Heat vs. Cavaliers predictions, picks odds for 2025 NBA playoff series
The top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers will host the No. 8 seeded Miami Heat in the 2025 NBA playoffs first round best-of-seven series.
The Cavaliers have had an impressive year, finishing the regular season with a record of 64-18, which secured them the top spot in the Eastern Conference. This marks the first time since their championship season in 2015-16 that they have clinched the No. 1 seed. The Cavaliers are led by Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging 24 points per game, and Darius Garland, who is averaging 20.6 points per game this season.
The Heat are heading into the playoffs with momentum after their victories in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Miami first defeated the Chicago Bulls 109-90 and then went on to beat the Atlanta Hawks 123-114, securing the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat have now won six out of their last seven games on the road, setting the stage for an exciting first-round series.
Here are the latest predictions, picks and odds for the first round matchup between the Cavaliers and Heat.
Heat vs. Cavaliers: NBA playoffs picks and predictions
Paste BN: Experts pick the Thunder
Here are Paste BN staff picks for the Heat vs. Cavaliers series:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Cavaliers in 6
- Heather Tucker: Cavaliers in 5
- James Williams: Cavaliers in 4
- Jeff Zillgitt: Cavaliers in 5
NBA.com: Cavs in five
John Schuhmann writes: "With their two Play-In victories, the Heat have won six of their last seven games on the road. They’re a resilient bunch that can make things difficult for any opponent. But this opponent has a better defense and more offensive weapons than either of the two teams the Heat beat to get here. And while they had the league’s ninth-ranked defense overall, the Heat ranked 19th defensively (118.8 points allowed per 100 possessions) in games against the league’s top 10 offenses. This is one of the best offenses we’ve ever seen, and the Cavs should take care of business to advance to the conference semifinals for the second straight year."
Sports Illustrated: Cavs in six
Peter Dewey writes: "Ultimately, the Cavs have too much depth (six players averaging double figures), for this Miami team to keep up. Herro is arguably the fifth-best player in this series (Mitchell, Mobley, Garland, Bam all could be over him), yet he’s the player Miami relies on to lead this offense night in and night out. That’s a major ask against a Cavs team that will likely throw any coverage it can at home in this series. Cleveland was also too good at home (34-7), for Miami to complete the upset. But, I do think the Heat will steal a couple games."
Heat vs. Cavaliers: NBA playoffs odds
The Cavaliers are favored to defeat the Heat in the NBA playoffs first round, per BetMGM odds (as of Saturday, April 19):
- Series winner: Cavaliers (-2500)
- Game 1 spread: Cavaliers (-12.5)
- Game 1 Moneyline: Cavaliers (-900); Heat (+550)
- Game 1 Over/Under: 214.5
Heat vs. Cavaliers: NBA playoffs schedule, how to watch, time, TV channel, streaming
The first-round NBA playoff series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat will begin Sunday, April 20 and could go until Sunday, May 4.
ABC, ESPN and TNT will each carry at least one game of the series, while details for Games 5 through 7 (should they be necessary) have yet to be announced. Cord-cutting fans can stream the action on Sling for games on TNT and Fubo for those on ABC. Fubo is offering a free trial for new subscribers.
All times Eastern.
- Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers | Sunday, April 20 | 7 p.m | TNT, Sling TV
- Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 23 | 7:30 p.m | NBA TV
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat | Saturday, April 26 | 1 p.m. | TNT, Fubo
- Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat | Monday, April 28 | TBD | TNT, Sling TV
- Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 30 | time/broadcast TBD*
- Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat | Friday, May 2 | time/broadcast TBD*
- Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers | Sunday, May 4 | time/broadcast TBD*
Watch Heat vs. Cavaliers Game 1 on Sling TV