The NBA 2025 playoffs begin this Saturday with multiple favorites on the road to the ring, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
But everyone should be on the lookout for a powerful new contender: the Los Angeles Lakers, bolstered by the surprise arrival of Luka Doncic, who joins LeBron James and Austin Reaves to form a high-impact trident.
NBA Playoffs 2025: There are still games to play
The start of the postseason comes after an intense regular season and a final round of play-in games, where the two remaining teams will be defined.
The Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies vs Dallas Mavericks, which will decide the 7th and 8th qualifiers in each conference, are still pending.
Western Conference: Thunder dominate, Lakers threaten
The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by potential MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, have been the most dominant team of the year with a 68-14 record, the best in the NBA.
They have a young, deep and balanced roster that includes Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso.
They have also broken records: their +12.87 differential is the best recorded in the modern era.
In theory, neither Memphis nor Dallas should pose a threat to them in the first round.
But the dynamic in the West changed with the unexpected trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
Since their debut in February, the Angelenos have shown a renewed face, finishing third with a 19-13 record in that stretch.
In addition, the Lakers vs Timberwolves first round matchup promises to be one of the most intense, with Anthony Edwards leading the way for Minnesota.
Other notable matchups include the Warriors, now with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, facing the Houston Rockets, one of the year’s biggest surprises, and the Denver Nuggets, going through turbulence after the departure of coach Mike Malone, facing the revamped Clippers of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Other notable matchups include the Warriors versus the Houston Rockets
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Eastern Conference: Celtics, Cavaliers and the unknown Knicks
In the East, the spotlight is on two teams: the Celtics, who are seeking their 19th title with the same winning core as last year, and the Cavaliers, who have been the big revelation under Kenny Atkinson, finishing with a 64-18 record (better than Boston’s 61-21).
Cleveland relies on a powerful quartet of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and a solid bench that includes De’Andre Hunter and Max Strus. Their first round will be against the winner of Atlanta or Miami.
Boston, meanwhile, will face an inconsistent Orlando Magic, who have been dealing with constant injuries.
Their roster -Tatum, Brown, Holiday, White and Porzingis- continues to be the most feared.
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In contrast, the New York Knicks, despite finishing third, have generated doubts.
They have not won a single game this season against any of the top three contenders.
Their series against the Detroit Pistons – a team that has gone from historical embarrassment to redemption under Cade Cunningham – will be one of the most closely watched.
Finally, the Pacers vs Bucks clash pits two teams with different goals: Indiana with a young project under construction, and Milwaukee, which hopes to bring back Damian Lillard to bolster Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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