NBA Playoffs’ ultimate 8 groups ranked by their 2025 championship possibilities

The primary-round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs proved the distinction between the common season and the postseason. The video games have been slower and extra bodily, with offensive rebounding and the turnover battle usually being spotlighted as possessions got here at a premium. Depth and youth additionally reigned supreme, with older and thinner rosters failing to maintain up with the league’s new guard.

The primary-round gave us two Sport 7s, iconic moments like Jalen Brunson’s series-clinching three over Ausar Thompson, and dominant performances from the highest seeds. Now, eight groups are left nonetheless chasing a spot within the 2025 NBA Finals and the chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.

We’re all the way down to the ultimate 4 groups in each the East and the West. At first look, the second-round doesn’t seem as aggressive because the first-round. Let’s rank the eight groups nonetheless standing by who has the very best probability to win the 2025 NBA championship.

8. New York Knicks

The Knicks superior previous the upstart Detroit Pistons in six video games within the first-round, however they weren’t overly spectacular in doing so. New York’s offense solely scored 111 factors per 100 possessions for the collection (which might have ranked No. 23 in the course of the common season), and regarded a bit one-dimensional revolving round Brunson’s isolation recreation. The Knicks have the expertise to provide you with a extra various offensive assault, beginning with getting Karl-Anthony Cities extra concerned and incorporating a minimum of some creation alternatives for Mikal Bridges. The Knicks’ offense goes to should be so, so a lot better to tug off the upset in opposition to the Boston Celtics in spherical two, however the different finish of the courtroom might give them simply as a lot hassle. Cities’ shaky rim safety shall be underneath duress in opposition to Boston’s whirling drive-and-kick assault, and Brunson shall be focused on switches. There’s additionally a fear that the Knicks’ starters might start to breakdown bodily after carrying large minutes all through the common season and first-round. It appears like there’s a greater Knicks workforce on this roster someplace, however it’s unlikely to return out this season.

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7. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have been getting ready to successful their first-round collection in opposition to the Rockets in 5 video games, however as a substitute it became a seven-game slugfest that examined the boundaries of their capacity on each ends. Golden State’s measurement limitations up entrance have been evident in opposition to Houston’s double-big lineup, and the Minnesota Timberwolves will current related issues in spherical two. Golden State solely escaped as a result of Buddy Hield caught hearth in Sport 7, and the function gamers might want to proceed to ship for the Warriors to tug off one other upset within the second spherical. Head coach Steve Kerr is aware of he has three core gamers in Steph Curry, Draymond Inexperienced, and Jimmy Butler who’re all wonderful of their roles, however he’s nonetheless making an attempt mixtures round them to seek out the right combination. A participant like Brandin Podziemski feels essential within the Wolves collection so as to add one other ingredient of shot-making and defensive playmaking, and it may be time to decide to Kevon Looney to assist maintain Minnesota off the offensive glass. The Butler commerce saved Golden State’s season, and he can once more be a swing issue within the Wolves collection if he’s at his finest offensively. The matchups and relaxation favor Minnesota, however we must always know higher than to depend out the Warriors so long as they nonetheless have Curry.

6. Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic did all the things for his teammates in the course of the common season to hold Denver to the No. 3 seed within the West. Within the first-round, his teammates returned the favor. The Nuggets’ function gamers saved the day in opposition to the Clippers, with Christian Braun, Russell Westbrook, and Aaron Gordon delivering huge performances in Sport 7 and all through the collection. Jokic was uncharacteristically unspectacular offensively, however did elevate his stage of play defensively from the common season. Whereas Denver slugged it out with the Clippers, the Thunder have been at dwelling resting after their first-round sweep. The Thunder are the brisker, deeper workforce heading into the spherical two matchup. It appears like it’s going to take the very best effort from the Nuggets to maintain the collection shut. Denver ought to really feel nice about successful a collection with a few of their youthful items exhibiting enchancment, however maintaining this season alive in opposition to top-seeded OKC is a Herculean process. Miracles are potential by Jokic, and if the function gamers keep sizzling and the protection can keep locked in, Denver can discuss itself into having an opportunity.

