for in all four series.

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

More coverage:
West first-round takeaways
Schedules and results | Offseason guides

Monday's game

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers win series against
(8) Miami Heat 4-0

Game 4: Cavaliers 138, Heat 83

What we learned:

It was 70-25 late in the second quarter of Game 4 -- a number representing a lot for both the Cavs' and Heat as the former moves on to the second round of the playoffs after securing a four-game sweep of the latter. It was as lopsided a score as you will probably ever see in an elimination playoff game. The Cavs started the game 11-of-20 from 3-point range, and the Heat started 2-of-23. Let's just say the intensity levels of the two teams were not leveled up, the Heat's lethargy setting quite the contrast to the Cavs'. The Cavs broke the Heat with a strong finish to Game 2. Then, in Games 3 and 4, when Darius Garland was out with a sprained toe, the Cavs leaned into boosting De'Andre Hunter's playing time and giving additional minutes to Dean Wade, two forwards who shared the available playing time. The result was big lineups that effectively walled off the paint for the Heat and combined it with hard denials of Tyler Herro, who largely had a miserable series. Playing the big lineups is a lesson for the Cavs should they get into a pickle against stronger teams later in the postseason; going back to them could prove to be a valuable curveball, as one of their few weaknesses is a lack of size in the backcourt. Otherwise, there wasn't much learning to be had this evening.

-- Brian Windhorst

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Cavs put on a clinic in historic blowout to sweep the Heat

The Cavaliers secure their largest playoff win in history with a 138-83 series-sealing victory.

(3) New York Knicks lead the
(6) Detroit Pistons 3-1

Game 4: Knicks 94, Pistons 93

What we learned:

More than anything, we learned that the officials were going to let the Knicks and Pistons battle physically Sunday, with fewer whistles than you'd expect given the amount of contact throughout the game. It was the case countless times in the first half. It was the case on a loose ball Jalen Brunson tussled for before an ankle injury forced him to exit briefly. And, much to the Pistons' dismay, it was the case on a controversial no-call to close the game, when Deuce McBride made contact with Tim Hardaway Jr. -- who was firing a potential winning jumper at the horn -- incensing Detroit and its fans. The game's physicality and the final play, in particular, will obviously be magnified. But the clutch shotmaking from Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns -- who drilled the deep winning triple while Jalen Duren was draped over him -- was remarkable. The star duo outscored the Pistons 22-21 in the fourth quarter.

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KAT hits huge 3 in the clutch for Knicks

Karl-Anthony Towns pulls up for a deep 3 and drains it in the clutch for the Knicks vs. the Pistons.

Game 5: Knicks at Pistons (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to watch:

How do the young Pistons, who battled back and were in position to win Game 4 until the final minute of play, start Game 5? The Knicks came out stronger in both games in Detroit -- the Pistons began Game 4 with 10 turnovers and 0-for-10 shooting from deep before they hit their first 3 -- forcing Cade Cunningham & Co. to play from behind. The Pistons' comebacks were impressive, but ultimately came up short both times in the Motor City. With the Knicks having a chance to close things out Tuesday, the Garden crowd will be at full throttle. A better start for Detroit will be critical.

-- Chris Herring

(2) Boston Celtics lead
(7) Orlando Magic 3-1

Game 4: Celtics 107, Magic 98

What we learned:

The seventh-seeded Magic have dictated the pace and style of play in the past two games, grinding down the second-seeded Celtics with physicality and an aggressive switching defense that has undercut Boston's typical 3-point onslaughts. But the Celtics proved in Game 4 that they can slog through it and, because of their wealth of talent, find a win on the other side. This wasn't how the Celtics would prefer to prevail, as the Magic completely shut down Boston's talented supporting cast, and the Celtics' starters scored all but six of their 107 points. But Jayson Tatum's 37 points and 14 rebounds made the difference. Boston also needed a bounce-back game from Kristaps Porzingis, and he delivered with 19 points. Orlando's Paolo Banchero also had a spirited performance with 31 points, even if it took 32 field goal attempts. His seven straight 25-point playoff games are tied for the most consecutive by a player young than 23 in NBA playoff history, according to ESPN Research.

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Tatum's 37 points help Celtics push Magic to the brink

Jayson Tatum tallies 37 points with 14 rebounds in the Celtics' Game 4 win to take a 3-1 series lead vs. the Magic.

Game 5: Orlando at Boston (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)

What to watch:

This has been a grinding, exhausting series for the Celtics, and you can be sure that the defending champions will be desperate to end it Tuesday in Boston to get some much-needed rest before facing the winner of the Pistons-Knicks series. It'll be interesting to see whether the Celtics can get back to playing their style at home -- or whether the Magic will continue to have these games played on their terms.

-- Baxter Holmes

(4) Indiana Pacers lead
(5) Milwaukee Bucks 3-1

Game 4: Pacers 129, Bucks 103

What we learned:

The sold-out crowd in Milwaukee went silent as Damian Lillard remained on the floor while the rest of the action moved down the court. Lillard had worked his way back after missing the final month of the season because of a blood clot in his right leg, but he couldn't put any weight on his left leg as he was helped off the court Sunday night. That nervous energy was still palpable for the rest of the game as the Bucks fell into a 3-1 hole in the series, never taking a lead in the game and failing to match the defensive intensity they carried in the second half of Game 3. The Pacers shot 60% from the field, and without Lillard, the Bucks did not have the offense to match Indiana's scoring attack.

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Tyrese Haliburton dimes Obi Toppin to pad the Pacers' lead

Tyrese Haliburton dishes a beauty to Obi Toppin for a bucket to pad the Pacers' lead.

Game 5: Bucks at Indiana (Tuesday, 6 p.m. ET, NBA TV)

What to watch:

Milwaukee will wait to learn the severity of Lillard's injury until an MRI on Monday, but his status for the rest of the series is far from certain and the Bucks are going to have to find a way to replicate his production to save their season. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points on 9-of-20 shooting, but none of the Bucks' other starters reached double figures. Kevin Porter Jr. was the team's second-leading scorer with 23 points, but he scored just seven points in the second half. Milwaukee is facing an uphill battle in the series -- with an elimination game on the road, Lillard's status in jeopardy and pressure on the supporting cast, perhaps, to show Antetokounmpo there is still championship hope in Milwaukee.

-- Jamal Collier