2025 NBA Playoffs: predictions for each first -round series

The first round of 2025 NBA Playoffs Starts on Saturday. Who will go to the conference semi-finals? Here are our staff forecasts for each series:

EAST

WEST

Eastern Conference

(2) Celtics vs (7) magic

Dan becomes: Celtics in 4
Vincent Goodwill: Celtics in 5
Tom Haberstro: Celtics in 4
Morten Stig Jensen: Celtics in 4
Ben Rohrbach: Celtics in 4
And Titus: Celtics in 5

The Celtics have too much firepower. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, even 80%, are better than Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner at this stage. And then there is the depth of Boston. How will magic mark with them? – Rohrbach

Who will challenge the Boston Celtics? They played with the Knicks this year, their meeting assumed in the second round unless Detroit blocks the party. It is therefore clear that the biggest challenge is the team that led the east to start, these Cleveland riders. – Goodwill

Overview of the Celtics-Magic series, key matches and calendar

(3) Knicks vs (6) pistons

Devine: Knicks in 7
Goodwill: Knicks in 7
Hasters: Knicks in 6
Jensen: Knicks in 7
Rohrbach: Knicks in 7
Titus: Pistons in 7

Betmgm Knicks have heavy favorites (-425, 81% probability of winning), but Cade Cunningham de Detroit was a problem for New York all year round. The pistons are well trained with a balanced list that can shoot 3s, hit the post and lock the defensive. It is Detroit against everyone on the road to win their first serial victory in the playoffs since 2008. – Tirus

The pistons have been just as good as the Knicks for four solid months now – better in the last couple! – And play like a group with a defined identity that knows exactly who they are, what they should do and how they should do it. … That said: New York do Have the advantage of talent at the upper end – especially if Karl -Anthony Towns can reproduce the types of performance in the playoffs which he returned for the Timberwolves during the opening rounds last spring. – Guess

Overview of the Knicks-Pistons, key matches and calendar series

(4) Pacers VS (5) Bucks

Devine: Pacers in 6
Goodwill: Pacers in 7
Hasters: Pacers in 6
Jensen: Pacers in 6
Rohrbach: Bucks in 7
Titus: Bucks in 6

Giannis Antetokounmpo reminds us that it is unlikely to choose against him in the playoffs, with an average of 40 points per match in a victory of seven games against the Pacers, which counts as an upheaval, According to Betmgm. Will a victory in the first round be sufficient to convince Antetokounmpo that Milwaukee is still a long-term house for him? That I don't know. – Rohrbach

The first round losses against Indiana could arouse questions about the future of Milwaukee and Giannis. Bucks cannot waste another Giannis MVP type campaign, especially after beating the Pacers with an average margin of nine points during their three regular season victories. – Tirus

Overview of the Bucks-Pacers series, key matches and calendar

Western conference

(2) Rockets VS (7) Warriors

Devine: Warriors in 6
Goodwill: Warriors in 6
Hasters: Warriors in 7
Jensen: Warriors in 6
Rohrbach: Warriors in 7
Titus: Rockets in 6

Past performance does not guarantee future results. But I have not yet seen this Core Rockets win a series of seven games, and I saw Steph and Draymond get a game on the road and finally break a more sporty team, I saw Jimmy Tilt clashes against the favorites, and I saw these two things plot. Houston undergoes the same fate as countless beginners in the playoffs in the history of the NBA, and Golden State continues to drive. – Guess

Are we sleeping on the rockets? Warriors, The second seventh seeded team favored in a first round series since 1988Bring an unrivaled experience and a championship pedigree. Then they added Jimmy Butler. However, the defense of the first five of Houston thrives on physicity, carrying adversaries. With a front edge and a defensive grain, the Rockets could disturb the rate of curry – something we saw Houston doing Steph before. – Tirus

Overview of the Rockets-Warriors series, key matches and calendar

(3) Lakers VS (6) Timberwolves

Devine: Lakers in 6
Goodwill: Lakers in 6
Hasters: Lakers in 7
Jensen: Lakers in 6
Rohrbach: Lakers in 7
Titus: Wolves in 7

Luka Dončić owned the Timberwolves as a member of the Mavericks in the finals of last season's conference, and now he has LeBron James by his side. Together, they can resolve the defense of Minnesota. Barely. – Rohrbach

I don't know what to expect from JJ Redick, Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves in their first foray into it. The same goes for the Jimmy buckets and the pressure cooker to play San Francisco with Draymond Green and Curry. All bets are deactivated. – Hashersh

Overview of the Lakers-Wolves series, key matches and calendar

(4) Nuggets vs (5) Clippers

Devine: Nuggets in 7
Goodwill: Nuggets in 7
Hasters: Clippers in 6
Jensen: Nuggets in 7
Rohrbach: Nuggets in 7
Titus: Clippers in 6

This version of the Clippers can absolutely win this series, but this version of Nikola Jokić is not exceeded against anyone. This, more a home court, tilts me slightly in favor of Denver. – Guess

Nikola Jokić and Kawhi Leonard engage the world in a battle of non -emotional chess and offer us one of the most convincing clashes of the first round that we have seen for years. – Goodwill

Overview of the Nuggets-Clippers series, Key Matters and Calendar

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