Sometimes, NBA playoff series bring the best out of role players. It's all matchup-dependent. Against the Nuggets, Williams has been a perfect backup center who ensures the Thunder will have at least one center on the floor at all times while their three-headed monster alternates.

Here's a look at the updated NBA playoffs bracket for the second round of the 2025 NBA postseason, which started on May 4.Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

The Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, the top seeds in the playoffs and owners of the best regular-season records in the NBA, find themselves in dire need of wins as they host Game 5s in the conference semifinals on Tuesday night.

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. The No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers kicked off the East semis by taking a 2-0 lead over the No.