The 2025 NBA playoffs will tip off on Saturday with just two more spots left to play from this week’s play-in tournament.
Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors clinched the No. 7 spot after defeating 8-seed Memphis Grizzlies to set up a first-round series with with the No. 2 Houston Rockets. In the East, the Orlando Magic routed the Atlanta Hawks to claim the No. 7 seed and a first-round matchup against the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics.
All that’s left is which teams will clinch each conference’s No. 8 seed on Friday. The Hawks will take on Miami Heat (who ousted the Chicago Bulls in the 9-10 game) for the East spot while the Grizzlies will how the Dallas Mavericks (who eliminated the Sacramento Kings in the 9-10 game).
The first-round tips on Saturday with the 3-6 and 4-5 matchups from each conference. The No. 1 and 2 seeds will host their Game 1s against Friday’s play-in tournament winners on Sunday.
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 play-in
Miami Heat (10)
at Atlanta Hawks (8)
Chris Herring: Heat
Bobby Marks: Heat
Kevin Pelton: Hawks
Jorge Sedano: Heat
Marc J. Spears: Heat
Tim MacMahon: Heat
Jeremy Woo: Hawks
Final tally:
Heat 5, Hawks 2
West play-in
Dallas Mavericks (10)
at Memphis Grizzlies (8)
Chris Herring: Grizzlies
Bobby Marks: Mavericks
Kevin Pelton: Grizzlies
Jorge Sedano: Mavericks
Marc J. Spears: Mavericks
Jeremy Woo: Grizzlies
Final tally:
Grizzlies 3, Mavericks 3
East first round
Boston Celtics (2)
vs. Orlando Magic (7)
Jamal Collier: Celtics in 4
Andre Snellings: Celtics in 5
Chris Herring: Celtics in 6
Bobby Marks: Celtics in 5
Jorge Sedano: Celtics in 5
Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 5
Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Celtics in 6
Final tally:
Boston 8, Orlando 0
New York Knicks (3)
vs. Detroit Pistons (6)
Jamal Collier: Knicks in 5
Andre Snellings: Knicks in 7
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
Marc J. Spears: Knicks in 6
Jeremy Woo: Knicks in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks in 7
Final tally:
Knicks 11, Pistons 0
Indiana Pacers (4)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)
Jamal Collier: Pacers in 7
Andre Snellings: Bucks in 6
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
Marc J. Spears: Bucks in 7
Jeremy Woo: Bucks in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Bucks in 7
Final tally:
Pacers 7, Bucks 4
West first round
Houston Rockets (2) vs. Golden State Warriors (7)
Jamal Collier: Warriors in 7
Andre Snellings: Warriors in 6
Chris Herring: Warriors in 7
Bobby Marks: Rockets in 6
Jorge Sedano: Warriors in 7
Tim MacMahon: Warriors in 6
Dave McMenamin: Warriors in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Warriors in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Rockets in 7
Final tally:
Warriors 7, Rockets 2
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs.
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Jamal Collier: Lakers in 6
Andre Snellings: Lakers in 7
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
Marc J. Spears: Lakers in 7
Jeremy Woo: Lakers in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers in 7
Final tally:
Lakers 11, Timberwolves 0
(4) Denver Nuggets
vs. (5) LA Clippers
Jamal Collier: Clippers in 7
Andre Snellings: Nuggets 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
Marc J. Spears: Clippers in 7
Jeremy Woo: Nuggets in 7
Final tally:
Clippers 7, Nuggets 3
