The Pacers, Knicks, and Heat secured playoff victories, with standout performances from Siakam, Brunson, and Herro.

The NBA playoffs are heating up, with the Indiana Pacers taking a 1-0 series lead against the Milwaukee Bucks after a decisive 117-98 victory. Pascal Siakam led the charge for the Pacers, scoring 25 points and showcasing the team`s impressive ball movement with 28 assists, far surpassing Milwaukee`s 15. Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo`s stellar performance of 36 points and 12 rebounds, the Bucks struggled, shooting only 34% from the field.

In another thrilling matchup, the New York Knicks triumphed over the Detroit Pistons with a 123-112 win, highlighted by a remarkable 21-0 scoring run in the fourth quarter. Jalen Brunson played a crucial role in the Knicks` success, contributing significantly to the team`s offensive surge.

The Miami Heat, making history as the first 10-seed to reach the playoffs via the play-in tournament, secured a hard-fought 123-114 overtime victory against the Atlanta Hawks. Tyler Herro led the Heat with 30 points, while Andrew Wiggins added 20 points and 8 rebounds to support the effort.

Looking ahead, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the No. 1 seed, will face the Miami Heat next, while the defending champion Boston Celtics, the No. 2 seed, will begin their title defense against the Orlando Magic. The Houston Rockets are also set to clash with the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference playoffs, with both teams evenly splitting their regular-season meetings.

#NBAPlayoffs,#Pacers,#Siakam,#Knicks,#Heat