NBA Playoffs: Expert Predictions for Game 7 and Semifinal Matchups
The 2025 NBA playoffs have delivered an electrifying first round, with the Western Conference taking centre stage with not one, but two Game 7s. According to a recent article by Yahoo Sports, the Nuggets outlasted the Clippers on Saturday to advance to the second round, and the Rockets and Warriors will face off on Sunday for the final spot in the West semis.
Our attention now turns to the predictions from Yahoo Sports for the highly anticipated Game 7 between the Warriors and Rockets, as well as the upcoming semifinal matchups in the East.
Warriors vs Rockets: Game 7 Predictions
The Yahoo Sports writers have made their picks for the thrilling Game 7 showdown between the Warriors and Rockets. Tom Haberstroh is backing the Warriors, citing his faith in Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green to figure out the Rockets’ two-big lineup. "I have belief in Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green figuring out the two-big lineup, which has given the team fits this series," Haberstroh said. "Curry has ripped the heart out of the Rockets in a Game 7 on the road before, and I think he can do it again."
Morten Stig Jensen also predicts a Warriors win, but acknowledges that the game will be a nail-biter. "Game 7s are nuts," Jensen said. "So there are a lot of elements to consider. I’m hanging my hat on Golden State’s experience, but I don’t feel great about it. Houston’s defense is legit, and it’s putting Stephen Curry through it every time he has to initiate simple actions."
Dan Devine and Ben Rohrbach also share Haberstroh’s confidence in the Warriors, with Devine stating that he’s "sticking with Golden State" and Rohrbach adding that the Warriors are "far more experienced, and that matters in a Game 7."
Cavaliers vs Pacers: Semifinal Predictions
In the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers and Pacers are set to face off in the semifinals. According to Yahoo Sports, Jensen predicts a Cavaliers win in five or six games, citing the team’s superior talent level. "Cleveland is the better team, and that’s with all due respect to Indiana, a team that functions as a well-oiled machine in its own right," Jensen said. "But the talent level in Cleveland, and the offensive heights it can reach, I believe, is too much to overcome for the Pacers."
Devine also backs the Cavaliers, but predicts a six-game series. "The uncertainty around Darius Garland’s toe injury gives me some pause, especially as a Known Pacers Respecter who was trying to tell y’all that Indiana was the goods all the way back in January," Devine said. "But I’ve also been trying to tell y’all that Cleveland is historically excellent for at least that long."
Haberstroh and Rohrbach also predict Cavaliers wins, with Haberstroh highlighting the potential matchup between Evan Mobley and Pascal Siakam. "Tyrese Haliburton’s inconsistency didn’t cost the Pacers much against the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks, but I think his Jekyll & Hyde act will doom them in this East battle," Haberstroh said.
Celtics vs Knicks: Semifinal Predictions
Finally, the Celtics and Knicks are set to face off in the semifinals, with Yahoo Sports writers predicting a Celtics win. Devine predicts a five-game series, stating that the Knicks are in for a nightmare matchup. "This is the nightmare matchup for these Knicks — the bar they saw set last season and that they were very clearly attempting to reach with their offseason moves, but that they have proven all season long to remain incapable of reaching," Devine said.
Rohrbach and Jensen also back the Celtics, with Rohrbach highlighting the potential defensive struggles of the Knicks. "It makes me nervous that consensus considers this an easy series for the Celtics," Rohrbach said. "Jalen Brunson is incredible, and New York’s Villanova boys never quit. Boston is banged up, too. But I just cannot imagine a scenario in which the defensive combination of Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns does not get pick-and-rolled to death."
The predictions from Yahoo Sports provide valuable insights into the upcoming playoff matchups. Will the Warriors and Cavaliers emerge victorious, or will the Rockets and Pacers pull off upsets? Only time will tell.
