How do the NBA playoffs work ... the higher seed has home-court advantage in Games 1, 2, 5 and 7. The playoffs follow a bracket format and don't reseed teams after the first round.

The 2025 NBA playoffs continue Monday, with a pair of Game 2 matchups. The home teams in both series are off to good starts and will look to take 2-0 leads in the best-of-seven affair.

Two long-suffering NBA franchises can secure conference title spots with Game 5 wins Wednesday, although only Minnesota is favored.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (-130) are the odds-on favorite to win the 2025 NBA Championship after their Game 5 win against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, while the Indiana Pacers (+650) are the first team to advance to the Conference Finals with a 4-1 series win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.