2025 NBA playoff picks: Experts predict the first-round

The 2025 NBA playoffs will tip off this weekend with some star-studded matchups across all of the first-round series.

Saturday's slate includes the one of the season's most surprising teams in the East No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons taking on the No. 3 seed New York Knicksat Madison Square Garden. Later on that day, LeBron James and Luka Doncic will try to get the West No. 3 seedLos Angeles Lakersstarted on the right path against Anthony Edwards and the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.

Sunday sees the the top overall seed Oklahoma City Thunder taking on the No. 8 West seed Memphis Grizzlies, followed by the No. 2 East seed Boston Celtics hosting the No. 7 East seed Orlando Magic in an afternoon showdown.

But before the NBA's biggest superstars take the postseason stage, our NBA experts are making their picks for each first-round series.

East first round

Cleveland Cavaliers (1)

vs. Miami Heat (8)

Tim Bontemps:Cavaliers in 5

Chris Herring:Cavaliers in 4

Bobby Marks:Cavaliers in 5

Dave McMenamin:Cavaliers in 5

Ramona Shelburne:Cavaliers in 6

AndréSnellings: Cavaliers in 5

Ohm Youngmisuk:Cavaliers in 6

Final tally:

Cleveland 7, Miami 0

Boston Celtics (2)

vs. Orlando Magic (7)

Tim Bontemps:Celtics in 5

Jamal Collier:Celtics in 4

Chris Herring: Celtics in 6

Tim MacMahon: Celtics in 5

Bobby Marks:Celtics in 5

Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 5

Jorge Sedano: Celtics in 5

Ramona Shelburne: Celtics in 6

Marc J. Spears: Celtics in 5

AndréSnellings: Celtics in 5

Jeremy Woo: Celtics in 6

Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 6

Final tally:

Boston 12, Orlando 0

New York Knicks (3)

vs. Detroit Pistons (6)

Tim Bontemps:Knicks in 5

Jamal Collier: Knicks in 5

Chris Herring: Knicks in 7

Tim MacMahon: Knicks in 6

Bobby Marks: Knicks in 5

Dave McMenamin: Knicks in 7

Jorge Sedano: Knicks in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Knicks in 5

AndréSnellings: Knicks in 7

Marc J. Spears: Knicks in 6

Jeremy Woo: Knicks in 6

Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks in 7

Final tally:

New York 12, Detroit 0

Indiana Pacers (4)

vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)

Tim Bontemps:Pacers in 6

Jamal Collier: Pacers in 7

Chris Herring: Pacers in 6

Tim MacMahon: Pacers in 7

Bobby Marks: Pacers in 6

Dave McMenamin: Pacers in 7

Jorge Sedano: Bucks in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Pacers in 6

AndréSnellings: Bucks in 6

Marc J. Spears: Bucksin 7

Jeremy Woo: Bucks in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Bucks in 7

Final tally:

Indiana 7, Milwaukee 5

West first round

Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8)

Tim Bontemps:Thunder in 5

Chris Herring:Thunder in 4

Bobby Marks:Thunder in 4

Dave McMenamin:Thunder in 5

Ramona Shelburne:Thunder in 5

AndréSnellings: Thunder in 5

Ohm Youngmisuk:Thunder in 5

Final tally:

Oklahoma City 7, Memphis 0

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

Tim Bontemps:Warriors in 6

Jamal Collier:Warriors in 7

Chris Herring: Warriors in 7

Bobby Marks:Rockets in 6

Tim MacMahon: Warriors in 6

Dave McMenamin: Warriors in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Warriors in 7

Jorge Sedano: Warriors in 7

Ramona Shelburne:Rockets in 7

AndréSnellings: Warriors in 6

Marc J. Spears: Warriors in 7

Jeremy Woo: Rockets in 7

Final tally:

Golden State 9, Houston 3

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs.

(6) Minnesota Timberwolves

Tim Bontemps:Timberwolves in 6

Jamal Collier: Lakers in 6

Chris Herring: Lakers in 6

Tim MacMahon: Lakers in 6

Bobby Marks: Lakers in 6

Dave McMenamin: Lakers in 6

Jorge Sedano: Lakers in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Lakers in 6

AndréSnellings: Lakers in 7

Marc J. Spears: Lakers in 7

Jeremy Woo: Lakers in 6

Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers in 7

Final tally:

Los Angeles 11, Minnesota 1

(4) Denver Nuggets

vs. (5) LA Clippers

Tim Bontemps:Clippers in 6

Jamal Collier: Clippers in 7

Chris Herring: Clippers in 6

Tim MacMahon: Clippers in 7

Bobby Marks: Clippers in 6

Dave McMenamin: Clippers in 5

Jorge Sedano: Clippers in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets in 7

André Snellings: Nuggets in 7

Marc J. Spears: Clippers in 7

Jeremy Woo: Nuggets in 7

Final tally:

LA 8, Denver 3