RealGM Basketball Wiretap

18 April 2025

• 2025 NBA Playoffs: First-Round Matchups Set As Regular Season Concludes

  The Oklahoma City Thunder secured homecourt advantage for the duration of the playoffs with their 68-14 record and NBA-best +12.9 Net Rating. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics were bunched together in second and third in both record and Net Rating.

  The best matchups of the first round figure to be the Los Angeles Lakers against Minnesota Timberwolves less than a year after Luka Doncic faced them with his former team in the Western Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets against either the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies will also be close and contentious, as should the New York Knicks against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

  The opening games of the playoffs begin next weekend following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday.

  Western Conference
  • (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies or Sacramento Kings/Dallas Mavericks
  • (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies
  • (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
  • (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers

  Eastern Conference
  • (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks or Chicago Bulls/Miami Heat
  • (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks
  • (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
  • (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
  
  NBA Play-In Tournament
  Western Conference
  • (8) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Golden State Warriors (Tues., Apr. 15 - 10 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Dallas Mavericks vs. (9) Sacramento Kings (Wed., Apr. 16 - 10 p.m. ET on ESPN)
  
  Eastern Conference
  • (8) Atlanta Hawks vs. (7) Orlando Magic (Tues., Apr. 15 - 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Chicago Bulls (Wed., Apr. 16 - 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

• Pacers Clinch Homecourt Advantage In First Round Of Eastern Conference Playoffs

  The Indiana Pacers have clinched homecourt advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Indiana could still rise as high as the third seed in the East, depending on the results of their final two games and the New York Knicks final two games.

  The Pacers joined the Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics as having homecourt in the first round in the East playoffs. The Cavs have clinched the first seed, while the Celtics have clinched the second seed.

  The Pacers enter play on Friday one game behind the Knicks for the third seed. Indiana would need to win their final two games, while New York loses their final two games. If the teams finish tied, the Knicks own the tiebreaker due to winning the regular season series 2-1.

• Pascal Siakam Out Sunday With Elbow Bursitis

  Pascal Siakam will miss the Indiana Pacers' game against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday due to elbow bursitis.

  Siakam has only missed one other game this year.

  Siakam is averaging 20.3 points and 6.9 rebounds on the season.

• Pacers Want To Keep Myles Turner While Avoiding Luxury Tax

  The Indiana Pacers are hoping to retain free agent center Myles Turner this offseason. However, Indiana has no plans to be a luxury tax team for the first time since 2005.

  The Pacers look set to start the offseason about $22 million under the tax line. Turner is likely to make in range of that number, as he's looking for a raise off the $19.9 million that he's making this season. It's important to remember that Turner's salary this season is team-friendly because he got more money up front when he renegotiated-and-extended his contract with Indiana.

  In order for the Pacers to re-sign Turner and to fill out their roster, while avoiding the tax, there will need to be other moves made. Indiana has several veterans on long-term deals, while Bennedict Mathurin, Ben Sheppard and Jarace Walker are still on their rookie scale contracts.

• Rick Carlisle Has 'Mellowed' Since Leaving Mavericks For Pacers

  Rick Carlisle and the Dallas Mavericks parted ways early in the tenure of Luka Doncic as the two didn't always get along. But Carlisle has reportedly evolved with that experience and has been easier to get along with since joining the Indiana Pacers for his second stint.

  "I also firmly believe that Rick's experience late in his tenure in Dallas have benefited the Indiana Pacers," said Tim MacMahon on Wednesday's Hoop Collective Podcast. "Because, I'm not around the Pacers on a regular basis, but everything that I hear is that Rick has mellowed. "Like, he's still Rick. He's still going to be intense, but the relationship stuff he's done a much better job of that in Indiana. And, look, the basketball stuff... Rick is a brilliant basketball mind, always has been and always will be."

  With the Pacers, Carlisle has a more easygoing star guard in Tyrese Haliburton. The Pacers reached both the Conference Finals and the final of the In-Season Tournament last season.

• Pacers Sign Tony Bradley For Remainder Of Season

  The Indiana Pacers have signed center Tony Bradley for the remainder of the season. Bradley recently completed two 10 Day contracts with Indiana.

  Bradley appeared in seven games with the Pacers while on his 10 Day deals. Indiana added the veteran for depth at the center position behind Myles Turner and Thomas Bryant.

• Andrew Nembhard Myles Turner, Trendon Watford Fined For On-Court Altercation

  The NBA handed down fines from Thursday's on-court altercation between the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets. Myles Turner of the Pacers and Trendon Watford of the Nets were both fined $35,000 for their roles. Andrew Nembhard of the Pacers was fined $20,000 for initiating the altercation.

  After a foul, Nembhard got into the face of Watford and the two begin arguing. Watford then hit Nembhard in the chest with his forearm. Turner then came in and shoved Watford.

  Ultimately, Watford was ejected from the game, while Nembhard and Turner each received technical fouls.

• Pacers Sign Tony Bradley To 2nd 10-Day Contract

  The Indiana Pacers have signed center Tony Bradley to a second 10-day contract.

  Bradley has appeared in four games with the Pacers and is averaging 1.5 points and 1.0 rebounds in 2.4 minutes.

• Pascal Siakam Fined $25K For Confronting And Directing Profane Language To Game Officials

  Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam was fined $25,000 for confronting and directing profane language towards game officials. The incident took place after the end of the Pacers loss at the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

• Tyrese Haliburton Out Versus Hawks With Hip Injury, Will Be Game-To-Game

  Tyrese Haliburton missed the Indiana Pacers' 124-118 loss to the Atlanta Hawks due to a hip injury.

  It is only the second game that Haliburton has missed this season.

  Hailburton has been dealing with soreness in his left leg, with the Pacers approaching his availability on a game by game basis.