This is how the NBA 2025 playoffs look with the Celtics and Thunder as favorites and the Lakers as outsiders

Juan López | Sat, 04/19/2025 - 14:00

Luka Dončić and LeBron James, stars of the Los Angeles Lakers.

With the classification of the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat as the eighth-seeded teams in the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively, we have defined the bracket of the 2025 NBA playoffs with Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder as clear favorites to reach the Finals and with Los Angeles Lakers of Luka Doncic and LeBron James as the outsiders to potentially surprise.

In the West, the Thunder will face a Memphis Grizzlies team with Ja Morant nursing a foot injury and without rest this week after having to play 2 play-in games. Anything other than a clear victory for OKC would be a major surprise.

Then we have two matchups that are theoretically evenly matched. The Los Angeles Clippers seem more promising than the Denver Nuggets. James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are playing at a high level, and their rotation is clearly superior. However, the Nuggets have the home court advantage and, most importantly, the world's best in Nikola Jokic on their side. The performance of Jamal Murray could be crucial.

In the matchup between Lakers and Timberwolves, the Lakers have the upper hand with Luka Doncic as a key factor. We will see if the physicality of the Wolves can prevail. It will also greatly depend on the level that Anthony Edwards can deliver. Finally, we have a matchup of Rockets-Warriors with a much more physical, better rested, and theoretically superior Rockets team against a Warriors team where Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler will need to play at MVP level to have a chance.

In the East, we theoretically have two clear matchups in favor of Cavs and Celtics against Heat and Magic. There shouldn't be any surprises in either. Then, maximum parity between Pacers and Bucks with the Giannis Antetokounmpo factor, although the Pacers are playing better and have a deeper rotation. The Knicks are favorites against the Pistons, although we will see if their short rotation doesn't end up causing issues in the form of injuries.