2025 NBA Playoffs Showdowns: Can the Underdog Upset in Pacers-Cavaliers Game 1 and Warriors-Rockets Game 7?

Sunday’s NBA playoff docket presents a fascinating paradox: one chapter kicks off while another’s story threatens to close. The top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers will lock horns with their divisional nemesis, the Indiana Pacers, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals—a clash loaded with familiarity and subtle intrigue. Meanwhile, out West, the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors head into hostile territory to face the second-seeded Houston Rockets in a do-or-die Game 7. Ever wonder if basketball’s favorite narrative—underdog resilience versus established pedigree—will rewrite itself again? As someone who’s been on a decent roll in betting playoffs (albeit humbled recently by a Game 7 blowout), I’m calling my shots on both contests. But beyond the odds and the stat lines, these games carry the weight of legacies, momentum swings, and the unpredictable jigsaw puzzle of playoff basketball dynamics. So, grab your popcorn—and maybe your wallet—because Sunday’s slate might just make you question who’s really in control once the smoke settles. LEARN MORE.One series begins and another ends Sunday in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. First, the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers host the divisional rival Indiana Pacers for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Then, the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors visit the second-seeded Houston Rockets for Game 7 of their first-round postseason series. 

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8