📍 April 18, 2025

The 2025 NBA Playoffs officially tip off on Saturday, with only two spots left to be claimed through the play-in tournament.

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors secured the No. 7 seed after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies, setting up a first-round series against the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets. In the East, the Orlando Magic routed the Atlanta Hawks to clinch the No. 7 seed and a matchup with the second-seeded Boston Celtics.

Only the No. 8 seeds in each conference remain undecided. The Hawks will face the Miami Heat for the East’s final playoff spot, while the Grizzlies host the Dallas Mavericks to determine the West’s eighth seed.

The first-round action begins Saturday with the 3-6 and 4-5 seed matchups. The No. 1 and 2 seeds will open against Friday’s play-in winners on Sunday.

Before the postseason gets underway, ESPN’s NBA insiders offered their predictions for every first-round series.

Play-In Predictions

East Play-In: Miami Heat (10) vs. Atlanta Hawks (8)

• Heat Picks: Chris Herring, Bobby Marks, Jorge Sedano, Marc J. Spears, Tim MacMahon

• Hawks Picks: Kevin Pelton, Jeremy Woo
  Final Tally: Heat 5, Hawks 2

West Play-In: Dallas Mavericks (10) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8)

• Mavericks Picks: Bobby Marks, Jorge Sedano, Marc J. Spears

• Grizzlies Picks: Chris Herring, Kevin Pelton, Jeremy Woo
  Final Tally: Tied 3-3

Eastern Conference First Round Predictions

Boston Celtics (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)

• Celtics in 4: Jamal Collier

• Celtics in 5: Andre Snellings, Bobby Marks, Jorge Sedano, Dave McMenamin

• Celtics in 6: Chris Herring, Ohm Youngmisuk, Ramona Shelburne
  Final Tally: Celtics 8, Magic 0

New York Knicks (3) vs. Detroit Pistons (6)

• Knicks in 5: Jamal Collier, Bobby Marks, Ramona Shelburne

• Knicks in 6: Tim MacMahon, Marc J. Spears, Jeremy Woo

• Knicks in 7: Andre Snellings, Chris Herring, Dave McMenamin, Jorge Sedano, Ohm Youngmisuk
  Final Tally: Knicks 11, Pistons 0

Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)

• Pacers in 6: Chris Herring, Bobby Marks, Ramona Shelburne

• Pacers in 7: Jamal Collier, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin

• Bucks in 6: Andre Snellings, Jorge Sedano

• Bucks in 7: Marc J. Spears, Jeremy Woo, Ohm Youngmisuk
  Final Tally: Pacers 7, Bucks 4

Western Conference First Round Predictions

Houston Rockets (2) vs. Golden State Warriors (7)

• Warriors in 6: Andre Snellings, Tim MacMahon

• Warriors in 7: Jamal Collier, Chris Herring, Jorge Sedano, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk

• Rockets in 6: Bobby Marks

• Rockets in 7: Ramona Shelburne
  Final Tally: Warriors 7, Rockets 2

Los Angeles Lakers (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)

• Lakers in 6: Jamal Collier, Chris Herring, Tim MacMahon, Bobby Marks, Jorge Sedano, Jeremy Woo

• Lakers in 7: Andre Snellings, Marc J. Spears, Ohm Youngmisuk

• Lakers in 6 (additional votes): Dave McMenamin, Ramona Shelburne
  Final Tally: Lakers 11, Timberwolves 0

Denver Nuggets (4) vs. LA Clippers (5)

• Clippers in 6: Chris Herring, Bobby Marks

• Clippers in 7: Jamal Collier, Tim MacMahon, Jorge Sedano, Marc J. Spears

• Nuggets in 7: Andre Snellings, Ramona Shelburne, Jeremy Woo

• Clippers in 5: Dave McMenamin
  Final Tally: Clippers 7, Nuggets 3

Key Highlights

• The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers both received unanimous expert votes to win their first-round matchups.

• The Golden State Warriors are favored by most insiders to upset the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets.

• The Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks matchup is expected to be the tightest series of the first round, with a narrow expert edge toward Indiana.

Playoff Outlook

The 2025 NBA Playoffs promise high drama from the start, with multiple heavyweight matchups and upset potential lurking across both conferences.