The first weekend of the 2025 NBA Playoffs has come and gone, and it turned out to be quite the jump-off. The top contenders look as elite as ever, the close matchups look like instant-classic best-of-sevens, and the Warriors look like the power players in Cali. So, how has Vegas reacted?
Below, the Sporting News will look at the updated odds for every first-round matchup, including series moneylines, spreads and total games over/under. We'll then offer up a best bet for each series, with a brief explanation of why we hand-selected each betting recommendation.
MORE: Watch for upsets on the path to the Finals | 30 best players in the playoffs
Let's dive right into the updated NBA odds, spreads and over/under game totals for every series in the first round, then highlight the best bets for each matchup moving forward.
NBA Playoffs 2025: Updated Round 1 odds, best bets for every series
All odds courtesy of BetMGM, an authorized gaming operator of the NBA.
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8)
Series moneyline: Thunder -10000 | Grizzlies +2500
Series spread: Thunder -3.5 (+105) | Grizzlies +3.5 (-150)
Series total games: OVER 4.5 (-125) | UNDER 4.5 (+105)
Sporting News best bet: Thunder -3.5 (+105)
MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder rolled the Grizz on Sunday, and Ja Morant stated after the game that Memphis would never play that poorly again. Well, we're sure Ja's right about that — but we're also not sure the Grizzlies' best can even compete with OKC's B-game. How can an interim coach lead this team to a rebound from a 131-80 stomping?
Look at some of the stats from that first game. The Grizzlies turned the ball over 22 times. They got out-rebounded 42-30. They failed to shoot 35 percent from the field or 18 percent from three, and got out-assisted 36-18. This is a whole lotta bad. OKC should cruise to the sweep.
MORE: SGA, Jokic highlight Sporting News' All-NBA picks
Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs. Miami Heat (8)
Series moneyline: Cavaliers -5000 | Heat +2200
Series spread: Cavs -3.5 (+125) | Heat +3.5 (-150)
Series total games: OVER 4.5 (-155) | UNDER 4.5 (+130)
Sporting News best bet: Heat +3.5 (+150)
'Heat Culture' has taken a bit of a step back since Jimmy Butler left Miami, but we did catch a glimpse of the heart of this franchise being alive and well in the NBA Play-In Tournament. And Erik Spoelstra's squad competed pretty well in Game 1 in Cleveland, at least until blowing a proverbial tire in the fourth quarter.
The Heat should be able to win at least one in South Beach, just like they did vs. the Cavs in December. Tyler Herro scored 34 in that game, and Bam Adebayo put up a 16-13 double-double. All bets are off on the mighty Cavaliers losing two games in this series, though — they went 34-7 at home and 41-11 in conference this season, after all.
Houston Rockets (2) vs. Golden State Warriors (7)
Series moneyline: Warriors -375 | Rockets +300
Series spread: Warriors -1.5: -185; -2.5: +165 | Rockets +1.5: +150; +2.5 (-200)
Series total games: OVER 5.5 (-170) | UNDER 5.5 (+140)
Sporting News best bet: Warriors -2.5 (+165)
The Warriors have a winning percentage of nearly .800 with Jimmy Butler in uniform, and we hate to agree with Kendrick Perkins but this team looks like a legit title contender again. Playoff Jimmy, Steph Curry and company already stole home-court advantage with a big Game 1 victory in H-Town.
Don't be surprised if Steve Kerr's squad goes on to win this series 4-2 or even 4-1. Golden State has won three times in Houston since the start of the season, by scoring margins of 10, seven and six points, respectively. The Dubs' Big Three is all 35 and older — they could use the rest and extra prep for Round 2.
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)
Series moneyline: Celtics -10000 | Magic +2500
Series spread: Celtics -3.5 (+115) | Magic +3.5 (-150)
Series total games: OVER 4.5 (-150) | UNDER 4.5 (+125)
Sporting News best bet: Magic +3.5 (-150)
It's easy to look at Boston's 103-86 win over the Magic in Game 1 and think the reigning champs will coast to a first-round sweep. The Celts did make Orlando look like a G-League team, after all.
