Starting 5: Playoffs Begin Today

NBA Playoffs 2025: A New Championship Chase Begins

NEW YORK — the quest for the Larry O’Brien Trophy officially tips off today, April 19, with a quartet of compelling Game 1 matchups that promise to set the tone for what is expected to be a thrilling postseason.

After a captivating regular season and a dramatic Play-In Tournament that saw the Miami Heat make history as the frist 10th seed to advance,the stage is set for basketball’s most intense competition.

today’s Slate:

milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers (1 p.m. ET, ESPN): A Central Division rivalry reignites as Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks travel to Indianapolis for a rematch of last year’s first-round series, won by Indiana. Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): The red-hot Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul george, face the reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the mile High City.

Detroit Pistons at New york Knicks (6 p.m. ET, ESPN): Detroit makes its first playoff appearance as 2019 when they visit Madison Square Garden to face Jalen Brunson and a tough knicks squad.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC): Luka Dončić makes his Lakers playoff debut as Los Angeles plays host to Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Featured Matchups

1. Timberwolves Face Familiar Foe in Luka’s Lakers Playoff Debut

For only the third time ever, the team that originated in Minneapolis (the Lakers) will face the team that plays there now (the Wolves) in the NBA Playoffs.

The last time they met, of course, was the 2004 Western Conference Finals. To put the time passed into perspective…

LeBron James had just wrapped his up his rookie season
Luka Dončić had just turned 5 years old
Anthony Edwards was a few months shy of turning 3

edwards is only the sixth player to average at least 27/6/5 through their first 27 career Playoff games – joining Luka, LeBron, Michael Jordan, tracy McGrady & Oscar Robertson. Luka and Ant met in the 2024 Western Conference Finals when Dončić led Dallas past Minnesota in five games. Luka enters the rematch with a new team, while ant has some new teammates after the Wolves shook up their roster in the offseason.

Luka Elevating L.A.: The Lakers were 5th in the West when they acquired Luka on Feb. 2. They finished 3rd in a competitive race, marking the first time L.A. entered the Playoffs above the 7 seed since their 2020 title run.With LeBron James (24.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 8.2 apg) continuing to defy Father Time in Season 22 and Austin Reaves (20.2 pts, 4.5 reb, 5.8 ast) having a career year, the Lakers will open a Playoff series in L.A. for the first time since 2012.

The Wolves added Julius Randle (18.7 ppg, 48.5% FG) and Donte DiVincenzo (2.8 3pg, 39.7% 3P) in the offseason, adding a boost of offense (8th in NBA) while maintaining an elite defense (6th) built around Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Wolves are 44-25 (.637) with Randle the lineup – a win percentage that would rank 2nd in the West.2. Bucks, Pacers Renew Rivalry With First Round Rematch

The four-game day begins in Indiana, were a rivalry reignites, as the Bucks and Pacers square off in a rematch of last year’s First Round matchup (1 ET, ESPN).

These teams have been a close matchup for years. Indy took last year’s Playoff series in six games, eventually advancing to the East Finals, while Milwaukee leads the regular season series 7-6 since 2022-23.

Both teams are red-hot coming into this series. The Pacers have the 4th-best record in the NBA since Jan. 1 at 34-14, while the Bucks have won eight straight heading into the Playoffs.

The Bucks won the season series 3-1, with three of the four games decided by single digits.

Giannis became the first player in NBA history to average 30+ points on 60+ FG% in a season last season, and he did it again this year, averaging 30.7 points (2nd), 11.9 rebounds (6th) and 6.5 assists on 60.1 FG% (6th). Haliburton averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists, including three games with 20+ pts, 10-plus ast and zero turnovers games since Jan.1. He’s racked up 14 such games in his career – surpassing Chris Paul for most in the NBA as 1977-78. Lillard, sidelined due to a blood clot in his right calf as March 18, has been cleared to practice and could return sometime during the series.

3. Red-Hot Clippers Face Nuggets in Mile High Matchup

It took all 82 games (and even an extra five minutes for LA), but the Nuggets and Clippers clinched their Playoff berths in Sunday’s regular-season finale.The teams put up matching 50-32 records and split their season series 2-2,but Denver’s superior conference record gave them the 4 seed and home-court advantage in this matchup that tips off today (3:30 ET,ESPN).

