After a week of six play-in games, the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs opens this weekend with four games on Saturday (April 19) and four on Sunday that could begin answering a wide range of questions:

Detroit’s best pathway to victory is if the Knicks start running out of players, but we’re early in the playoffs for that, and New York should benefit from the return of Mitchell Robinson. The Knicks have been fantastic against non-elite teams all season and should continue that trend. Pick: Knicks in 6