NBA 2024-25 Opening Night – Expert Picks for East, West and NBA Champions

The 2024-25 NBA season is officially here!

The Boston Celtics begin their quest for back-to-back titles against the New York Knicks to open the NBA season (7:30 p.m. ET). After a dominant run through the playoffs, the Celtics enter this season as favorites, but strong league competition won't make a repeat performance in Boston easy.

The Knicks' busy offseason, which included the signings of Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, has big title hopes in New York, while the Philadelphia 76ers signed Paul George this offseason to maximize the prime of former MVP Joel Embiid . Will either contender have enough star power to dethrone the Celtics in the Eastern Conference race?

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder will look to build on a memorable 2023-24 season in which they became the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history. And OKC didn't stand still, adding key players in Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to bolster one of the deepest rosters in the league. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who face the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night (10 p.m. ET), are also among the teams eyeing the Larry O'Brien Trophy after Anthony Edwards made a big jump last season. And despite the talent at the top of the conference, the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets could make some noise in the crowded West race.

Will the final be Oklahoma City-Boston? What other teams could crash the party? And which ones are most likely to be involved in trades? Our NBA experts make their selection.

MORE: 30 Teams Preview | NBA Rank 100-51 | 50-11 | 10-1

Eastern Conference Finals tips

Kendra Andrews: Celtics over Knicks in 6th

Tim Bontemps: Celtics over 76 in 6

Jamal Collier: 76ers over Celtics in 7

Chris Herring: Celtics over Knicks in 6th

Baxter Holmes: Celtics over Knicks in 7th

Tim MacMahon: Celtics over Bucks in 6th

Bobby Marks: Celtics over Knicks in 6th

Dave McMenamin: Celtics over Knicks in 6th

Kevin Pelton: Celtics over 76 in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Celtics over Sixers in 7

Andre Snellings: Celtics over 76ers in 7

Marc Spears: Celtics over Knicks in 6th

Michael Wright: Celtics over Bucks in 7th

Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks over Celtics in 7th

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Final balance (Eastern champions): Celtics 12, Knicks 1, 76ers 1

Tips for the Western Conference Finals

Andrews: Thunder over Mavericks in 6th

Bontemps: Thunder over Nuggets in 6th

Necklace: Thunder over Mavericks in 6th

Herring: Thunder over wolves in 7

Holmes: Thunder over Timberwolves in 7th

MacMahon: Thunder over Mavericks in 7th

Markings: Suns over thunder in 7th

McMenamin: Timberwolves over Thunder in 6th

Pelton: Thunder over suns in 6

Shelburne: Thunder over Nuggets in 7th

Sniff: Timberwolves over Thunder in 6th

Spears: Thunder over suns in 7th

Wright: Thunder over Mavericks in 7th

Youngmisuk: Thunder over Nuggets in 7th

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Final balance (West Champions): Thunder 11, Timberwolves 2, Suns 1

NBA Finals Tips

Andrews: Celtics over Thunder in 6th

Bontemps: Celtics over Thunder in 6th

Necklace: 76ers over Thunder in 6

Herring: Celtics over Thunder in 6th

Holmes: Celtics over Thunder in 7th

MacMahon: Celtics over Thunder in 7th

Markings: Celtics over Suns in 6th

McMenamin: Celtics over Wolves in 5th

Pelton: Thunder over Celtics in 7th

Shelburne: Celtics over Thunder in 7th

Sniff: Timberwolves over Celtics in 7th

Spears: Celtics over Thunder in 5th

Wright: Celtics over Thunder in 6th

Youngmisuk: Knicks over Thunder in 7

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Final balance (NBA Champions): Celtics 10, Thunder 1, 76ers 1, Knicks 1 Timberwolves 1

BONUS! The team most likely to be active in the trade market is _______

Andrews: heat

Bontemps: 76s

Necklace: heat

Holmes: Lakers

Herring: Lakers

MacMahon: jazz

Markings: warrior

McMenamin: heat

Pelton: Pelicans

Shelburne: warrior

Sniff: Bulls

Spears: warrior

Wright: Lakers

Youngmisuk: dollar

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Final balance: Heat 3, Lakers 3, Warriors 3, Bucks 1, Bulls 1, Jazz 1, Pelicans 1, 76ers 1