Who is the real team to beat in the Eastern Conference?
Analyzing whether the Celtics or Cavaliers are better built to advance to the NBA finals.
The No. 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers will face the No. 4-seeded Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Cleveland advanced with a sweep of Miami, while Indiana advanced with a 4-1 series win over Milwaukee. Game 1 of the best-of-seven series will be on Sunday, May 4, at an undetermined time in Cleveland (TNT).
Here’s a look at how the second-round matchup is projected to play out:
First-round picks: Thunder vs Grizzlies | Nuggets vs Clippers | Lakers vs Timberwolves | Rockets vs Warriors | Knicks vs Pistons | Celtics vs Magic
Cavaliers vs Pacers series prediction, picks
Justin Martinez: Cleveland, 4-2
Both teams can put the ball through the hoop. But, throughout the course of the series, I have more faith in Cleveland to get some key stops. Defensive Player of the Year winner Evan Mobley is a versatile big who can use his reach to disrupt Indiana on the perimeter, and Jarrett Allen is a strong rim protector. Indiana will make this a competitive series, but Cleveland will win in six.
BetMGM: Cleveland (-500) is the favorite to win the second-round playoff series vs Indiana
Cleveland opened as a -500 favorite to beat Indiana in the second round of the playoffs.
Series winner: Cleveland -500 | Indiana +375Win in 4: Cleveland +450 | Indiana +2500Win in 5: Cleveland +250 | Indiana +1800Win in 6: Cleveland +425 | Indiana +1000Win in 7: Cleveland +350 | Indiana +900
Cavaliers vs. Pacers Game 1 betting odds
Odds via BetMGM as of Tuesday, April 29
Odds: Cleveland by 7.5Over/under: 226.5Moneyline: Cleveland -300 | Indiana +240
All times are Central Time (CT)
Game 1: Indiana at Cleveland, TBD Sunday, May 4 (TNT)Game 2: Indiana at Cleveland, TBD (TBD)Game 3: Cleveland at Indiana, TBD (TBD)Game 4: Cleveland at Indiana, TBD (TBD)Game 5 (If necessary): Indiana at Cleveland, TBD (TBD)Game 6 (If necessary): Cleveland at Indiana, TBD (TBD)Game 7 (If necessary): Indiana at Cleveland, TBD (TBD)
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