NBA Playoffs 2025: 9/5, 19/10 and 15/1 Outright Predictions

The series between the 4th seeded Indiana Pacers and 5th seeded Milwaukee Bucks has the potential to be the most exciting one of the 1st Round. The two teams were neck and neck during the regular season with just 2 wins separating them in the end, plus whenever there is history between two teams it only adds to the excitement.

Last season, Indiana won the regular season series 4-1 and the postseason series 4-2, so there’s also the revenge factor we have to consider here. Milwaukee returned the favor winning the regular season series 3-1, plus they capped off the year by winning 8 games in a row so there’s a lot of momentum on their side going into this series. Indiana has home court advantage; however it would not be surprising at all if the Bucks got a split in the first 2 games in Indiana.

With Damian Lillard likely not being able to play in this series due to his injury, the Bucks hopes are in the hands of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak averaged 30 points, 12.3 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals in 4 games against the Pacers, he will be a tough cover for whoever is on him. With the Bucks not making it out of the 1st Round the past two seasons, all the pressure is on them and Giannis to deliver here. Whoever comes out of this series, will do so in 7 games.

There are a lot of question marks surrounding the Denver Nuggets as we enter the postseason. Head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth were both let go with less than 10 days left in the regular season, but despite all the negativity around the team the Nuggets were still able to wrap up the 4th seed on the final day of play.

Nikola Jokic finished the year averaging a triple-double, something a player at his position has never done for an entire season in the NBA before. Apart from Golden State, no team in the Western Conference has real championship experience, so the Nuggets know what it takes to go all the way. Jamal Murray’s hamstring did cause him issues towards the end of the year, but with the postseason being structured without back-to-backs, he should be able to pull through without issues.

The one-two punch of Jokic and Murray, combined with Aaron Gordon’s physicality at the power forward position and Michael Porter Jr.’s ability to shoot makes the Nuggets starting five one of the best in the entire NBA. After last year’s disappointing ending to their postseason, I firmly believe the Nuggets are in for a deep run this time around. At 15/1 odds it is very tempting to back them to make it back to the NBA Finals.

This is a familiar spot for the Boston Celtics who have been to the NBA Finals twice in the last 3 years. Despite the Cavaliers finishing with a better record in the regular season, the defending champions are once again heavy favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the final round. The core of the team has remained the same as last year, plus the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have one more year of experience under their belt.

Injuries will play a part in their quest to defend the title, but with a healthy Kristaps Porzingis it’s hard to argue any team in the NBA is as deep as the Celtics are. This team has only lost twice in 11 regular season games against the 1st, 3rd and 4th seeded teams in the East, which only adds to my confidence with this pick. They start off the postseason against the Orlando Magic, a team they’ve beaten in 13 of the last 19 regular season games.

The only team in the East that can cause them issues are the Cleveland Cavaliers, but even then the experience alone of the Celtics just trumps any opponent standing in their way. Boston is the most well-rounded team in the league, and I expect them to become the first team since the Kevin Durant led Golden State Warriors in 2018 to go back-to-back.