{"id":59781,"date":"2025-05-27T17:44:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T17:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/59781\/"},"modified":"2025-05-27T17:44:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T17:44:09","slug":"bracket-update-may-27-game-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/59781\/","title":{"rendered":"Bracket Update, May 27 Game Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025 NBA Playoffs<\/a> continue on Tuesday, May 27, with Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.<\/p>\n

The New York Knicks<\/a> visit the Indiana Pacers<\/a> at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, aiming to even the series at 2\u20132.<\/p>\n

Before previewing tonight\u2019s game, here\u2019s a recap of Monday\u2019s action and an updated look at the playoff bracket.<\/p>\n

Updated 2025 NBA Playoff Bracket<\/p>\n

The Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> edged the Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a> 128\u2013126 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, taking a commanding 3\u20131 series lead. The Timberwolves now find themselves on the verge of elimination for the first time in these playoffs, after securing 4-1 series wins in the first two rounds.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the latest 2025 NBA Playoffs bracket:<\/p>\n

\"2025The updated 2025 NBA Playoffs bracket after Monday\u2019s Thunder-Timberwolves Game 4.<\/p>\n

Monday, May 26 \u2013 Game 4 Recap<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder 100, Minnesota Timberwolves 96<\/p>\n

Thunder lead the Western Conference Finals series 3\u20131<\/p>\n

The Thunder were in control for nearly the entire game, but the Timberwolves stayed within striking distance.<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City never led by more than 11, and Minnesota tied the game late in the third quarter. But every time the Timberwolves rallied, OKC responded \u2014 calmly, efficiently, and with buckets that pulled the air out of any comeback momentum.<\/p>\n

This was a remarkably even game across nearly every stat \u2014 both teams shot in the 51% from the field and just over 43% from three. But turnovers made the difference. <\/p>\n

Minnesota gave up the ball 21 times, compared to just 14 for Oklahoma City. The Thunder\u2019s relentless ball pressure resulted in 14 steals \u2014 the true separator in an otherwise balanced game.<\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> continued his sensational postseason with 40 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds \u2014 just one board shy of a triple-double.<\/p>\n

Jalen Williams<\/a> had another strong performance in this series, scoring 34 points and remaining a constant threat on both ends with three steals.<\/p>\n

When Williams and SGA are both on, the Thunder are hard to stop. As for the Timberwolves, both of their stars had off nights \u2014 a key reason why they were unable to win.<\/p>\n

On the plus side, the Timberwolves saw a breakout game from Donte DiVincenzo<\/a>, who had 21 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was also a surprise contributor, scoring 23 points off the bench on 9-of-15 shooting.<\/p>\n

But their efforts were undercut by Julius Randle<\/a>, who had a rough night \u2014 shooting just 1 of 7 with five turnovers in 28 minutes. Anthony Edwards<\/a> took only two shots in the first half and finished the game with just 16 points, though he was an able distributor. Both he and Randle had 6 turnovers apiece.<\/p>\n

Game 5 returns to Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will look to close out the series and secure their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2012.<\/p>\n

Next Game: Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 8:30 PM Eastern \u2014 Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK<\/p>\n

Series Prediction: Thunder in six.<\/p>\n

Tuesday, May 27 \u2013 Game 4 Preview<\/p>\n

Pacers lead the Eastern Conference Finals series 2-1<\/p>\n

Down 2\u20130 in the series and trailing by 20 on the road, the Knicks pulled off one of their grittiest wins of the postseason in Game 3 \u2014 and kept their Eastern Conference Finals hopes alive.<\/p>\n

Head coach Tom Thibodeau<\/a> made a series of bold adjustments. And as the Knicks play a critical swing game tonight, we\u2019ll get to see just how flexible Thibodeau will be to ensure his team doesn\u2019t fall into a 1-3 deficit.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, Thibodeau started Mitchell Robinson<\/a> for the first time this series and leaned heavily on bench players Delon Wright, Landry Shamet, and Miles McBride.<\/p>\n

