After a pair of off-days and three days of play-in games, the 2025 NBA postseason is set to begin in earnest on Saturday, with four series getting underway today and the other four to tip off on Sunday.
The first-round matchups are as follows, along with the date/time of each Game 1:
Eastern Conference
- Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs. Miami Heat (8): Sunday at 7:00 pm ET
- Boston Celtics (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7): Sunday at 3:30 pm ET
- New York Knicks (3) vs. Detroit Pistons (6): Saturday at 6:00 pm ET
- Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5): Saturday at 1:00 pm ET
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8): Sunday at 1:00 pm ET
- Houston Rockets (2) vs. Golden State Warriors (7): Sunday at 9:30 pm ET
- Los Angeles Lakers (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6): Saturday at 8:30 pm ET
- Denver Nuggets (4) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (5): Saturday at 3:30 pm ET
In the view of oddsmakers, three of the eight first-round series are expected to be fairly one-sided. BetOnline.ag lists the Cavaliers (-4000), Celtics (-5000), and Thunder (-4000) as massive favorites to advance. The Knicks are also considered a good bet to get out of round one, having been listed as a -375 favorite over the Pistons.
The other four series are more interesting, with the higher seed not always viewed as the frontrunner. It’s the No. 7 Warriors (-170), for instance, who are favored over the No. 2 Rockets. The No. 3 Lakers (-190) and No. 4 Pacers (-160) have the edge in their respective series, but the No. 4 vs. 5 matchup in the West is considered virtually a toss-up, with the Clippers listed as narrow favorites (-120) over Denver (+100).
Ahead of a full slate of weekend playoff action, we want to know what you think.
Do you expect the Cavaliers, Celtics, or Thunder to stumble at all on their way to the second round?
Can the Rockets defend home court and their higher seed and knock off the veteran Warriors?
Who do you like between the Nuggets and Clippers in what’s considered the most evenly-matched first round series?
Are you anticipating any upsets in the other series and picking the Pistons, Bucks, and/or Timberwolves to advance to the conference semifinals?
Head to the comment section below to make your predictions and share your thoughts on the first round!
That might be the first time I’ve seen a link to a gambling site on any of the Rumors pages. I hope it’s the last.
It is fun to look at their predictions before the games start, and the ultimate results. They have tendency to be off. But, I guess that is to be expected. They don’t make money by paying out.
Vegas lines are never off for them it’s all calculated to always make as close to the 10% vig for every bet as they can
There is no emotion or leaning on there behalf just balancing of incoming bets as they already moves
Vegas lines are “never” off? Huh? Do you really think the Vegas opening line for Miami had them winning the ECF, and going to the Finals. A playin team that lost their 1st game. That year, eventual winner Denver had the 5th best odds. They are not perfect.
Nope they are not perfect Indeed but thier lines are based on money flow not what they think
I’ll try another example
Say you persuaded 100,000 people online to all bet a certain way ( think. GameStop style )
Vegas would immediately change the lines shortly thereafter to balance the money , it wouldn’t be that they particularly thought any different of the game or line they intiitally set they are just worried about balancing the action on both sides so they guaranteed the 10% vig …. Thats all they want 10% ! Such nice creatures
The only way the house losses if every single bet is the same and said bet comes to fruition. So never.
Watch out for the Clippers.
They sure look strong right now. Harden is dialed in and so is Kawhi Leonard.
They have excellent wing length, some good shooting and a very good big man. I wouldn’t be surprised if they take down the Nuggets and it should be an interesting series if the nuggets are not at full strength.
Leonard needs to stay healthy. I don’t think Lue gets enough credit on how great a coach he is.
