The 2025 NBA playoffs have finally arrived! A grueling 82 games for each NBA team in the regular season to determine their playoff seeding. A few teams thrived in the arduous process, while others limped at the end.
This is what basketball is all about. It keeps us fans ecstatic about all things NBA-related and makes us borderline obsessive about the game we love. This is the time when the boys are separated from the men. It’s where the league’s stars are born. It’s the NBA playoffs, baby!
Before we start rooting for our favorite teams, we are going to predict the entire 2025 NBA Playoffs and Finals winner here on TPS.
Which NBA team will hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the 2025 playoffs?
East Play-In: (9) Chicago Bulls vs (10) Miami Heat
The Bulls have been playing great towards the end of the season, and teams are wary of their sudden hot streak.
The same can’t be said for the Heat, though. They’ve had many ups and downs throughout the year, and their inconsistency was a glaring problem for their coaching staff.
Surprisingly, Chicago had a 3-0 record against the Heat in the regular season. The games weren’t blowouts, but they weren’t close, either. The Coby White-Josh Giddey duo will cause a lot of problems for the Heat, especially on the offensive end of the court.
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Can’t really trust Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo to bail the Heat on this one.
Prediction: Bulls over Miami
East Play-In: (7) Orlando Magic vs (8) Atlanta Hawks
This contest will be a tight one, for sure, as the Magic and the Hawks went 2-2 in their head-to-head matchup in the regular season. The biggest problem for Orlando entering this one-and-done play-in game is that they don’t have Jalen Suggs running the point for them.
The Hawks, on the other hand, are healthy and ready to get their feet wet for some postseason action. While much of the credit goes to Trae Young, other guys on the Hawks roster, like Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher, have been instrumental in their surge this year.
This game will be tight and will be full of lead changes. If either Young or Risacher goes hot, the Hawks might be able to pull off the win and secure themselves the seventh seed in the East.
However, it’s hard to bet against Paolo Banchero in a high-stakes game like this. I’m predicting a 40-piece nugget coming from him and steering Orlando to a win.
Prediction: Magic over Hawks, secures 7th seed
East Play-in: (8) Atlanta Hawks vs (9) Chicago Bulls
It’s hard to gauge the head-to-head matchup of both teams because all of them happened before the all-star break. A lot has changed between the two, and it’s certainly anybody’s ballgame to win.
It all comes down to this: Who wants it more?
Will it be Chicago, which retooled its roster in the middle of the season and paved the way for Josh Giddey and rookie Matas Buzelis to shine, or will it be the Hawks, which added some much-needed bench help via the trade deadline?
This will be a close contest, no doubt. However, since this game will be played in Atlanta, I’d give the Hawks a slight advantage to grind it out for the win over the Bulls and secure themselves the 8th seed in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Prediction: Hawks over Bulls, secures 8th seed
West Play-In: (9) Sacramento Kings vs (10) Dallas Mavericks
These are two teams with lofty expectations at the beginning of the season. However, questionable trades in February completely altered the trajectory for both of these squads within the next few years.
No more De’Aaron Fox for the Kings. No more Luka Doncic for the Mavs. This is all about pride and nothing else. Their records in the regular season don’t matter one bit in this one-and-done game.
With how the Mavs imploded after trading Luka to the Lakers, we won’t be surprised if they’ll underperform against the Kings in the play-in tournament. Sacramento is healthier, too, and Dallas doesn’t have Kyrie Irving in this one.
Prediction: Kings over Mavericks
West Play-In: (7) Golden State Warriors vs (8) Memphis Grizzlies
If it were not for Spurs forward Harrison Barnes’s game-winning buzzer-beater against his former team, the Warriors wouldn’t be here in the first place. Even though the Dubs went 23-7 since trading for Jimmy Butler in February, they still ended up in the play-in tournament. That’s how brutal the West has been this season.
The Grizzlies started this season with a bang, but their development stagnated in the middle of their campaign. A late-season coaching change didn’t help much, and they are seen as a wildcard heading into the 2025 NBA playoffs.
