“Basketball Gods smiled down” – Magic Johnson sends clear message about NBA playoff matchups for fans

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 18, 2025, 08:50 IST

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Basketball fever is soaring as the NBA playoffs approach, with Lakers legend Magic Johnson urging fans to tune in. He lauded the fierce rivalries in the playoff matchups, calling it exactly what the league needed. The play-in tournament saw the Warriors and Magic secure No. 7 seeds, setting the stage for thrilling contests.

“Basketball Gods smiled down” – Magic Johnson sends clear message about NBA playoff matchups for fans

Magic Johnson shares his excitement for NBA Play-off games. Image via: Rob Tringali/ Getty Images

The Hall of Famer’s message has added major buzz, calling this year’s playoff slate “exactly what the league needed.”
Warriors, Magic, Heat, and Mavericks clinched final spots in a dramatic Play-In finish.
Eight matchups promise high-stakes drama, with fierce rivalries and title hopes on the line.

Excitement among basketball fans is sky high as the NBA playoff matchups are getting closer. Ahead of the mega basketball event, Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson has sent a message to fans to tune into the games. Johnson has been actively following the recent games, and his excitement and endorsement for the upcoming event have sparked a huge interest among fans.

Magic Johnson shared a message ahead of the Play-off matchups

Hall of Famer Magic Johnson has recently taken to his X account to share his excitement for the upcoming NBA playoff games. “The basketball Gods smiled down on the NBA with these great Playoff matchups with teams that are fierce rivals,” Johnson wrote on the platform.

“This is exactly what the league needed. All basketball fans should definitely tune in!” he added.
The 2025 NBA Play-offs are off to a thrilling start as the Golden State Warriors and Orlando Magic clinched the No. 7 seeds through the Play-In Tournament. Golden State will now battle the surging Houston Rockets, while Orlando prepares for a tough test against the defending champion Boston Celtics. On Wednesday, the Miami Heat knocked out the Chicago Bulls, and the Dallas Mavericks ended the Sacramento Kings' hopes, completing the postseason bracket. The NBA’s most exciting stretch is here. It appears that the first round could run through May 4 before the Finals tip off on June 5.

NBA Playoff picture. Image via: NBA.com

Saturday, April 19, kicks off with four Game 1 matchups, including:
-Pacers vs. Bucks at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN/fubo
-Nuggets vs. Clippers at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN/fubo
-Knicks vs. Pistons at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN/fubo
-Lakers vs. Timberwolves at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC/fubo
Sunday's action will see the debut of the Celtics-Magic and Rockets-Warriors series. Time and broadcast details for these games will be confirmed soon.
Also Read: “A trade that attracted a lot of attention” – Did Adam Silver just admit Luka Doncic’s trade increased NBA viewership?
The full playoff calendar is packed with games nearly every night. The NBA Finals tip off on June 5. Until then, the chase for the Larry O'Brien Trophy is officially underway.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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