After 82 long games of the regular season, the playoffs are here, and it’s time to make NBA postseason predictions.

With the first round underway, there’s a full weekend of intriguing matchups to look ahead to, and our NBA playoff expert predictions are here to break it all down for you.

When you’re ready to make free NBA playoffs predictions of your own, make sure to stick on Sportzino! With moneyline NBA odds, totals, spreads, and player props, Sportzino has everything you need for 2025 NBA playoff predictions.

NBA Playoffs 2025 Predictions

Game 1: Pacers at Bucks

Spread: Bucks -5.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Pacers +170/Bucks -200
Over/Under: 230.5
Time: April 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET

After earning home court advantage during the regular season, the Indiana Pacers handled their business at home to start their series against the Milwaukee Bucks. A pair of wins, neither of which were particularly difficult tests, has given the Pacers a 2-0 series lead as the teams head to Wisconsin.

Now, the playoffs’ most contentious series will pick back up on the Bucks’ home floor. Despite Milwaukee’s success against Indiana during the regular season, in which it went 3-1 against its rival, it has looked so lost in this series.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has continued to be absolutely, utterly dominant, but the Bucks have gotten little else. Kyle Kuzma joined club trillion in game one, registering zero stats in the entire game, while game two saw Damien Lillard’s return be more bark than bite.

The Bucks’ struggles in this series are just a continuation of a rough end to the regular season. On the other side, however, the Pacers’ success is in chorus with how they ended the season — and it’s unlikely they slow down at all. Expect Indiana to stay close in game three, and potentially even take a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Pick: Pacers +5.5 (-110)

Game 2: Lakers at Timberwolves

Spread: Timberwolves -3.5 (-104)
Moneyline: Lakers +130/Timberwolves -150
Over/Under: 206.5
Time: April 25 at 9:30 p.m. ET

After a successful trip to the West Coast, with a win in game one in Hollywood, the Minnesota Timberwolves return home with a series split against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Wolves’ game one win took home court advantage away from the third seed Lakers and now, their focus has to be retaining that advantage.

Though Minnesota’s game two loss came in underwhelming, ugly fashion, there’s reason for optimism for the home squad. Mainly because, while L.A. was able to level the series in game two, it didn’t play much better than in game one — the Wolves were just significantly worse.

After Minnesota played down a level in game two, it will return home eager to rebound to its standard. Buoyed by a rabid home crowd, and desperate to retain its newfound home court advantage, expect the Timberwolves to take care of business on their home floor.

Pick: Timberwolves moneyline (-150)

Game 3: Celtics at Magic

Spread: Celtics -4.5 (-115)
Moneyline: Celtics -215/Magic +180
Over/Under: 198.5
Time: April 25 at 7:00 p.m. ET

The defending champion Boston Celtics were unable to secure the one seed in the Eastern Conference, and got a relatively tricky opponent as the two seed against the Orlando Magic, and yet they head on the road for game three with a 2-0 series lead.

Even with Jayson Tatum out with a wrist sprain, the Celtics cruised to another victory at home to retain their home court advantage. A nine point margin in game two flattered Orlando, who is yet to show much sign of competitiveness at all. The Magic’s strength, their defense, is simply muted by the robotic efficiency that the Celtics can play with on offense.

Boston is banged up after its two home games, and the prospect of a quick sweep against the Magic — and some time off to rest and recover — is plenty motivation for the champs. Orlando getting just 4.5 points here flatters it, and the Celtics should cover in game three on the road with ease.

Pick: Celtics -4.5 (-115)

Game 4: Rockets at Warriors

Spread: Warriors -3.5 (-107)
Moneyline: Rockets +135/Warriors -155
Over/Under: 202.5
Time: April 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET

If the series between the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks takes the crown as the most contentious, then this series between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors is the most physical.

The two Western Conference foes have scrapped through two games, with the Dubs doing well to rise to the Rockets’ level of physicality. Golden State was able to seize control of the series with a game one win, taking home court advantage away from the Rockets, and it can now take a commanding lead during its two home games.

A barrage of threes from Steph Curry in game one helped the Warriors to victory, and I would expect a repeat of that performance back at home. With the addition of plenty of free throws from both teams, thanks to the relentless physicality, I’d expect a slow game that racks up plenty of points. That is a combination that should see the Over hit in the Bay Area.

Pick: Over 202.5 (-110)

Game 5: Cavaliers at Heat

Spread: Cavaliers -4.5 (-104)
Moneyline: Cavaliers -230/Heat +195
Over/Under: 213.5
Time: April 26 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Much like the way the Boston Celtics have handled their lower seed opposition with relative ease, so too have the top seed Cleveland Cavaliers as they deal with the eighth seed Miami Heat.

The Cavs cruised to a 2-0 series lead in Ohio, and now get to head to sunny South Beach to try and take full command of the series — and potentially even advance to the second round early on.

It is appearing likely that the Cavs will do just that. The strength of Cleveland is its depth and talent one through five in its starting lineup. In contrast, the Heat have to depend on Tyler Herro to create almost all of their offense, and even then, he’s likely to be outdone by a backcourt of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell.

Cleveland will cover here, in another easy win for the Eastern Conference’s top seed.

Pick: Cavaliers -4.5 (-104)