Photograph by Justin Casterline/Getty Pictures

5. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers outclassed the Bucks in 5 video games in a collection that was so uncompetitive it’s extensively anticipated to spell the top of the Giannis Antetokounmpo period in Milwaukee. The Pacers’ offense regarded incredible in scoring 117.8 factors per 100 possessions (which might have ranked No. 5 in the course of the common season), however they’ll do extra than simply win a monitor meet. The Pascal Siakam commerce has helped give Indiana extra measurement and extra defensive spine, within the course of making them a balanced workforce as a substitute of 1 that relied closely on its offense. The matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers in spherical two will present how shut Indiana actually is the highest of the Jap Convention. To date, so good: the Pacers blasted the Cavs from the three-point line to steal Sport 1, and their protection was simply spectacular limiting a incredible Cleveland offense was that was lacking Darius Garland. Tyrese Haliburton’s magnetic cross-court passing and skill to keep away from turnovers units up loads of scoring alternatives, and the shooters might want to keep sizzling after drilling 39.3 % of their threes in opposition to the Bucks. For as a lot as Indiana has improved defensively, slowing down the Cavs is a tall of a process, however it’s quite a bit simpler if Garland is out or hobbled. The Pacers’ received a shootout in Sport 1, and cranking up the tempo and the three-point seems to be may be their finest guess to win the collection.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves regarded tremendous convincing of their five-game collection win over the Lakers the place they dominated the offensive glass, averted turnovers, and decidedly had the very best participant within the collection in Anthony Edwards. Edwards’ decision-making was simply as spectacular as his shot-making, selecting aside the Lakers traps and getting his personal scoring going with out forcing it. Edwards may be turning the nook right into a top-five participant, and the protection continues to be excellent behind him. Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert every had a press release collection with bully ball the Lakers couldn’t match. Minnesota’s measurement and physicality benefit will proceed in opposition to one other older workforce within the Warriors within the second spherical. The Wolves ought to once more have an enormous benefit on the offensive glass, and will probably be on Gobert to make himself helpful sufficient offensively to punish Golden State’s small ball seems to be. Minnesota has sufficient long-armed defenders to make life depressing for the Warriors’ offense, however Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler at all times discover a approach. If Edwards can proceed to make the best reads and the function gamers like Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker proceed to step up, the Wolves needs to be again within the Western Convention Finals as soon as once more. The Wolves have a mix of physicality and depth that’s constructed to win within the playoffs, and so they positive appear to be peaking on the proper time.

Photograph by Jason Miller/Getty Pictures

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs received their first-round collection in opposition to the Warmth by 122 factors, the greatest margin in playoff historical past. Cleveland’s No. 1 offense saved cooking within the playoffs, scoring an absurd 137.2 factors per 100 possessions for the collection in opposition to a top-10 common season protection in Miami. Just one factor went mistaken for the Cavs in spherical one, and it’s already impacting them in spherical two: Darius Garland sprained his toe, an harm that will possible maintain him out a number of weeks if it occurred in the course of the common season. The Cavs missed Garland’s shot-creation and playmaking badly of their Sport 1 loss to the Pacers. Ty Jerome regarded much more human in an even bigger function than he has cooking bench models, and the offense simply by no means actually fired on all cylinders the way in which it does with Garland. Even when Garland returns for Sport 2, it’s unclear how efficient he’ll be with this harm for a guard that depends on his shiftiness. Nonetheless, Cleveland can win this collection by dominating the entrance courtroom matchups and night out the disparity from the three-point line in Sport 1. This seems to be like the very best collection of the second spherical with two high-powered offenses going at one another. Cleveland ought to have the benefit, however it’s a special ball recreation with Garland harm.

2. Boston Celtics

The Celtics have been simply approach too good for the Magic even with out being in high form. Jayson Tatum performed an unbelievable collection regardless of struggling a wrist harm that brought about him to overlook Sport 2. Jrue Vacation missed the final three video games with a hamstring pressure. Jaylen Brown entered the playoffs with a knee bruise, however had a productive collection. Kristaps Porzingis was one of many few Celtics who was wholesome, however he acquired misplaced within the movement of the offense. Orlando was by no means going to have sufficient taking pictures to matchup with the Celtics, however a part of that’s as a result of Boston’s stage on each ends of the ground is so onerous to match. With a Knicks matchup looming, the Celtics’ versatility will once more turn out to be useful. Anticipate to see Tatum guarding Cities for lengthy stretches whereas switching ball screens. Porzingis supplies the kind of rim safety the Knicks’ protection is missing, and Boston’s bench additionally a simple benefit over the New York’s. If the Celtics are wholesome, that is an elite workforce that’s extremely able to back-to-back title runs. A collection with the Knicks needs to be nearer to 5 video games than seven.

Photograph by Justin Ford/Getty Pictures

1. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder

The Thunder’s first-round sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies didn’t simply fortify their standing because the championship favorites: it additionally gave them a second lengthy layoff of relaxation earlier than spherical two. OKC superior with ease regardless of the possible league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander not taking part in his finest till Sport 4. The Thunder’s depth confirmed out once more, with Alex Caruso’s rugged protection powering their large Sport 3 comeback, and Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Cason Wallace filling the cracks across the stars. Denver will current a brand new set of challenges, however the Thunder made strikes final summer season with this collection in thoughts. Isaiah Hartenstein received’t shutdown Jokic as a result of nobody can, however he can maintain his personal in that matchup higher than most facilities. Chet Holmgren can terrorize the Nuggets offense as a roaming rim protector, and he simply hit 42.3 % of his threes final collection on the opposite finish. Jalen Williams additionally appears locked in proper now, and could possibly be set to eat once more as Denver scrambles to cowl the entire OKC’s weapons. The matchups and relaxation benefit closely favor the Thunder on this collection. After dropping within the second spherical as the highest seed final 12 months, it’s time for the Thunder to indicate their progress and take the subsequent step on their inevitable championship chase.