I agree, this series is going to be intense, but Joker is playing to become an official all-timer this offseason though. If Joker wins the title this year with the worst supporting cast around a single superstar possible, along with coaching drama, he jumps a bunch of spots on the all-timer list. No team needs 1 guy more than Denver needs Jokic. Steph could not do this the last 2 years and GSW saw it and bought in Jimmy, but if Joker does, everyone gotta put him in top 10-20 all-time. There’s like 8 teams who could legit win it all this year, its not a soft season. If Joker pulls this off, he’s an all-timer, absolutely.
Only thing is I have faith in Lue to shut him down in this first series.
The Nuggets barely won in OT after trailing for most of the game. The Nuggets defense allowed Harden to score at will.
The Clippers look like the better team.
Loyd Emerson, respectfully, most fans on this site look at odds out of interest in how “experts” view a game or team or series, and not to bet.
I don’t bet on games, but I’m thankful for this info.
One thing OI wish the lakers stop doing is listing LeBron as GTD. Everyone knows he is playing today and any game unless he has a broken ankle.
Odds aren’t really an expert opinion more of a balancing of where money is flowing
Vegas just wants the 10%
Example – gsw started at 2-1 favs which was nuts imo , since it’s gone down so Vegas can persuade more balancing out as the sharps proliy laid early good money on Hou
Best time to bet is usually right when lines come out if your clued in
It’s just to get fools to place bets. Any real NBA fan knows the series could go either way. It’s going to come down to which coach can adjust with the right moves.
Yes arc , you will usually find the “ deals “ in the bettting world fading popular teams like Lal and gsw as they get a lotta what I call simp money ( casuals just betting home teams no matter the odds )
I think gsw and hou is 50-50 so if I can get 2:1 I have to take that bet 100/100 times on hou
Ofc you gotta do it early as it’s already gone down quite a bit. But this is how pro gamblers pay the bills , they don’t have emotion they are just trying to manipulate the masses not really playing against the house
It’s also how these college dudes get caught cheating. , usually a big bet comes in late and you better believe Vegas knows how to clock that and then an investigation will be launched
I don’t trust many of those gambling sites after reading how they can squash your bet right before the game. Hard to believe people trust those off shore sites. I stop gambling years ago when I found out they now rig the slots and card games. Very few games you have even odds at winning.
3 players need to play together to shut down Rockets
Podz
Payton
Butler
Podz needs to shoot more, Curry shoots less
If Draymond can’t shut down Sengun, take him out
Podz and Butler already have great chemistry. So, hardly a problem. Why would you want to limit your best offensive weapon?
If Moody were on Rockets uniform, he would be 14th man, take him out
I’ve always liked you Sillivan !!
You have the best basketball knowledge on this site bar none.
Excellent analysis on Moses Moody. Top notch, subscription worthy.
At fully healthy Grizzlies are the second best team in West
They would have won more games than Rockets
OK, but health is never an excuse.
All teams go through it. Next man up.
If health or lack there of hurts you then you’re not deep enough and didn’t do a good job building a roster.
Either to top heavy, mismanaged the payroll, or whatever. Health is not an excuse in sports ever.
I live in Memphis, and watching the play-in game versus Dallas at a bar with lots of other fans was a blast last night. When the final buzzer sounded, one guy stood up, held his glass in the air, and loudly declared, “GOOD! We get to be the sacrificial lambs to OKC!” We all laughed and joined him in the toast… and we all pretty much agree with him…
At least we get two more home games, which is fun!
OKC looks like a lock this year in the West. The fun will be the other games.
The East probably comes down to Cavs vs Celtics. So its good Cavs got hm court.
As a Knicks fan. I want to see a good series and win against Pistons. Celtics series is where we will see how far they came this yr. Wish you were here TJ.
CLE, BOS, NYK & MIL will go through in the EC
OKC, HOU, LAL & DEN will go through in the WC
Bucks were never in the game – unless Lillard can somehow come back from is absence without being rusty, the Pacers will move on.
GSW should be able to take the Rockets in 6. Lakers in 7, Clippers in 6, Knicks in 5, Cavs in 5, Celtics in 5, OKC sweeps.