The 2025 NBA play-in tournament is set to tip off on Tuesday, featuring eight teams battling for the final four playoff spots.
In a highly anticipated Western Conference matchup, Stephen Curry`s Golden State Warriors will clash with the Memphis Grizzlies in the 7-8 game. Over in the East, the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks will compete for the Eastern Conference`s No. 7 seed and the chance to face the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics.
Wednesday`s schedule includes two crucial 9-10 play-in games: the Miami Heat against the Chicago Bulls, and the Dallas Mavericks versus the Sacramento Kings. For each conference, the loser will be eliminated, while the winner will advance to Friday`s play-in game for the No. 8 seed.
The first round of the playoffs will commence on Saturday with the 3-6 and 4-5 series from both conferences. The top two seeds in each conference will begin their Game 1s on Sunday, hosting the teams that emerge victorious from the play-in tournament.
Before the NBA`s biggest stars take center stage in the postseason, our panel of NBA experts has made their predictions for every play-in game and first-round series.
Play-in Tournament Predictions
Western Conference
(8) Memphis Grizzlies at (7) Golden State Warriors
Experts` Picks:
- Jamal Collier: Warriors
- Chris Herring: Warriors
- Tim MacMahon: Warriors
- Bobby Marks: Warriors
- Dave McMenamin: Warriors
- Kevin Pelton: Warriors
- Jorge Sedano: Warriors
- Ramona Shelburne: Grizzlies
- Marc J. Spears: Warriors
- Jeremy Woo: Warriors
- Ohm Youngmisuk: Warriors
Final Tally: Warriors 10, Grizzlies 1
(10) Dallas Mavericks at (9) Sacramento Kings
Experts` Picks:
- Jamal Collier: Kings
- Chris Herring: Kings
- Bobby Marks: Kings
- Dave McMenamin: Mavericks
- Kevin Pelton: Kings
- Jorge Sedano: Mavericks
- Ramona Shelburne: Kings
- Marc J. Spears: Kings
- Jeremy Woo: Kings
- Ohm Youngmisuk: Mavericks
Final Tally: Kings 7, Mavericks 3
Eastern Conference
(8) Atlanta Hawks at (7) Orlando Magic
Experts` Picks:
- Jamal Collier: Magic
- Chris Herring: Hawks
- Tim MacMahon: Hawks
- Bobby Marks: Magic
- Dave McMenamin: Magic
- Kevin Pelton: Magic
- Jorge Sedano: Magic
- Ramona Shelburne: Magic
- Marc J. Spears: Magic
- Jeremy Woo: Magic
- Ohm Youngmisuk: Magic
Final Tally: Magic 9, Hawks 2
(10) Miami Heat at (9) Chicago Bulls
Experts` Picks:
- Jamal Collier: Bulls
- Chris Herring: Bulls
- Tim MacMahon: Bulls
- Bobby Marks: Heat
- Dave McMenamin: Bulls
- Kevin Pelton: Bulls
- Jorge Sedano: Heat
- Ramona Shelburne: Heat
- Marc J. Spears: Heat
- Jeremy Woo: Bulls
- Ohm Youngmisuk: Heat
Final Tally: Bulls 6, Heat 5
Eastern Conference First Round Predictions
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
Experts` Picks:
- 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
- Marc J. Spears: Knicks in 6
- Jeremy Woo: Knicks in 6
- Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks in 7
Final Tally: Knicks 10, Pistons 0
(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
Experts` Picks:
- 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
- Marc J. Spears: Pacers in 7
- Jeremy Woo: Bucks in 7
- Ohm Youngmisuk: Bucks in 7
Final Tally: Pacers 7, Bucks 3
Western Conference First Round Predictions
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Experts` Picks:
- 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
- Marc J. Spears: Lakers in 7
- Jeremy Woo: Lakers in 6
- Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers in 7
Final Tally: Lakers 10, Timberwolves 0
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers
Experts` Picks:
- 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
- Marc J. Spears: Clippers in 7
- Jeremy Woo: Nuggets in 7
Final Tally: Clippers 7, Nuggets 2
