The 2025 NBA play-in tournament begins Tuesday, as eight teams go head-to-head for the last four spots in the playoffs.

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors will face Western Conference rivals the Memphis Grizzlies in the 7-8 game. In the East, the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks will face off for the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed and a showdown with the defending champion Boston Celtics.

Wednesday, meanwhile, features two 9-10 play-in matchups in Miami Heat-Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks-Sacramento Kings. The loser goes home while the winner advances to Friday’s play-in for each conference’s No. 8 seed.

The first-round tips off on Saturday with the 3-6 and 4-5 matchups from each conference. The No. 1 and 2 seeds will host their Game 1s against play-in tournament winners on Sunday.

But before the NBA’s biggest superstars take the postseason stage, our NBA experts are making their picks for every play-in game and first-round series.

NBA postseason: 20-team preview | 25 key people | Schedule and news

Play-in tournament

West: (8) Memphis Grizzlies
at (7) Golden State Warriors

Jamal Collier: Warriors

Chris Herring: Warriors

Tim MacMahon: Warriors

Bobby Marks: Warriors

Dave McMenamin: Warriors

Jorge Sedano: Warriors

Ramona Shelburne: Grizzlies

Marc J. Spears: Warriors

Jeremy Woo: Warriors

Ohm Youngmisuk: Warriors

Final tally:
Warriors 9, Grizzlies 1

---

West: (10) Dallas Mavericks
at (9) Sacramento Kings

Jamal Collier: Kings

Chris Herring: Kings

Bobby Marks: Kings

Dave McMenamin: Mavericks

Jorge Sedano: Mavericks

Ramona Shelburne: Kings

Marc J. Spears: Kings

Jeremy Woo: Kings

Ohm Youngmisuk: Mavericks

Final tally:
Kings 6, Mavericks 3

---

East: Atlanta Hawks (8)
at Orlando Magic (7)

Jamal Collier: Magic

Chris Herring: Hawks

Tim MacMahon: Hawks

Bobby Marks: Magic

Dave McMenamin: Magic

Jorge Sedano: Magic

Ramona Shelburne: Magic

Marc J. Spears: Magic

Jeremy Woo: Magic

Ohm Youngmisuk: Magic

Final tally:
Magic 8, Hawks 2

---

East: Miami Heat (10)
at Chicago Bulls (9)

Jamal Collier: Bulls

Chris Herring: Bulls

Tim MacMahon: Bulls

Bobby Marks: Heat

Dave McMenamin: Bulls

Jorge Sedano: Heat

Ramona Shelburne: Heat

Marc J. Spears: Heat

Jeremy Woo: Bulls

Ohm Youngmisuk: Heat

Final tally:
Bulls 5, Heat 5

East first round

New York Knicks (3)
vs. Detroit Pistons (6)

Jamal Collier: Knicks in 5

Chris Herring: Knicks in 7

Tim MacMahon: Knicks in 6

Bobby Marks: Knicks in 5

Dave McMenamin: Knicks in 7

Jorge Sedano: Knicks in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Knicks in 5

Marc J. Spears: Knicks in 6

Jeremy Woo: Knicks in 6

Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks in 7

Final tally:
Knicks 10, Pistons 0

---

Indiana Pacers (4)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)

Jamal Collier: Pacers in 7

Chris Herring: Pacers in 6

Tim MacMahon: Pacers in 7

Bobby Marks: Pacers in 6

Dave McMenamin: Pacers in 7

Jorge Sedano: Bucks in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Pacers in 6

Marc J. Spears: Pacers in 7

Jeremy Woo: Bucks in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Bucks in 7

Final tally:
Pacers 7, Bucks 3

West first round

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs.
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves

Jamal Collier: Lakers in 6

Chris Herring: Lakers in 6

Tim MacMahon: Lakers in 6

Bobby Marks: Lakers in 6

Dave McMenamin: Lakers in 6

Jorge Sedano: Lakers in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Lakers in 6

Marc J. Spears: Lakers in 7

Jeremy Woo: Lakers in 6

Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers in 7

Final tally:
Lakers 10, Timberwolves 0

---

(4) Denver Nuggets
vs. (5) LA Clippers

Jamal Collier: Clippers in 7

Chris Herring: Clippers in 6

Tim MacMahon: Clippers in 7

Bobby Marks: Clippers in 6

Dave McMenamin: Clippers in 5

Jorge Sedano: Clippers in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets in 7

Marc J. Spears: Clippers in 7

Jeremy Woo: Nuggets in 7

Final tally:
Clippers 7, Nuggets 2