The second weekend of the 2025 NBA playoffs began Sunday with four Game 1 matchups across the league. Top seeds faced play-in qualifiers, setting the stage for anticipated series battles. Action started early in the afternoon and concluded with a late-night Western Conference showdown.
In Oklahoma City, the top-seeded Thunder hosted the Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder finished the regular season with 68 wins and the best point differential in NBA history. MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge for the dominant home team. Memphis clawed into the final playoff spot after overcoming significant challenges, including a crisis of leadership earlier in the season.
The Boston Celtics, eyeing a return to the NBA Finals, started their title defense at home against the Orlando Magic. Boston notched consecutive 60-win seasons, showcasing top-five metrics on both offense and defense. Orlando presents a defensive-minded opponent, though the Magic struggled with perimeter shooting during the regular season.
Cleveland welcomed Miami after the Heat advanced through the play-in tournament. Miami's season proved challenging, navigating significant roster shifts like the Jimmy Butler pivot mid-year. Cleveland achieved 60 wins for the first time without LeBron James, boasting strong offensive production under first-year strategist Kenny Atkinson.
The night concluded with a compelling Western Conference clash between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. Houston finished second in the competitive West, exceeding modest expectations coming into the season behind a stout defense. For their efforts, the Rockets get the searing test of facing the championship-tested Warriors.
Golden State found momentum late in the season, including a hard-fought play-in victory against the Grizzlies. The Warriors feature established stars like Steph Curry alongside emerging players such as Brandin Podziemski. Sunday's games offered numerous betting angles, with individual player props like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 44.5 points, rebounds and assists drawing interest.
Fantasy players targeted star power, with Jayson Tatum and Alperen Sengun highlighted as stud options on DraftKings. Role players such as Alex Caruso and Max Strus also presented potential value plays in the four-game slate. Fans could follow all the scores and analysis from the equally-loaded Sunday run.
