2025 NBA Playoff Predictions – Can Warriors or Nuggets Upset the Odds?
The 2025 NBA playoffs have now moved into the second round, and the Western Conference bracket is heating up with familiar names and intriguing matchups.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves are all back in the second round, continuing their strong postseason form from last year. The Golden State Warriors, however, are the new addition to this round, replacing the Dallas Mavericks, who reached the NBA Finals in 2024.
With the Mavericks out, a new Western Conference champion is guaranteed this year. The Warriors punched their ticket to the second round after a gritty Game 7 win over the Houston Rockets. Now, they face the Timberwolves, while the top-seeded Thunder are set to battle the defending champion Nuggets.
Here’s a closer look at each matchup, along with expert predictions for who moves on to the Western Conference Finals.
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 4 Denver Nuggets
Series Odds (via FanDuel): Thunder -900, Nuggets +610
The Thunder come into this series as heavy favorites, and it’s easy to see why. This team has looked like a complete unit all season — deep, balanced, and elite on both ends of the floor. The Nuggets, led by the incomparable Nikola Jokić, face a tough challenge.
Expert Predictions:
Botkin: Thunder in 6. Oklahoma City’s depth is simply too much for the Nuggets to handle. Denver has the best player in the world in Jokić, but the Thunder’s two-way dominance will ultimately be the deciding factor.
Herbert: Thunder in 6. The Nuggets might steal a couple of games if OKC struggles from three, but if big man Isaiah Hartenstein stays out of foul trouble, this prediction might still be generous to Denver.
Maloney: Thunder in 5. The Thunder have too many advantages—depth, rest, defense, and home-court—to let this series go deep. Jokić can make it interesting, but the odds are stacked against Denver.
Quinn: Thunder in 5. Even Jokić can’t close the gap in this matchup. OKC’s ability to play five-out and defend across every position gives them a significant edge.
Ward-Henninger: Thunder in 5. The Nuggets are a resilient team, but OKC is a machine right now. Denver doesn’t have the personnel to keep pace consistently.
Wimbish: Thunder in 6. Denver’s lack of depth already showed in Round 1. Against a team as loaded and disciplined as OKC, that problem could be fatal. The Thunder have the length and defenders to wear down Jokić and contain Jamal Murray.
No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 7 Golden State Warriors
Series Odds (via FanDuel): Timberwolves -178, Warriors +150
This matchup is much more evenly poised. The Timberwolves bring size, defense, and a rising superstar in Anthony Edwards. But the Warriors have postseason pedigree, and when you have players like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, anything is possible in a seven-game series.
Expert Predictions:
Botkin: Timberwolves in 6. Minnesota presents the same issues for the Warriors as Houston did — athleticism, physical defense, and a size advantage — but with an actual go-to scorer in Edwards. Golden State’s fight won’t be enough this time.
Herbert: Warriors in 7. The Timberwolves are younger, bigger, and deeper. Still, Golden State’s experience can’t be ignored. If the Warriors stay disciplined on offense, they have just enough to edge it.
Maloney: Timberwolves in 7. This one’s a toss-up. Edwards’ scoring and Minnesota’s defense mirror Houston’s formula, but with more offensive polish. That gives them a slight edge over Curry and Co.
Quinn: Timberwolves in 7. Minnesota has a better-rounded roster, more shooting, and a legit offensive focal point in Edwards. Golden State will challenge them, but the Wolves look slightly stronger.
Ward-Henninger: Warriors in 7. Golden State’s playoff DNA kicked in during Round 1, and they have the experience edge once again. If the games stay close, trust Curry and Butler to deliver in the clutch.
Wimbish: Timberwolves in 6. Rudy Gobert could have a dominant series against a small-ball Warriors lineup. Betting against Curry and Green isn’t easy, but Minnesota’s overall roster looks better prepared to win four out of seven.
Final Thoughts
The West continues to deliver high drama, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Oklahoma City is the clear favorite to advance, but the Nuggets, behind Jokić, are never out of the fight. Meanwhile, the Warriors-Timberwolves clash promises to be a war of attrition, where youth and size will challenge experience and championship mettle.
Whichever way these series go, the Western Conference Finals are shaping up to be must-watch basketball.
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