Denver still has the best player in the world in Nikola Jokić. With a exception of a down postseason from his running mate in 2024, Jokić and Jamal Murray are among the league's bigger playoff risers. And the Nuggets ending the season 3-0 under their interim coach could be more than the typical "new coach bump."

The No. 2-seeded Houston Rockets will face the No. 7-seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.

The Rockets-Warriors series could go in either direction, according to our NBA insiders. Here’s who our TNT Sports experts are picking to advance past the first round: