Apr 19, 2025, 12:30 AM ET
The 2025 NBA playoffs will tip off this weekend with some star-studded matchups across all of the first-round series.
Saturday’s slate includes the one of the season’s most surprising teams in the East No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons taking on the No. 3 seed New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Later on that day, LeBron James and Luka Doncic will try to get the West No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers started on the right path against Anthony Edwards and the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.
Sunday sees the the top overall seed Oklahoma City Thunder taking on the No. 8 West seed Memphis Grizzlies, followed by the No. 2 East seed Boston Celtics hosting the No. 7 East seed Orlando Magic in an afternoon showdown.
But before the NBA’s biggest superstars take the postseason stage, our NBA experts are making their picks for each first-round series.
NBA postseason: 20-team preview |
25 key people | Schedule and news
East first round
Cleveland Cavaliers (1)
vs. Miami Heat (8)
Tim Bontemps: Cavaliers in 5
Chris Herring: Cavaliers in 4
Bobby Marks: Cavaliers in 5
Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers in 5
Ramona Shelburne: Cavaliers in 6
André Snellings: Cavaliers in 5
Ohm Youngmisuk: Cavaliers in 6
Final tally:
Cleveland 7, Miami 0
Boston Celtics (2)
vs. Orlando Magic (7)
Tim Bontemps: Celtics in 5
Jamal Collier: Celtics in 4
Chris Herring: Celtics in 6
Tim MacMahon: Celtics in 5
Bobby Marks: Celtics in 5
Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 5
Jorge Sedano: Celtics in 5
Ramona Shelburne: Celtics in 6
Marc J. Spears: Celtics in 5
André Snellings: Celtics in 5
Jeremy Woo: Celtics in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 6
Final tally:
Boston 12, Orlando 0
New York Knicks (3)
vs. Detroit Pistons (6)
Tim Bontemps: Knicks in 5
Jamal Collier: Knicks in 5
Chris Herring: Knicks in 7
Tim MacMahon: Knicks in 6
Bobby Marks: Knicks in 5
Dave McMenamin: Knicks in 7
Jorge Sedano: Knicks in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Knicks in 5
André Snellings: Knicks in 7
Marc J. Spears: Knicks in 6
Jeremy Woo: Knicks in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks in 7
Final tally:
New York 12, Detroit 0
Indiana Pacers (4)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)
Tim Bontemps: Pacers in 6
Jamal Collier: Pacers in 7
Chris Herring: Pacers in 6
Tim MacMahon: Pacers in 7
Bobby Marks: Pacers in 6
Dave McMenamin: Pacers in 7
Jorge Sedano: Bucks in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Pacers in 6
André Snellings: Bucks in 6
Marc J. Spears: Bucks in 7
Jeremy Woo: Bucks in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Bucks in 7
Final tally:
Indiana 7, Milwaukee 5
West first round
vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8)
Tim Bontemps: Thunder in 5
Chris Herring: Thunder in 4
Bobby Marks: Thunder in 4
Dave McMenamin: Thunder in 5
Ramona Shelburne: Thunder in 5
André Snellings: Thunder in 5
Ohm Youngmisuk: Thunder in 5
Final tally:
Oklahoma City 7, Memphis 0
Houston Rockets (2)
vs. Golden State Warriors (7)
Tim Bontemps: Warriors in 6
Jamal Collier: Warriors in 7
Chris Herring: Warriors in 7
Bobby Marks: Rockets in 6
Tim MacMahon: Warriors in 6
Dave McMenamin: Warriors in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Warriors in 7
Jorge Sedano: Warriors in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Rockets in 7
André Snellings: Warriors in 6
Marc J. Spears: Warriors in 7
Jeremy Woo: Rockets in 7
Final tally:
Golden State 9, Houston 3
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs.
Tim Bontemps: Timberwolves in 6
Jamal Collier: Lakers in 6
Chris Herring: Lakers in 6
Tim MacMahon: Lakers in 6
Bobby Marks: Lakers in 6
Dave McMenamin: Lakers in 6
Jorge Sedano: Lakers in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Lakers in 6
André Snellings: Lakers in 7
Marc J. Spears: Lakers in 7
Jeremy Woo: Lakers in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers in 7
Final tally:
Los Angeles 11, Minnesota 1
(4) Denver Nuggets
vs. (5) LA Clippers
Tim Bontemps: Clippers in 6
Jamal Collier: Clippers in 7
Chris Herring: Clippers in 6
Tim MacMahon: Clippers in 7
Bobby Marks: Clippers in 6
Dave McMenamin: Clippers in 5
Jorge Sedano: Clippers in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets in 7
André Snellings: Nuggets in 7
Marc J. Spears: Clippers in 7
Jeremy Woo: Nuggets in 7
Final tally:
LA 8, Denver 3
