2025 NBA playoff picks: Experts predict the play-in and first round

The 2025 NBA playoffs will tip off this weekend with some star-studded matchups across all of the first-round series.

Saturday's slate includes the one of the season's most surprising teams in the East No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons taking on the No. 3 seed New York Knicksat Madison Square Garden. Later on that day, LeBron James and Luka Doncic will try to get the West No. 3 seedLos Angeles Lakersstarted on the right path against Anthony Edwards and the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.

Sunday sees the the top overall seed Oklahoma City Thunder taking on the No. 8 West seed Memphis Grizzlies, followed by the No. 2 East seed Boston Celtics hosting the No. 7 East seed Orlando Magic in an afternoon showdown.

But before the NBA's biggest superstars take the postseason stage, our NBA experts are making their picks for each first-round series.

East first round

Tim Bontemps:Cavaliers in 5

Chris Herring:Cavaliers in 4

Bobby Marks:Cavaliers in 5

Dave McMenamin:Cavaliers in 5

Ramona Shelburne:Cavaliers in 6

Ohm Youngmisuk:Cavaliers in 6

Final tally:

Cleveland 6, Miami 0

Tim Bontemps:Celtics in 5

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

Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Celtics in 6

Tim Bontemps:Knicks in 5

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