The Pacers made adjustment to limit Robinson struggled to assert himself on the glass. He only had 6 rebounds in 29 minutes.<\/p>\n

But the Knicks\u2019 second unit changed the game. Wright, Shamet, and McBride combined for a +21 plus-minus, sparking defensive pressure and late-game poise.<\/p>\n

Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a>, after a quiet first three quarters, exploded for 20 points in the fourth \u2014 flipping the momentum and the scoreboard. Josh Hart<\/a> closed the game and was a +16 in the final period, grabbing three crucial rebounds and hitting a clutch free throw to help seal the 104\u2013101 win.<\/p>\n

Jalen Brunson<\/a> had a difficult night. He picked up his fourth foul in the first half and was just 2-of-9 from the field at the break. But the Knicks weathered the storm, keeping the game within reach and eventually executing their trademark fourth-quarter comeback from a 20-point deficit.<\/p>\n

While Brunson single-handedly won the first-round series against the Detroit Pistons<\/a>, New York\u2019s comebacks since the Boston Celtics<\/a> series have largely come with their captain sitting on the bench.<\/p>\n

The Knicks won with limited ball movement \u2014 ending with only 13 assists compared to Indiana\u2019s 31. Their offense stalled at times, and Brunson had just four assists. But the game slowed late, and New York made its final 15 free throws.<\/p>\n

Heading into Game 4, the Knicks will need to repeat that same combination: stay close, defend hard, and execute late. Towns will need to impose himself earlier, and Brunson must stay out of foul trouble.<\/p>\n

For the Pacers, who still hold a 2\u20131 series lead, Tuesday night presents a chance to regain full control. All three games have largely been played at the Pacers\u2019 pace, which is as rapid-fire as it gets.<\/p>\n

But there is little Indiana can do when New York\u2019s Sleeping Giant \u2014 Towns \u2014 awakens. He can muscle his way through the paint and sink threes from 30 feet out.<\/p>\n

Spacing is key to creating opportunities for Towns and the Knicks\u2019 mid-range threats, OG Anunoby<\/a> and Mikal Bridges<\/a>. Brunson will need to keep his head up and find open shooters \u2014 but he\u2019ll also need solid backside screens to break the Pacers\u2019 pressure and get downhill.<\/p>\n

The Pacers have the edge tonight \u2014 if they are at full strength. Their X-factor, Aaron Nesmith, who drove their fourth-quarter comeback in Game 1, is listed as a game-time decision. If he plays, this game is Indiana\u2019s. If he\u2019s out, this game leans New York.<\/p>\n

Game 3 saw the Pacers jump out to their biggest lead of the series \u2014 and suffer their only loss. This series has made one thing clear: in the playoffs, it\u2019s not about how you start, but how you close \u2014 especially in a battle this tight.<\/p>\n

Game Prediction: If Nesmith plays, Pacers win by 5. If he\u2019s out, Knicks win by 3.<\/p>\n

Series Prediction: Pacers in six, if Nesmith plays tonight. Knicks in seven, if Nesmith out tonight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 2025 NBA Playoffs continue on Tuesday, May 27, with Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":59782,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1431,280,375,7,126,288,364,327,376,563,1260,152,1247,6,11,191,741,179,279,209],"class_list":{"0":"post-59781","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba-playoffs","8":"tag-2025-nba-playoffs","9":"tag-aaron-nesmith","10":"tag-anthony-edwards","11":"tag-basketball","12":"tag-indiana-pacers","13":"tag-jalen-brunson","14":"tag-jalen-williams","15":"tag-josh-hart","16":"tag-julius-randle","17":"tag-karl-anthony-towns","18":"tag-mikal-bridges","19":"tag-minnesota-timberwolves","20":"tag-mitchell-robinson","21":"tag-nba","22":"tag-nba-playoffs","23":"tag-new-york-knicks","24":"tag-og-anunoby","25":"tag-oklahoma-city-thunder","26":"tag-pascal-siakam","27":"tag-shai-gilgeous-alexander"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/114581043093918009","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59781\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}