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2025 NBA Playoffs Preview: Matchups and Odds
Written by: Sukh Brar
Last Updated:
Read Time: 9 minutes
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The Larry O’Brien Trophy is something every NBA player wants a chance to hold as the confetti falls. You need 16 wins on the hardwood to do that. The NBA Playoffs are my favourite time of the year. So, let’s not wait. Let’s talk hoops.
2025 NBA Playoffs
The official NBA playoff tournament stars on April 19th after the Play-In Tournament. The top two seeds in both conferences await their opponents as the games play out over the next few days. The games leading up to the end of the regular season were incredible as the Western conference had implications as high as hosting home court or suffering the Play-In Tournament. Here’s a quick overview of the dates:
- The Play-In Tournament will run from April 15th-18th.
- The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs officially start on Saturday, April 19th.
- Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals will take place on June 5th.
Check out our Championship odds piece!
NBA Play-In Tournament Matchups
Teams ranked tenth up to seventh are locked into the NBA’s Play-In Tournament. This format is relatively new as it only began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, it proved popular quickly and the board of governors declared it the permanent new format.
The 9th and 10th place teams must win two games to advance to the NBA playoffs and then they face the respective top seeds of the conferences. It’s broken down like this:
- 7th vs. 8th and winner becomes the 7th seed and plays Boston/Houston.
- Winner of 9th/10th vs. Loser of 7th/8th and winner becomes the 8th seed and plays Cleveland/Thunder.
Be sure to check back all week for articles, odds and analysis on specific games and series!
Western Conference Play-In
(8) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Golden State Warriors (Tues., Apr. 15th @ 10 p.m. ET)
(10) Dallas Mavericks vs. (9) Sacramento Kings (Wed., Apr. 16th @ 10 p.m. ET )
Eastern Conference Play-In
(8) Atlanta Hawks vs. (7) Orlando Magic (Tues., Apr. 15th @ 7:30 p.m. ET)
(10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Chicago Bulls (Wed., Apr. 16th @ 7:30 p.m. ET)
NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs
DMitch thrives in springtime.
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. TBD
The Cavaliers earned this right by playing fantastic all season. They may have played .500 basketball down the stretch but that shouldn’t deter those confident in their abilities. This roster defends and has skilled players who are all willing defenders. Furthermore, Garland and Mitchell may be a tad diminutive as a tandem, but Allen and Mobley are twin towers.
They will play whoever wins the 8th seed.
Tatum and the Celtics are looking to go back-to-back.
(2) Boston Celtics vs. TBD
The defending champions were criticized for not being good as last year. However, they still were elite. They won a franchise record 33 times outside of Beantown just one shy of the NBA record help by the 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors. Boston won 23 of those games by ten or more. The Celtics went into opposing arenas and dismantled teams. In fact, Joe Mazzulla has now recorded 181 wins as the Boston Celtics head coach in just three seasons. I wonder if that’s more or less than how many times he’s seen ‘The Town.’
They’ll take on the eventual newly minted seventh seed.
Knicks vs. Pistons could turn into a classic.
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Pistons
The Knicks acquired Karl-Anthony Towns and won 51 games. After Jalen Brunson took a heavy discount to extend longterm with the franchise it was expected that Tom Thibodeau’s team would compete for a NBA championship. If this team doesn’t make noise then the coaching staff and roster will likely see changes this summer.
One the other hand, the Pistons are one of the best young teams in the association. They may not have reached the heights of young counterparts in Houston and Oklahoma, but their season has been impressive. Cade Cunningham looks like a number one pick living up to the hype. Additionally, Jalen Duren is 21-years-old and learning fast. Then, add in veterans and one half of the Thompson twins. Simply put, this team has pieces and this is just the start for them.
All the pressure is on the Knicks in this series. They’ll have home court against the second best fast breaking team in basketball.
Can the Pacers get past Giannis and make another deep run?
(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
The Pacers are out to prove last year’s run was no fluke. They take on a Bucks team that sadly lost Damian Lillard for the foreseeable future. While, Giannis Antetokounmpo faces off against Pascal Siakam in a battle at the power forward spot. Obviously, overall, especially without Damian Lillard, the Indiana Pacers are the better team. However, do not count out the Bucks even though they have an uphill battle.
The Bucks will still have the best player in the series overall. The Greek Freak will be facing a defence that is ranked 26th in points in the paint. #34 could dominate. Although, the Pacers could easily send double teams and pick him up from the inbounds.
If that happens the Bucks have several shooters that space the floor. They were 1st in the association in 3-point% shooting the ball at nearly a 40% clip as a team. Strangely, I think this could be one of the longer series in round 1.
NBA Western Conference Playoffs
The best two-way player in basketball is Canadian.
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. TBD
The Thunder trotted out so many lineups this season it was hard to keep track who was going to get the start. As twelve different players got the call from coach Mark Daigneault. They won nearly seventy games because they had one of the best statistical defences the association has ever seen. Their best player is the likely MVP and he will also receive 3rd and 4th place and maybe even 2nd place votes for Defensive Player of the Year.
The eventual 8th seed will have the pleasure of facing OKC.
Baby Jokic is growing up before our eyes.
(2) Houston Rockets vs. TBD
Ime Udoka has managed to craft an elite defence with an incredibly young roster. Sure, there are essential veterans sprinkled in but Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun are their focal points on most nights. Conversely, Houston’s two weaknesses are their youth and their shooting. They’re a team that could be upset in my opinion. However, their roster is incredibly deep and they have size and speed to spare. A deadly combo.
They’ll play the new 7th seed.
This one will not be short on STAR POWER.
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
The Nuggets look to keep this from being a lost season after firing long tenured Coach Michael Malone.
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
Michael Malone was fired with just games left in the NBA season. Hence, it will be compelling to see what version of the Nuggets we see. Can they return to championship form? They have their top three pieces from the year that they won the NBA finals. They could get hot and catch fire becoming the Denver of old.
The Clippers are elite at home but they just missed out on having home court in round one. You know that has got to sting. They still won fifty games but in the West that wasn’t enough.
This is another series I believe could go six or maybe even 7 games with home court being the eventual deciding factor perhaps.
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