More to Watch:

“Chasing History” Returns: The all-access docu-series is back to capture the inside story of this year’s championship chase. Catch up with the Eastern and western Conference previews now.

“Pass The Rock: Luka Dončić Takes Center Stage”: Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse at Dončić’s rise to superstardom and his impact on the Lakers.

Expert Predictions: See who Shaq, Chuck, Kenny Smith and other media members are picking to advance in the first round.

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NBA Playoffs 2025: Archyde Interviews Analyst Ava Rostova on Key Matchups

NEW YORK – The NBA Playoffs are finally here! As the race for the Larry O’Brien trophy begins,Archyde News sits down with renowned basketball analyst,Ava Rostova,to unpack the most exciting matchups and storylines.

ava, welcome to Archyde! Let’s dive right in. What are your initial thoughts on the opening day’s slate?

Ava Rostova: thanks for having me! It’s an incredibly exciting day. We’ve got some fantastic matchups right from the start. The Bucks-Pacers rematch is guaranteed to be physical, the Clippers-Nuggets series is a clash of contenders, and the Lakers-Timberwolves game featuring Luka’s playoff debut in LA is must-see TV. The Knicks-Pistons also has an intriguing past aspect.

you mentioned Luka Dončić’s debut with the Lakers. How do you see that series shaping up against the Timberwolves?

Ava Rostova: It’s a fascinating one.The narrative is obviously strong,with the history between the franchises and the star power on both sides.Luka brings a new dimension to the Lakers, and they’ve been playing very well since his arrival. But the Timberwolves are a tough team, with a strong defense and a solid supporting cast around Edwards. Their additions in the offseason make them even more of a threat. It’s a series that could go either way, but I’d give a slight edge to the Lakers given their offensive punch.

Shifting to the Eastern Conference,the Bucks and Pacers have a history. What are the keys to a successful series for each team?

ava Rostova: It all starts with Giannis for the Bucks; keeping him healthy is paramount. If Lillard can return at any point, that’s a huge boost. They need to control the pace and dominate the boards. For Indiana, Haliburton’s playmaking is crucial. They must leverage their pace and use their depth. This series will likely come down to which team can execute their game plan more consistently.

The Clippers versus Nuggets matchup is generating considerable buzz. What should we expect from that high-profile series?

Ava Rostova: this is arguably the series of the first round! Denver has home-court advantage, which is meaningful with the altitude. Jokic is the reigning MVP, and that’s a huge advantage. For the Clippers, the health of Kawhi and George is critical. They must find a way to contain Jokic and take advantage of their own offensive firepower. It’ll be a tactical chess match.

Any dark horse teams or players who you think could surprise us in these playoffs?

Ava Rostova: It’s tough to say, but I’m keeping an eye on the Pistons. They are a young, developing team, and could take the Knicks by storm on their first playoff appearance.

The Detroit Pistons are not considered contenders, but the emotional energy could take them far, and the Knicks are not playing at their best.

What are your expectations for the rest of the playoffs? Who are you picking to advance to the finals?

Ava Rostova:

It’s challenging to make long-term predictions at this stage, but the Nuggets and Celtics appear to be the frontrunners, both in terms of regular season performance and roster continuity. Tho, the playoffs are less predictable. With Luka on a new team with LeBron and with an improved roster, they will be a good wild card.

What, in your opinion, is the single most critical factor in deciding which team ultimately takes home the championship?

Ava Rostova: Health. the depth of talent in the NBA is so high that injuries can derail even the most promising teams. Besides, the team with stars who play like they were in the playoffs before will have the advantage.

Thank you, Ava, for sharing your insights! Where can our readers follow your analysis?

Ava Rostova: You can find my work on various digital platforms. I’ll be breaking down the games as the playoffs progress – follow me on social media to stay informed.

archyde: As always, stay tuned to Archyde for continuing coverage of the NBA Playoffs. What are your predictions for this year’s championship? Share your thoughts in the comments below!