The 2025 NBA play-in tournament begins Tuesday, as eight teams go head-to-head for the last four spots in the playoffs.
Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors will face Western Conference rivals the Memphis Grizzlies in the 7-8 game. In the East, the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks will face off for the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed and a showdown with 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: (8) Memphis Grizzlies
at (7) Golden State Warriors
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
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: Atlanta Hawks (8)
at Orlando Magic (7)
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
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
New York Knicks (3)
vs. Detroit Pistons (6)
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
Indiana Pacers (4)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)
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
West first round
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs.
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves
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
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
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