Sure enough, both of these teams have history. Just a couple of years ago, the Grizzlies were the ‘New Kids on the Block’ in the West and were constantly taunting Steph Curry and the Warriors whenever they matched up.
If the Grizzlies somehow clamp up Steph Curry from the three, this will be an easy outing for them. It’s hard to bet against Curry, but they have shown that they aren’t such a good play-in team in the past.
Prediction: Grizzlies over Warriors, secures 7th seed
West Play-In: (7) Golden State Warriors vs (9) Sacramento Kings
Two California teams will vie for the last playoff spot in the West. By looking at both rosters alone, it’s easy to predict that the Warriors will win this one, right?
Well…it’s not that simple. With the Kings winning against the Mavs, they have momentum going into this game. The Warriors losing the seventh seed to the Grizzlies may have hit their pride in the process.
Should the Kings light it up from downtown, they’d be hard to stop. Still, I wouldn’t bet all my marbles for them to win, though.
This Dubs team does have the ageless Steph Curry playing at a very high level. Add Jimmy Butler to that mix, and there’s no doubt in my mind that the Warriors will have enough to keep the game away for good in the latter part of their impending matchup.
Prediction: Warriors over Kings, secures 8th seed
East Quarterfinals: (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (8) Atlanta Hawks
It’s quite surprising that the Hawks have had the Cavaliers number this season, winning two out of three games. It’s safe to say that Atlanta isn’t going to be intimidated by the 24-game difference in the win column heading into this series.
On the other hand, this will be Cleveland’s first true test in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Sweep the Hawks, and people will inevitably change their narrative about their team. Struggle against Atlanta, and their own fans might turn against them.
The biggest X-factor for the Cavs in this series is Darius Garland. With Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels getting his hands full on guarding Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, Garland might have a field day against Trae Young throughout the entire series.
Doubt them all you want, but the Cavs should prove to be too powerful for this so-so Hawks team in the first round.
Prediction: Cavaliers over Hawks, 4-1
East Quarterfinals: (4) Indiana Pacers vs (5) Milwaukee Bucks
There’s no denying that Indiana has struggled against the Bucks this year. They only won one out of four in their head-to-head matchup and had trouble limiting Giannis Antetokounmpo within the painted area.
With both teams ending the season with a similar 8-2 record in their last ten, we can expect that this will be a hotly contested series, even with the Bucks missing Damian Lillard in this one.
This will be a high-scoring affair with a lot of back-and-forth. Giannis will get his usual numbers, maybe more. If he’ll average 40-plus in the entire series, then the Bucks will have a good chance to upset the Pacers.
But the odds aren’t in Milwaukee’s favor due to Lillard’s absence. The Pacers will exploit Milwaukee’s thin backcourt rotation and should capitalize on their advantage of having a healthier roster compared to their first-round foes.
Prediction: Pacers over Bucks, 4-2
East Quarterfinals: (2) Boston Celtics vs (7) Orlando Magic
The first obstacle to their title defense, Boston will be heavy favorites to win this first-round series against Orlando. After cruising for much of the regular season, the Celtics enter the 2025 NBA Playoffs with an intact and healthy roster.
On the other hand, Orlando’s backcourt will predictably struggle against the likes of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. Even with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner going supernova in this series, it’s hard to picture the Magic triumphing over the mighty Cs.
The Magic might win one, but that’s about it. A gentleman’s sweep is in the books for this one, with the Celtics coming out on top looking as dangerous as ever.
Prediction: Celtics over Magic, 4-1
East Quarterfinals: (3) New York Knicks vs (6) Detroit Pistons
I’m not going to lie, but this will be a dangerous series for the Knicks. For starters, they only won one out of four against Detroit in the regular season. It’s important to note that the last time the Knicks won versus this pesky Pistons team was in November 2024.
That’s three straight wins for Cade Cunningham and the Pistons against Jalen Brunson and the Knicks. If there’s a huge upset potential in the Eastern Conference in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, this series would be it.
For the Knicks to avoid a major letdown, they need Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns to play the best basketball of their careers. Steal a game or two in Detroit or win all their home games; that should be their game plan.
