The first round of the NBA Playoffs are set to start on Saturday, April 19.
Western Conference
(No. 1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (No. 8) Memphis Grizzlies
The Thunder enter the playoffs with a league-best 68 wins and an elite scoring margin. Memphis has the potential to make this a competitive series, depending largely on Ja Morant’s ankle health and his ability to stay composed both on and off the court. However, the Grizzlies struggled down the stretch of the regular season and lack wing depth, which will be an issue when facing the Thunder’s dominant backcourt.
(No. 4) Denver Nuggets vs (No. 5) LA Clippers
The Clippers closed the season on a 18–3 run, with their only recent losses coming against top-tier teams in Oklahoma City and Cleveland. Kawhi Leonard appears to be back in peak form leading the defense with physicality. On the other side, the Nuggets are led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, a favorite to win his fourth this season. While Jamal Murray returned to the lineup after dealing with hamstring and knee issues, Denver’s bench has remained inconsistent—something that could prove costly in this series.
(No. 3) Los Angeles Lakers vs (No. 6) Minnesota Timberwolves
There’s not too any takeaways from the regular-season meetings between these teams, as the Lakers rotation has changed and the Timberwolves only recently regained a healthy Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. Minnesota holds the size advantage with Gobert and Randle providing vertical spacing, which could challenge LA’s interior defense. However, the Lakers’ edge lies in their perimeter talent. Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic offer offensive firepower that could exploit Minnesota’s defensive coverages, particularly from beyond the arc.
(No. 2) Houston Rockets vs (No. 7) Golden State Warriors
The Warriors won the regular-season series 3–2, but in their most recent meeting, the Rockets pulled off a 106–96 win with Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson outplaying Draymond Green and Stephen Curry. Thompson held Curry to just 3 points on 1-of-10 shooting, showcasing the Rockets’ defensive upside. Houston’s size, youth, and athleticism are clear advantages, but their young core will need to produce consistently on offense to overcome the Warriors’ elite playoff defense and championship experience.
Eastern Conference
(No. 1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (No. 8) Miami Heat
The Heat have the defensive discipline to slow down Cleveland’s high-octane offense, but they may struggle to procude consistently on the offensive end. The Cavaliers’ elite rim protection and physical interior defense will make it difficult for Miami to generate consistent scoring opportunities.
(No. 4) Indiana Pacers vs (No. 5) Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee won three of the four regular-season matchups against Indiana, but much has changed since then. Damian Lillard played in all four games, but will miss the start of the series with a blood clot issue, despite returning to practice recently. Khris Middleton was traded at the deadline for Kyle Kuzma, leaving Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Bucks’ primary offensive player. Meanwhile, the Pacers have gained momentum post-All-Star break with a resurgent Tyrese Haliburton and a fast-paced offense. They lack an ideal matchup for Giannis, rotating between Myles Turner, Pascal Siakam, and Obi Toppin, but their strong bench could give them an offensive edge with Lillard sidelined.
(No. 3) New York Knicks vs (No. 6) Detroit Pistons
The Knicks have the team to contain Detroit’s star guard Cade Cunningham, with Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby providing elite wing defense. The Pistons, meanwhile, don’t have defenders who can consistently match up against Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. While Isaiah Stewart may help defensively, doing so would reduce Jalen Duren’s impact as a lob threat. Detroit has several wing options, but they have limitations. Their rise from a 14-win team last season to a sixth seed is impressive, but this matchup favors New York.
(No. 2) Boston Celtics vs (No. 7) Orlando Magic
The defending champion Celtics enter the playoffs with 61 wins and a versatile, switch-heavy defense. Orlando made history as the first division champion with a non-winning record, but the injuries to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner was the main reason for their poor record. The Magic have a solid defense and considerable size, but offensive limitations—especially in shooting—make it difficult to keep up with Boston’s high-powered offense. The Celtics’ three-point shooting and elite defense should carry them comfortably in this series.
