2025 NBA Playoffs: First-Round Matchups Set As Regular Season Concludes

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Oklahoma City Thunder secured homecourt advantage for the duration of the playoffs with their 68-14 record and NBA-best +12.9 Net Rating. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics were bunched together in second and third in both record and Net Rating.

The best matchups of the first round figure to be the Los Angeles Lakers against Minnesota Timberwolves less than a year after Luka Doncic faced them with his former team in the Western Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets against either the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies will also be close and contentious, as should the New York Knicks against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

The opening games of the playoffs begin next weekend following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday.

Western Conference
• (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies or Sacramento Kings/Dallas Mavericks
• (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies
• (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
• (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers

Eastern Conference
• (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks or Chicago Bulls/Miami Heat
• (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks
• (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
• (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks

NBA Play-In Tournament
Western Conference
• (8) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Golden State Warriors (Tues., Apr. 15 — 10 p.m. ET on TNT)
• (10) Dallas Mavericks vs. (9) Sacramento Kings (Wed., Apr. 16 — 10 p.m. ET on ESPN)

Eastern Conference
• (8) Atlanta Hawks vs. (7) Orlando Magic (Tues., Apr. 15 — 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
• (10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Chicago Bulls (Wed., Apr. 16 — 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

Via RealGM Staff Report

[CaHgO]

I think T-Wolves will kill Lakers - it's an extremely bad matchup for LA. No size and no centers, no one who can guard Ant either. In the same time Wolves have a really good defense which will cause significant problems for Luka and Lebron.

Nuggets - Clippers will be a damn exciting series - I think Denver will lose in the end though. Jokic will be godlike as always, but will be worn down in the end by Zubac and constant double teams. Murray and Harden will probably cancel each other out in terms of offensive production. Kawhi is obviously miles ahead of Gordon, and the rest of the supporting cast is clearly in Clippers' favor.

Rockets will demolish GSW. I honestly think Warriors have a better chance of losing to Memphis and then playing vs OKC - it's a much better matchup for them compared to Houston.

The East is **** - everything is absolutely clear, the only interesting series in the 1st round will be Bucks-Pacers. I really can't predict that one - logically Pacers are the better and more well-rounded team, but Giannis is having an insane season, so he may be enough to single-handedly carry them through the 1st round at least.