I’m not discounting the Pistons, but the Knicks should win this series. It will be close, though—very close.
Prediction: Knicks over Pistons, 4-3
West Quarterfinals: (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (8) Golden State Warriors
OKC won a mind-boggling 68 games this season and only lost 14. There’s no doubt in our minds that they are the team to beat in the West. However, it’s important to point out that two of those fourteen losses came at the expense of the Warriors.
Steph Curry and the Dubs aren’t afraid of OKC. In fact, this will be a great matchup for them, and they’ll accept it with open arms. Old versus new. This is a first-round series that’s gifted to us mortals from the basketball gods.
Curry vs SGA. Jimmy vs J-Dub. Draymond vs Chet. What a way to start the 2025 NBA Playoffs in the Western Conference. Despite the 20-game difference in the win column, the Dubs won’t view themselves as underdogs.
Still, this is the Thunder we’re talking about. There’s a reason why they topped the entire NBA in the regular season. They were a dominant bunch throughout the rest of the year. Their bench is deeper than the Mariana Trench.
This won’t be a cakewalk for them, though. OKC will be tested but will ultimately persist and rise through adversity.
Prediction: Thunder over Warriors, 4-3
West Quarterfinals: (4) Denver Nuggets vs (5) Los Angeles Clippers
The Nuggets and Clippers went 2-2 in their regular season matchups. One important note is that Kawhi Leonard did not play a single game against Denver this year.
Yes…you read that right. No Kawhi. It was James Harden who kept the Clippers afloat for most of the season. Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell helped, too.
For the Nuggets, how the latter part of this season played out wasn’t truly ideal. Just a week before the regular season ended, their front office fired coach Mike Malone and GM Calvin Booth. Despite Nikola Jokic having the best statistical year of his career, Denver just sits at the fourth spot in the West.
Sure enough, Nikola Jokic will get his usual numbers in this series. Nobody in the Clippers can guard him on the floor. The biggest question is his supporting cast. If they play below their usual standards, then Jokic will inevitably do most of the heavy lifting for this Nuggets team – again.
With Kawhi’s recent reemergence and James Harden playing like it’s 2019, the Clippers might have enough ammo to win this series and head into the second round.
Prediction: Clippers over Nuggets, 4-2
West Quarterfinals: (2) Houston Rockets vs (7) Memphis Grizzlies
Aside from the Cavs and the Thunder, the Rockets might be one of the most surprising teams this season. Nobody foresaw that they will finish second in the West this year. While this team doesn’t have any superstars on the roster, they do have guys who can get a bucket whenever needed.
The Rockets lorded over the Grizzlies in the regular season, winning 3-1. The games were super close, though. Memphis is a good team, and this won’t be an easy outing for the Rockets in any shape or form.
The key factor for the Rockets is for Alperen Sengun to dominate inside the paint. If he could bait the ever-impatient Jaren Jackson and put the Grizzlies’ big man in early foul trouble, then Houston should have a field day inside the painted area.
Ja Morant will get his usual numbers, but sadly, it won’t be enough for Memphis to overcome a hungry Houston team in this seven-game series.
Prediction: Rockets over Grizzlies, 4-2
West Quarterfinals: (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Luka Doncic vs Anthony Edwards 2.0. The big difference right now is that Luka plays for the Lakers, not the Mavs. There’s no denying that the Slovenian superstar loves to play on Minnesota’s home floor. This series might be as one-sided compared to other first-round series in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
The Wolves are not the same Wolves team that won a ton of games last season. Karl-Anthony Towns is gone. Rudy Gobert hasn’t been 100% all year. Naz Reid regressed a bit, and Mike Conley’s age finally caught up with him.
And who’s going to guard Austin Reaves and LeBron James? We all know that Edwards cannot guard Doncic, so he’ll be tasked to man up against Reaves. Minnesota’s Julius Randle will be given the impossible task of limiting the production of a 40-year-old James. The aging Conley will try to keep up with the often-overlooked Reaves. Good luck with that.
Rudy Gobert may endure some ugly flashbacks from last season whenever he’s switched on Luka Doncic in a pick-and-roll. Luka is entering the 2025 NBA playoffs 100% healthy, by the way.