However, with multiple injury concerns, Boston could take its foot off the gas a little if it takes a 2-0 or 3-0 lead — and it's important to know that the Magic can get hot at home, too.
Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and company went 2-0 vs. the Celtics at home this season, and both young stars shoot considerably better at home than they do on the road. We're either fading all bets on this series entirely or putting a small amount on the Magic forcing a gentleman's sweep.
MORE: Why Celtics and Thunder remain the best bets to make the Finals
Los Angeles Lakers (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
Series moneyline: Timberwolves -140 | Lakers +115
Series spread: Wolves -1.5 (+115) | Lakers +1.5 (-145)
Series total games: OVER 5.5: -225; 6.5: +175 | UNDER 5.5: +185; 6.5: -220
Sporting News best bet: Lakers +115
The Lakers looked bad over the weekend. They couldn't quite make up for Luka Doncic's defensive deficiencies, and the Wolves shot lights out. But Minnesota can be streaky as all get-out — and Chris Finch's squad isn't going to shoot 21-of-42 from three-point land again (we would bet the farm on that).
If the Wolves lose Game 2 at Crypto.com Arena and then drop one home game in this series, LA will have taken back home-court advantage. With LeBron James and Luka, two of the smartest and dominant men not named Jokic in the NBA, the Lakers should find a way to bounce back from a rough Game 1 loss and march to a series win (put Rudy Gobert in high screen-and-roll BBQ chicken alert now).
MORE: Full Lakers vs. Wolves series prediction | Bron's surprising Game 1 record
New York Knicks (3) vs. Detroit Pistons (6)
Series moneyline: Knicks -700 | Pistons +500
Series spread: Knicks -2.5 (+105) | Pistons +2.5 (-120)
Series total games: OVER 5.5 (-110) | UNDER 5.5 (-110)
Sporting News best bet: Knicks -2.5 (+105)
It's hard not to love the Knicks, especially after they banged around the young Pistons 123-112 in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden. This team has outstanding chemistry, intelligence, athleticism and shooting, while Detroit looks to be one piece away from a serious threat. Knicks in six or fewer feels pretty safe.
Denver Nuggets (4) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (5)
Series moneyline: Nuggets -150 | Clippers +125
Series spread: Nuggets -1.5 (+130) | Clippers +1.5 (-160)
Series total games: OVER 5.5: -220; 6.5: +175 | UNDER 5.5: +175; 6.5: -220
Sporting News best bet: Nuggets -150
This might be the best series of the first round, as evidenced by the Nuggets' 112-110 overtime win over the weekend. Denver has home-court advantage and the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic, so we're giving the Nugs the slight edge here despite Kawhi Leonard and James Harden playing very well right now.
The Nuggets have gone 27-15 at Ball Arena since the start of this season, while the Clippers have gone 20-22 away from Intuit Dome. This series could easily go to seven games, at which point we can't possibly roll with the road squad in the mile-high atmosphere. Joker has gone 28-15 at home throughout his postseason career.
MORE: How Jeff Van Gundy has improved the Clippers' defense this year
Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)
Series moneyline: Pacers -275 | Bucks +220
Series spread: Pacers -1.5 (-115) | Bucks +1.5 (-105)
Series total games: OVER 5.5: -200; 6.5: +170 | UNDER 5.5: +165; 6.5: -210
Sporting News best bet: Pacers -1.5 (-115)
Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers dominated Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks on Saturday, proving once again that they have Milwaukee's number. They were content with letting Antetokounmpo get to the line, forcing others to try to beat them, and keeping the Indiana offensive pace as fast as ever.
Big surprise: the plan worked. The Greek Freak doesn't have nearly enough help to push this series to seven games, never mind flirt with an upset. Did you see that Gainbridge crowd in Game 1? This is the Pacers' favorite time of the year.
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