The 2025 NBA play-in tournament began Tuesday and will end Friday, as eight teams go head-to-head for the last four spots in the playoffs.
Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors beat their Western Conference rivals the Memphis Grizzlies in the 7-8 game on Tuesday night. In the East, the Orlando Magic routed the Atlanta Hawks claiming the No. 7 seed and a first-round matchup against the defending champion Boston Celtics.
Wednesday, meanwhile, features two 9-10 play-in matchups in Miami Heat–Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks–Sacramento Kings. The loser goes home while the winner advances to Friday’s play-in for each conference’s No. 8 seed.
The first-round tips off on Saturday with the 3-6 and 4-5 matchups from each conference. The No. 1 and 2 seeds will host their Game 1s against play-in tournament winners on Sunday.
But before the NBA’s biggest superstars take the postseason stage, our NBA experts are making their picks for every play-in game and first-round series.
NBA postseason: 20-team preview | 25 key people | Schedule and news
Play-in tournament
West: (10) Dallas Mavericks
at (9) Sacramento Kings
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
East: Miami Heat (10)
at Chicago Bulls (9)
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
East first round
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)
Jamal Collier: Celtics in 4
Andre Snellings: Celtics in 5
Chris Herring: Celtics in 6
Bobby Marks: Celtics in 5
Jorge Sedano: Celtics in 5
Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 5
Final tally:
Boston 6, Orlando 0
New York Knicks (3)
vs. Detroit Pistons (6)
Jamal Collier: Knicks in 5
Andre Snellings: Knicks in 7
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 11, Pistons 0
Indiana Pacers (4)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)
Jamal Collier: Pacers in 7
Andre Snellings: Bucks in 6
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: Bucks in 7
Jeremy Woo: Bucks in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Bucks in 7
Final tally:
Pacers 7, Bucks 4
West first round
Houston Rockets (2) vs. Golden State Warriors (7)
Jamal Collier: Warriors in 7
Andre Snellings: Warriors in 6
Chris Herring: Warriors in 7
Bobby Marks: Rockets in 6
Jorge Sedano: Warriors in 7
Dave McMenamin: Warriors in 7
Final tally:
Houston 1, Warriors 5
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs.
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Jamal Collier: Lakers in 6
Andre Snellings: Lakers in 7
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 11, Timberwolves 0
(4) Denver Nuggets
vs. (5) LA Clippers
Jamal Collier: Clippers in 7
Andre Snellings: Nuggets 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 3
