Image credit: 2020 Getty Images

By: Adi Kumar and Hiren Shah

After an exciting end to the NBA season with the Western Conference battle to avoid the play-in, the NBA playoffs have begun. We will discuss who we think will win each of the playoff matchups, and which team we think will ultimately claim the championship. 

The image above is our bracket for the 2025 NBA playoffs. The rest of this article will illustrate why we think these will be the results and will include the margin we think each series will be won by. 

Western Conference 

The Western Conference, as per usual, is the stronger conference with better teams and more competition. The main frontrunner in the West is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who hold the league best 68-14 record. However, many other teams have the potential to pull off an upset in this competitive conference. 

First Round 

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Memphis Grizzlies  — Thunder win 4-0 

The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the league this season, finishing 16 games ahead of the second seed. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing at an MVP level, and the rest of the Thunder’s team has a lineup filled with skilled and athletic players who can shoot the 3 and play defense. This team also has experience in the playoffs last year, meaning they have no glaring weaknesses.

The Grizzlies, on the other hand, have not been doing great since January. They dropped 5 spots in the standings, falling from the 3rd seed to the 8th seed and having to play in the play-in. In addition, the head coach was fired right before the playoffs, illustrating some turmoil within the organization. Ja Morant, the star player of the Grizzlies, hasn’t been performing as well as previous years and is injury prone. Overall, the Grizzlies are a significantly weaker team who do not have the personnel to effectively defend the offensive assault from the Thunder, and lack the shot-creators to beat OKC’s elite defense. Thus, the Thunder should win in a 4-0 sweep.  

Los Angeles Lakers (3) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (6) —  Lakers win 4-3

The Lakers have shown us in the regular season that they are an extremely strong team. Before the Lakers getting Luka, they were in the 5th seed. After Luka, they got boosted up to the 3rd seed. On the court, even with no center, the Lakers have been dominating. But there is still a lot of uncertainty whether they can succeed without a rim protector against the Timberwolves. This is where the Timberwolves have an edge because they have an elite defense with players like Jaden Mcdaniels, Rudy Gobert, and Conley. Additionally, they have Rudy Gobert, a 7 footer the lakers do not have an answer for. However, we think the Lakers will win since they have Lebron James and Luka Doncic, two of the greatest individual players in the league. So, we predict the Lakers will win 4-3 in a seven game series. 

Denver Nuggets (4) vs LA Clippers (5) — Clippers win 4-3

This should be a tightly contested series as both teams appear evenly matched. The Denver Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, arguably the greatest player in the league and one of the greatest passers to play the game. His presence alone makes the Nuggets a dangerous opponent for any team. However, without Jokic, the Nuggets’ offense struggles since they lack a strong bench with players who can shoot the 3 and space the floor. But Jamal Murray, the star guard for the Nuggets, tends to play even better in the playoffs, which might be enough to make up for this weakness. 

The Clippers have been bolstered by the return of Kawhi Leonard, whose return brought them up 4 seeds. Leonard’s two-way dominance is key for the Clippers to win the series. His offense can be borderline unstoppable with his mid range shooting, and he can guard any player in the league. The Clippers also possess James Harden, and despite his age, he is still both a scoring threat and elite playmaker who creates opportunities for his teammates. Ivica Zubac, the center for the Clippers, has greatly improved this season in both defense and scoring. His performance on both ends will be important: on defense, for slowing down Jokic, and for offense, his performance in the pick & roll with Harden. Because Denver lacks the individual defenders and team defense to stop both Leonard and Harden, despite Jokic and Murray’s capabilities, we predict the Clippers will win the series 4-3. 

Houston Rockets (2) vs Golden State Warriors (7) — Warriors win 4-2

The Houston Rockets are a great success story of a rebuilding team and have jumped to the 2 seed behind Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, and one of the best defenses in the league. This Rockets team thrives on getting offensive rebounds that give them valuable second chance opportunities. But while they are the 2 seed, the Rockets are not without flaws. They have a relatively lackluster offense that relies heavily on Sengun. They lack many shot creators beyond Jalen Green and Sengun. Furthermore, both Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet, two of the main three point shooters for the Rockets, are inconsistent. The roster is also full of young players who lack playoff experience.

In contrast, the Warriors have some of the most experienced playoff performers in the league. Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and the coach Steve Kerr have won many playoff series. Curry and Butler, in particular, have spectacular performances in the playoffs. Interestingly enough, the Warriors lack 3 point shooting and spacing this year, which could prove a challenge against the Rockets’ defense. But with Curry at age 37 still being one of the best offensive players with his elite shooting, conditioning, and shot creation, Butler with his strong drives, and Draymond with his defensive and playmaking skills, the Warriors should have the edge in this series. We think the Warriors will win 4-2 in this series with their experience and overall roster giving them the edge. 

Second Round 

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs LA Clippers (5) — Thunder win 4-1

The Thunder are the best team in the Western Conference by record. Unlike the Clippers, they possess an incredibly deep roster full of athletic defenders and three point shooters. This type of roster is arguably the best type of roster in the modern NBA — a roster with shot creators in Shai and Jalen Williams, a floor spacing big in Chet Holmgren, and 3&D players like Lu Dort. The Clippers do have Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, two elite players, but are clearly inferior to OKC in depth and defense. Even the offense isn’t as effective. Because of this, we predict the Thunder will win 4-1. 

