2025 NBA playoff picks: Experts predict the 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