\u2018Road\u2019court Advantage In The NBA\u2019s Conference Semifinals<\/h2>\nEastern Conference Semifinals<\/h3>\n
The Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, and Denver Nuggets entered the conference semifinals as huge underdogs. While there is a lot of work still needed to be done by all of them, they are all currently up early in their playoff matchups.<\/p>\n
The first Game 2 of the conference semifinals took place on Tuesday between the Pacers and Cavaliers. Despite being rather shorthanded (missing Darius Garland<\/a>, Evan Mobley<\/a>, and De\u2019Andre Hunter<\/a>), Cleveland controlled most of the game. They were up 20 on a couple different occasions, and leading by 14 entering the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n Due to a cavalcade of mistakes, the Cavaliers are now down 2-0. A three-pointer by Tyrese Halliburton<\/a> with 1.1 seconds remaining gave Indiana a one-point win. Costly turnovers and allowing an offensive rebound after a free throw miss, all in the last minute, put Cleveland in an 0-2 hole.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Knicks found themselves down 20 against the Celtics more than halfway through the third quarter. With Boston missing an NBA playoff record 45 three-pointers, New York chipped away at the lead and sent the game into overtime. Heroics from Jalen Brunson<\/a>, OG Anunoby<\/a>, Mikal Bridges<\/a>, and others, gave the Knicks a huge upset victory in Game 1.<\/p>\n The Thunder had the best regular season point differential in NBA history<\/a>. They made quick work of the Memphis Grizzlies in the opening round via a sweep. They still find themselves in an 0-1 hole against the Nuggets.<\/p>\n Much like Cleveland in Game 2, OKC made countless mistakes at the end of their outing. Two missed free throws by Chet Holmgren<\/a>, followed by an Aaron Gordon<\/a> three-pointer, gave Denver a two-point win.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26101234_168414264_lowres-1024x625.jpg\")
Western Conference Semifinals<\/h3>\n