LA Lakers (3) vs Golden State Warriors (7)—  Warriors win 4-2

During the regular season, the Lakers won 3 of the 4 games against the Warriors. However, after the trade deadline, the Lakers replaced Anthony Davis with Luka Doncic, a move that compromises their defense significantly. With the Lakers’ current lack of rim protection and poor defender in Doncic, the Warriors have a point of attack for their offense. In addition, the Warriors’ acquisition of Jimmy Butler adds some additional scoring that should prove valuable against the relatively weak Lakers defense, as well as some size and strength to defend Lebron and Luka. The Warriors should win 4-2. 

Conference Finals 

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs Golden State Warriors (7) — Thunder win 4-2 

With the Thunder being the best team in the west, it is unlikely that the Warriors can win. This year, the Warriors roster lacks three point shooting, and can struggle on the offensive end, especially with Curry on the bench. The Thunder, on the other hand, have a much deeper and well-rounded roster with athletics defenders and shooters. Simply put, they have a better roster with better players. Behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s unstoppable scoring, the Thunder should win 4-2. 

Eastern Conference

Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs Miami Heat (8) — Cavaliers win 4-0

The Cleveland Cavaliers enter this series as the Eastern Conference’s top seed, boasting elite three-point shooting, a dominant frontcourt led by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and the dynamic playmaking of Darius Garland. Their well-rounded roster and defensive prowess make them a nightmare matchup for any opponent.

The Miami Heat, who traded away Jimmy Butler for Andrew Wiggins, have struggled to find consistent offensive production. Wiggins has been solid but lacks Butler’s two-way impact. Bam Adebayo remains a strong defensive anchor, but the Heat’s lack of offensive firepower and perimeter shooting means they will struggle to keep pace with the Cavs. Cleveland’s superior talent and depth should lead to a comfortable 4-0 sweep.

Indiana Pacers (4) vs Milwaukee Bucks (5) — Pacers win 4-2

The Pacers are the fastest team in the league, thriving in transition with their high-paced offense. Their stamina and quickness make them difficult to contain. Without Damian Lillard, who is out due to deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, the Bucks lack a reliable second star. Giannis Antetokounmpo is forced to carry the offense alone, and with limited support from role players, the Bucks should struggle to keep up. We predict the Pacers will win 4-2.

Boston Celtics (2) vs Orlando Magic (7) — Celtics win 4-1

The Celtics enter this series as the defending champions and are loaded with four All-Star players. Their three-point shooting, ball movement, and strong defense make them the clear favorites. The Magic have a solid defense but lack offensive firepower and ball movement, relying heavily on Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. They may take one game, but the Celtics should win 4-1.

New York Knicks (3) vs Detroit Pistons (6) — Knicks win 4-2

The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, have a formidable offense and strong rebounding presence. The Pistons, despite being underdogs, have built a solid roster featuring Cade Cunningham and a young core with potential and have made the playoffs after one of the worst seasons ever. However, their lack of playoff experience and consistent scoring options outside of Cunningham will likely lead to their downfall. We predict the Knicks win 4-2. 

Second Round 

Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs Indiana Pacers (5) — Cavaliers win 4-2

The Cavaliers, led by Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, have the best combination of offense and defense in the Eastern Conference. Their ability to put pressure on defenses with strong drives and lob threats opens up a lot of opportunities for open 3 point shots. This, combined with strong interior defense from their double-big lineup, makes them a dominant force. The Pacers, with their fast-paced and explosive offense, can take advantage of this double big lineup in the pick and roll, but lack the defensive prowess to stop the Cavs’ potent offense, especially in a best of seven-game series. Thus, we expect the Cavaliers to win 4-2.

Boston Celtics (2) vs New York Knicks (3) — Celtics win 4-1

The Celtics enter this series as the defending champions and the superior team. In the regular season, the Celtics won all 4 of their games against the Knicks, three of which by a large margin. With four All-Star players and a high-powered offense centered around three-point shooting and ball movement, the Celtics are a nightmare matchup for any team. The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, have a strong offense, but their defense and lack of consistent perimeter shooting will be a problem against the Celtics. We predict Boston will win 4-1.

Conference Finals

Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs Boston Celtics (2) — Cavaliers win 4-2

The Cavaliers and Celtics face off in a highly anticipated Eastern Conference Finals. Cleveland boasts a balanced roster led by Darius Garland’s playmaking, Donovan Mitchell’s scoring, Evan Mobley’s interior defense, and Jarrett Allen’s rebounding. Against the Celtics’ three point reliant offense, the Cavaliers’ ability to get to the basket could prove advantageous — especially if the Celtics have an off night from 3, which is bound to happen in a series. Furthermore, the Celtics’ offense is quite predictable with its 5-Out spacing, and the Cavaliers have excellent paint defense, nullifying the drives of Tatum and Brown. This forces the Celtics to beat the Cavaliers by making 3 pointers, which again, do not always fall. We predict the Cavaliers will win the series 4-2. 

The NBA Finals

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (1) — Thunder win 4-3

The matchup between the Thunder and Cavaliers is a close one. The series could go either way, as both teams have some of the best offenses and defenses in the league and dominated their respective conferences. In addition, both teams have highly effective scoring guards — Shai for the Thunder and Donovan Mitchell for the Cavaliers. This series, more than others, is dependent on injuries and coaching adjustments. That being said, we give the Thunder the edge and think they will win 4-3.