The NBA’s most thrilling time of the year is back again: the 2025 playoffs tipped off this weekend in an action-packed window of games. With new contenders, resurgent stars and unpredictable matchups, this postseason promises drama and action in the games to come.
Several questions loom as fans look to the brackets. Eyes will be on the Boston Celtics — as defending champions, they have been playing with a chip on their shoulder, gliding to a 61-win season (as of April 21) and shattering the NBA’s single season three point record with 1,457 made triples. Following a historic three-point shooting performance this season, their title odds (as of April 21) sit at +190. The question lies in whether they can recreate last year’s magic and defend the title.
Last year, it seemed like the most pressure to win was on Jayson Tatum and the Celtics; now it’s switched conferences to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his Oklahoma City Thunder squad, who racked up an impressive 68 wins and sit at +165 to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June. With only one playoff series win under his belt, now is the time for Gilgeous-Alexander to prove he can be a serious playoff winner in this league. Anything short of an appearance in the championship game will be considered a huge disappointment for him and the team.
Celtics vs. Thunder is the easy final-two choice to make — one that sports betters have been betting on since October. But, things could get interesting because the Western Conference is loaded with potential spoilers. The Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokić — the third player ever to average a triple-double — are always dangerous, but they have shown areas of weakness, especially on the defensive end, when Jokić is not on the court.
In the Game 1 overtime win on April 19, the Nuggets barely edged out the LA Clippers, who have finally, despite their aging roster, been able to consecutively play well together. The question is: will the Nuggets have the defensive personnel to keep up? If they can figure things out, come together and get hot, the Nuggets have both the star power and the experience to win it all.
Staying in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Minnesota Timberwolves should shape up to be an entertaining first-round series. In Game 1, the Timberwolves made the Lakers look small, overpowering Los Angeles at the rim, finding open threes and shooting over 50% from deep. Their size and aggressiveness will be hard for an aging LeBron James and a slow Luka Dončić to match. But history shows not to bet against LeBron and the Lakers, and it wouldn’t be crazy to see either team end up in the finals, though the road will be difficult.
Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler of the Golden State Warriors will also try to channel some magic for a deep run. In their first-round matchup against the young defensive powerhouse of the Houston Rockets, the Warriors’ experience and shooting could help propel them to a fifth NBA title. While it is exciting to watch their intensity and athleticism, a finals appearance is not likely for the Rockets.
As for the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks’ added depth this season with Karl-Anthony Towns makes them one of the clear favorites out of the conference. Led by Towns, a rebounding machine, and a healthy Jalen Brunson, the Knicks starting five has logged more minutes together than any lineup in the league. The Knicks won 123-112 against the Detroit Pistons in Game 1, and with their depth and discipline, could continue to the Conference Finals. Although Detroit has improved dramatically behind Cade Cunningham, they still lacks playoff experience and struggle with turnovers. Making this a competitive series would be considered a win, and something to be proud of, to the Pistons, especially in retrospect to the magical regular season they had compared to their last decade of disappointment.
It is unlikely fans will see the Milwaukee Bucks, regardless of their eight-game win streak coming into the playoffs, making a deep push without their full backcourt. The Bucks lost Game 1 to the Indiana Pacers with Damian Lillard benched due to his persisting blood clot, despite being cleared to return to play. This puts even more weight on Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo to lead the way. Slowing Indiana’s fast-paced attack and controlling the boards will be key. While Indiana did find its way to the Conference Finals last year, making it anywhere past that point this time around seems unlikely. For the Bucks, the concern is less about winning a championship and more about competing hard enough to keep Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are heavily favored, with a top-four offense and defense and a 121-100 first-round victory against the Miami Heat. Miami, without Jimmy Butler, leans on center Bam Adebayo and point guard Tyler Herro, but lacks the firepower to match the Cavaliers. Head Coach Erik Spoelstra could help the Heat steal a game if their shooters get hot, but Cleveland should handle business in four or five matches. This series is a tune-up for the Cavs, who have legitimate potential for the finals if they are able to get past the Celtics and don’t let the pressure of a number one seed get to them.
In all, because the league is so balanced and talented — with a mix of superstars from the early NBA days and new stars on the rise — any team could make a strong run. Fans have seen how quickly narratives can shift in April and May, and there are numerous teams that have the tools and experience to crash the party.
