Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks to pass as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) defends during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) AP

“No NBA player since Jose Juan Barea in 2019 has returned sooner than 10½ months after an Achilles rupture, suggesting the Celtics should plan on Tatum missing the entire 2025-26 regular season,” Pelton wrote. “A postseason return is more realistic, but there's basically no precedent for that.”

All season long, NBA teams compete to give themselves the best position in the playoffs. They grind over 82 games in the regular season to get the best record they can, which, if they are good enough,

The second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs is here, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game of the Eastern and Western Conference semifinals.

Tyrese Haliburton is a strong driving force for the Indiana Pacers’ significant postseason run. He transformed from an underrated player to a postseason sensation. With his impacable knock, he made the pacers’ semifinal journey easy to secure the final round run.

Despite a coaching change, the Cavs ended their season in the same place — Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. So all eyes are on the roster.

The Cleveland Cavaliers won their second-most games in franchise history this season and entered the NBA playoffs as the Eastern Conference's top seed. And yet, the end of their run still feels like a worst-case scenario.

New York down by 20 on Monday. Indiana down by 20 on Tuesday. New York down by 20 again Wednesday. No problem.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will look to clinch the Western Conference second round over the visiting Golden State Warriors when they meet Wednesday in Game 5.

The future looked bright for Orlando entering this season, but injuries to Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs changed things. Where do they go from here?

The quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy is underway, with the best teams in the NBA working their way through the two-month playoff gauntlet.Though the Thunder and Cavs dominated their respective conferences during the regular season,