The NBA playoffs have been historically chaotic. We break down each series

The 2025 NBA playoffs first round has been historically unpredictable, with five series tied 1-1 at one point — matching a record dating back to 1984. On Thursday, multiple underdogs won Game 3: the Atlanta Hawks (No. 6 seed) took a 2-1 series lead over the Knicks, the Minnesota Timberwolves (No. 6) led Denver 2-1, and Toronto beat Cleveland despite trailing in their series. The Knicks-Hawks matchup has been highlighted as the most chaotic series of the round.