LA’s nice, Minnesota’s on ice, Luka’s knees are right…Lakers in 5.
Prediction: Lakers over Wolves, 4-1
East Semifinals: (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (4) Indiana Pacers
This would be a tricky series for the Cavs as they only went 1-3 against the Pacers in the regular season. The Pacers aren’t afraid of the East-leading Cavs, that’s for sure.
Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland need to bring their A-game in this series. Anything short of that will be viewed as a disappointment for the entire Cavaliers fanbase. This is the team’s first 60-plus-win season after the LeBron James era. Of course, the team and their fans’ expectations have skyrocketed.
The Pacers simply need to continue their fast-paced approach against the Cavs. Tyrese Haliburton will push the ball every time he gets it, and it’s up to Cleveland to slow him down during transition.
For a huge upset to happen, the Pacers need to hit their long-range shots. Should Myles Turner, Pascal Siakam, and Ben Mathurin hit their jumpers, then it will be a short series for Cleveland.
Either way, this matchup will go all the way to the seventh game. Who’s going to hit the tougher shots down the stretch? Who’ll come out on top? I have an answer, and most NBA folks won’t like it.
Prediction: Cavaliers over Pacers, 4-3
East Semifinals: (2) Boston Celtics vs (3) New York Knicks
The Celtics are 4-0 against the Knicks this season. 4-0! As for the Knicks, they went winless against the top three winningest teams in the NBA in the regular season. That’s not a good thing, right?
Boston is entering the playoffs with a healthy roster. They will be at full strength. After cruising in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, they won’t be intimidated one bit going against the Knicks.
For the Knicks to stage a huge upset, everything has to go their way, no matter how small it is. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns need to carry the offensive load consistently. OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges need to limit Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s offensive production.
The biggest asset the Celtics have over the Knicks is their bench guys. They are much deeper and better compared to their Knicks counterpart. Coach Thibs of the Knicks will undoubtedly play his starters 40-plus minutes throughout this series. They will be worn down. They will be tired.
Sadly, exhaustion will also be NY’s downfall. They’ll steal a game or two, but the Celtics are just a different animal at this point of the year.
Prediction: Celtics over Knicks, 4-2
West Semifinals: (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (5) Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers went 0-4 against OKC this season, but Kawhi Leonard sat in three of those four losses. Their most recent matchup was a close one, with the Thunder narrowingly escaping with a two-point win.
Make no mistake, this won’t be a walk in the park for OKC. They are up against arguably the best Clippers team in the Harden-Leonard era. In addition, Ivica Zubac can cause problems with the paint versus Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein due to his size and strength.
While SGA will get his usual numbers, his supporting cast will either make or break his team’s chances of winning this series. Can J-Dub prove to the world that he’s a reliable second option for OKC? He’ll have his hands full with Derrick Jones Jr. on his face wherever he goes on the court.
In all honesty, even though the Thunder looks formidable, there’s a reason they aren’t feared by most teams in the 2025 NBA Playoffs—just let SGA cook and shut down his supporting cast.
Should Kawhi Leonard perform like it’s 2019, a huge upset is likely.
Prediction: Clippers over Thunder, 4-3
West Semifinals: (2) Houston Rockets vs (3) Los Angeles Lakers
At this stage of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, it’s anybody’s game. The Rockets have been a very good defensive team throughout the season despite not having an All-NBA defensive team player on the roster. They do have Dillon Brooks, though.
But who will Brooks guard in the series? Will it be Luka or LeBron? He’ll alternate between the two, no doubt. That leaves Austin Reaves at the hands of Jalen Green. Not good if you’re a Rockets fan.
However, the Rockets do have one outstanding advantage over the Lakers, and that’s Alperen Sengun. LA will inevitably play small ball throughout the entire series because center Jaxson Hayes is a poor one-on-one defender on the post.
If Luka Doncic creates open looks for his teammates, especially for Reaves, Hachimura, DFS, and Vincent, then this series will be a breeze for LA. If Luka goes supernova against the Rockets, then this series will be over in five or six games.
