Interestingly, only one player picked the Denver Nuggets to come out on top against the OKC Thunder. Find out who and more in this NBA playoff prediction piece.
Of the 16 teams, only eight remain in the championship chase in the 2025 NBA playoffs
Lower seeded-teams Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks hold surprising series leads over the East no. 1 Cleveland Cleveland and the defending champions Boston Celtics.
It's the complete opposite in the West as both the OKC Thunder-Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves-Golden State Warriors series turned out to be a dogfight
As the postseason action reaches its halfway point, One Sports asked some PBA players and one notable NBA cager to dish out their semifinal predictions.
[ALSO READ: Joshua Munzon, Javi Gómez de Liaño, and more share NBA first-round playoff predictions]
Jeremy Sochan - San Antonio Spurs
Sochan’s predictions:
- Indiana Pacers over Cleveland Cavaliers in 5
- Boston Celtics over New York Knicks
- Golden State Warriors over Minnesota Timberwolves
Sochan shared his playoff predictions in his first-ever visit to Manila as part of the 2025 NBA Rising Stars Invitationals - Philippines Qualifiers.
[ALSO READ: Jeremy Sochan believes Philippines a 'perfect spot' to host NBA Global Games anew]
The do-it-all San Antonio Spurs forward picked Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers as well as Jayson Tatum, reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, and the champion Celtics to come out on top in their respective series.
“I feel like because Indiana is up 2-0, I don’t feel they will lose more than one game. I think they might win that,” Sochan revealed.
As the series shifts to Indianapolis, all the momentum is on the side of Indiana--especially coming off a stunning Game 2 comeback win where Haliburton nailed the game-winning triple.
[ALSO READ: Tyrese Haliburton makes dagger three, Pacers stun Cavaliers for 2-0 lead: 'Overrate that']
As for the other East semifinal series, the Polish-American said: “I still got Boston to come out.”
Well, the Celtics do still have a chance to keep their title retention bid. The problem is, they need to dig deep the rest of the way after blowing back-to-back 20-point leads to fall into an 0-2 hole.
Sochan also leaned towards the veteran-laden Warriors to emerge victorious against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves. That series is currently tied at one-game apiece.
“I feel like the Warriors… People might call them old, but at the end of the day they're the most experienced team in the playoffs,” the 21-year-old insisted.
[ALSO READ: Steve Kerr continues to search for answers after extended Warriors rotation backfires in G2]
Kevin Alas - NLEX Road Warriors
Alas’ predictions:
- Indiana Pacers over Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 or 6
- Boston Celtics over New York Knicks in 5 or 6
- Golden State Warriors over Minnesota Timberwolves in 6
- Denver Nuggets over OKC Thunder in 6 or 7
All of Alas’ semis predictions are as close as they can get.
The NLEX guard is rooting for Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets over MVP frontrunner Sha-Gilgeous Alexander and the Thunder in the West match-up.
“Denver Nuggets in six or seven games. Veteran team ‘tong Nuggets. I know the head coaching change is a big thing, but pagdating sa an endgame, I really believe the Nuggets can make the right decisions sa dulo,” Alas shared.
[ALSO READ: Vengeful Thunder ride record-setting first half to pull even vs. Nuggets in Game 2]
A Warriors fan himself, the 33-year-old believes Golden State will upend Minnesota in “five or six games.”
Alas also gave the edge to the Celtics over the Knicks. Like Sochan, he leaned towards the Pacers completing an upset against the Cavaliers.
“Boston pa rin ako diyan. I think Boston in six. Everytime na isa kang defending champion, I give them the advantage because they know how to be in that position,” he explained.
The one-time PBA champion added: “I’ll go with Indiana in five or six. Mananalo pa siguro ng isa 'yung Cleveland.”
Felix Lemetti- Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Lemetti’s predictions:
- Indiana Pacers over Cleveland Cavaliers in 7
- Golden State Warriors over Minnesota Timberwolves in 7
- Boston Celtics over New York Knicks in 6
- OKC Thunder over Denver Nuggets in 6
Two series will go the distance if Lemetti was to make his predictions.
“I know Curry got hurt but if he comes back and plays at a healthy level, the Warriors got a good run. I think… it might go to a Game 7… but I think the Warriors might get it,” the 26-year-old said.
Lemetti continued: “I think Indiana gets it in Game 7 but I think it will be close. Cleveland is a great team as well.”
Unlike Alas, the eighth pick of the 2024 PBA Draft believes the Thunder will topple the Nuggets, alongside the Celtics finishing off the Knicks in six games.
“I still believe in OKC. I love Shai’s game, the team that they built,’ Lemetti insisted.
Christian David - Blackwater Bossing
David’s predictions:
- Cleveland Cavaliers over Indiana Pacers in 7
- Golden State Warriors over Minnesota Timberwolves in 7
- Boston Celtics over New York Knicks in 6
- OKC Thunder over Denver Nuggets in 6
Interestingly, David is the only one in the list to pick Cleveland — who finished the regular season with the second-most wins with 64 — to prevail in their second-round showdown against Indiana.
“I think Cleveland will win in seven [games] and pull it off,” the 26-year-old believed.
As for the rest of his predictions, the Butler University product leaned on the Knicks, Thunder, and Warriors to come out on top in their respective series.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros/One Sports Digital)