The NBA Playoffs are set to begin this Easter weekend following Friday's final Play-In Tournament matchups, creating one of the most action-packed basketball weekends of 2025.
The playoff push continues Friday night with two crucial Play-In games as the Miami Heat travel to Atlanta to face the Hawks as slight 1.5-point favorites at State Farm Arena. The 7:00 p.m. ET tipoff features a tight contest reflected in the nearly even moneyline odds (Heat -102, Hawks -105) with bookmakers expecting a moderate-scoring affair with the total set at 220.5 points.
Later Friday night, the Memphis Grizzlies host the Dallas Mavericks at FedEx Forum with a more substantial 5.5-point advantage for the home team. The 9:30 p.m. ET matchup has the Grizzlies as clear -235 moneyline favorites against the Mavericks (+220) with the point total established at 221.
The first round of the NBA Playoffs officially tips off Saturday afternoon when the Indiana Pacers, installed as 5.5-point favorites, host the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. According to Statbet, the Pacers-Bucks matchup features two of the league's most efficient offensive teams, which explains the high 224-point total set by oddsmakers.
Saturday night brings the Minnesota Timberwolves to Los Angeles, where the Lakers enter as 4.5-point favorites at Crypto.com Arena. The 8:30 p.m. ET contest has attracted significant betting interest with the Lakers at -179 on the moneyline against the Timberwolves' +154.
Easter Sunday delivers more playoff basketball with the Orlando Magic facing an uphill battle as 13.5-point underdogs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. The overwhelming -910 moneyline for Boston reflects the massive gap between the top-seeded Celtics and the Magic (+650).
The weekend concludes with an intriguing matchup as the Golden State Warriors visit the Houston Rockets, who enter as slight 1.5-point favorites. This 9:30 p.m. ET Sunday contest represents one of the closest first-round matchups with the Rockets at -115 on the moneyline versus the Warriors at +105.
DraftKings has capitalized on the playoff excitement by upgrading their promotional offerings for the weekend, with new users able to secure $200 in bonus bets with a $5 deposit and wager on any of these games.
With tight matchups and championship implications, this Easter weekend provides basketball fans with nearly non-stop playoff action as the NBA's postseason officially gets underway.