If it’s not obvious yet, then yes, the Lakers will reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2020.
Prediction: Lakers over Rockets, 4-2
Eastern Conference Finals: (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (2) Boston Celtics
2-2. That is the record of their head-to-head in the regular season. All games were decided within seven or less points. This is an even matchup. Boston fans might not think of it that way, but the Cavaliers are a legitimate threat to their team’s quest for a back-to-back title this year.
The Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell has played extremely well against the Celtics this season. He thrives while playing in the Garden. He likes the animosity and embraces it fully. It’s now up to the rest of his teammates to show up. Should they perform well, then it’s not hard to picture the Cavs winning the East.
Boston, on the other hand, will be extremely motivated to prove to the world that last season wasn’t a fluke. While their starting five haven’t played a ton of minutes together due to various injuries, their bench guys have improved significantly.
To be honest, both benches are deep and evenly matched. The Cs may have a slight advantage in their starting lineup, but it’s not much.
This won’t be a sweep. It won’t be over in five games, either. It’s really hard to predict the outcome of this series. These two teams are evenly matched. It all boils down to who’s going to hit shots when the games get tighter.
Give us seven games. A game-winning bucket to seal the deal, too. My mind is with Boston, but my heart tells me that Cleveland will reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2018.
Prediction: Cavaliers over Celtics, 4-3
Western Conference Finals: (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs (5) Los Angeles Clippers
Whew…two LA teams in the Western Conference Finals? Please, basketball gods, give us that. Luka Doncic against the Clippers for the hundredth time, again? That never gets old.
Homecourt will be on the Lakers. That really doesn’t matter, even though the Clips now have their own stadium, right? Los Angeles fans will be divided. Will they support the Lakers, or will they celebrate the Clippers reaching this far in the 2025 NBA Playoffs?
The Lakers will have their hands full on Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Don’t forget Ivica Zubac, too. He roasted the purple and gold all season long. The Lakers do not have an answer for him.
On the other hand, the Clippers won’t have an answer for Luka Doncic and LeBron James, either. Especially Luka. Number 77 loves to play against the Clippers. This has become a one-sided rivalry for years now. It doesn’t matter if he’s wearing a Lakers jersey now; he still owns LA’s less-talented brother.
The Clippers’ focus is on shutting Luka down. The problem is that nobody in the league has a good answer for that. Luka will be Luka, and there’s nothing anybody can do about it.
Brace yourselves, LA fans; the Lakers are once again heading into the NBA Finals!
Prediction: Lakers over Clippers, 4-2
NBA Finals: (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (3) Los Angeles Lakers
As much as Adam Silver would like another Celtics vs Lakers in the NBA Finals, let’s just go another route. Cavaliers vs Lakers would be a much better story. LeBron James is trying to win his fifth title against his former team. Wouldn’t that be a story that will rock the world?
Will Cavs fans boo him or welcome him in the Finals? That’s an interesting sight to see. Give us Austin Reaves vs Darius Garland and Luka Doncic vs Donovan Mitchell. Seven games might not be enough to settle this series.
What’s Cleveland’s advantage in this one? Well…their frontcourt, of course! LA’s thin on that department, and the duo of Mobley and Allen should take advantage of that area. Their biggest weakness is their small forward spot. Max Strus and De’Andre Hunter will get their hands full on a rejuvenated LeBron James.
Another problem for the Cavs is who’s going to guard Luka Doncic. Both Garland and Mitchell are too small to match up against the 6-foot-7 Slovenian. He’ll feast anywhere on the court in this series.
On paper, both teams will have disadvantages and advantages. The team willing to take the small wins on the court wins the series.
Should Cleveland win, this will be a gut punch on James and put him behind the GOAT convo. He’ll never hear the end of it from the media and the fans.
However, should the Lakers win, imagine Bron lifting his invisible crown and handing it on the top of Luka’s head, signaling to the world that the latter is the new face of the league.
Well, we could all get behind that scenario, don’t we?
Congratulations, Los Angeles Lakers. You are the 2024-2025 NBA Champions!
Prediction: Lakers over Cavs, 4-2
