It's bizarro world in the 2025 NBA playoffs

According to ESPN Research, the Celtics and Thunder, the two prohibitive title favorites, became the first home teams in over 25 years to lose a Game 1 despite starting as over nine-point favorites. As such, the two juggernauts were particularly caught off guard, considering both had double-digit leads in the fourth quarter.

The results of the other two series are less surprising. The Warriors and Timberwolves were separated by just one win in the regular season, and the latter lost 3-1 in their four-game series. Still, the Timberwolves opened the series as heavy favorites after they dispatched the Lakers in just five games in the opening round. 

Elsewhere, the top-seeded Cavaliers won 63 games in the regular season but lost 3-1 to the Pacers. Although Cleveland rightfully entered the series as the favorites, many analysts expected a close fight due to their similar playing styles. Both finished in the top 10 in points, pace and offensive rating in the regular season and rely heavily on their bench depth to score in bunches. 

Although untimely injuries have ravaged the Cavaliers, it wasn't all that shocking to see them go down 2-0 on Tuesday. The Knicks and Nuggets will try to do the same in their respective Game 2s on Wednesday.