NBA Playoffs 2025 Bracket: Matchups, dates, times, and TV channels

Basketball excitement reaches its peak. Every spring, the NBA’s top teams face off in an intense battle for the championship, delivering high-energy matchups, strategic showdowns, and unforgettable moments. The Playoffs are not only the culmination of months of competition-they’re also a chance to write new chapters in the sport’s rich history.

The 2025 edition of the NBA Playoffs is no exception. With a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, each matchup promises drama and high-level competition. From the opening rounds to the Finals, expectations are high for both franchises and fans, all eager to see how their teams perform under the pressure of win-or-go-home stakes.

Whether you’re rooting for a title contender or just tuning in for the love of the game, this is your guide to everything you need to follow the road to the championship.

2024-25 NBA Season Standings

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14)
2. Houston Rockets (52-30)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (50-32)
4. Denver Nuggets (50-32)
5. Los Angeles Clippers (50-32)
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)
7. Golden State Warriors (48-34)
8. Memphis Grizzlies (48-34)
9. Sacramento Kings (40-42)
10. Dallas Mavericks (39-43)

Eastern Conference

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18)
2. Boston Celtics (61-21)
3. New York Knicks (51-31)
4. Indiana Pacers (50-32)
5. Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)
6. Detroit Pistons (44-38)
7. Orlando Magic (41-41)
8. Atlanta Hawks (40-42)
9. Chicago Bulls (39-43)
10. Miami Heat (37-45)

NBA Play-In Tournament

Tuesday, April 15

• Atlanta Hawks (East 8) vs Orlando Magic (East 7) | 7:30 ET, TNT (*winner advances to playoffs as East No. 7 seed)
• Memphis Grizzlies (West 8) vs Golden State Warriors (West 7) | 10 ET, TNT (*winner advances to playoffs as West No. 7 seed)

Wednesday, April 16

• Miami Heat (East 10) vs Chicago Bulls (East 9) | 7:30 ET, ESPN
• Dallas Mavericks (West 10) vs Sacramento Kings (West 9) | 10 ET, ESPN

Friday, April 18

• East 9/10 winner vs. East 7/8 loser | TBD, TNT (*winner advances to playoffs as East No. 8 seed)
• West 9/10 winner vs. West 7/8 loser | TBD, ESPN (*winner advances to playoffs as West No. 8 seed)

NBA Playoffs 2025: First Round

Eastern Conference

(1) Cleveland vs. (8) TBD

* Game 1: TBD at Cavaliers (Sun. April 20, TBD)

* Game 2: TBD at Cavaliers (TBD)

* Game 3: Cavaliers at TBD (TBD)

* Game 4:Cavaliers at TBD (TBD)

* Game 5: TBD at Cavaliers (TBD)*

* Game 6: Cavaliers at TBD (TBD)*

* Game 7: TBD at Cavaliers (TBD)*

* if necessary

Series tied 0-0

(2) Boston vs. (7) TBD

* Game 1: TBD at Celtics (Sun. April 20, TBD)

* Game 2: TBD at Celtics (TBD)

* Game 3: Celtics at TBD (TBD)

* Game 4: Celtics at TBD (TBD)

* Game 5: TBD at Celtics (TBD)*

* Game 6: Celtics at TBD (TBD)*

* Game 7: TBD at Celtics (TBD)*

* if necessary

(3) New York vs. (6) Detroit

* Game 1: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. April 19, 6 ET, ESPN)

* Game 2: Pistons at Knicks (TBD)

* Game 3: Knicks at Pistons (TBD)

* Game 4: Knicks at Pistons (TBD)

* Game 5: Pistons at Celtics (TBD)*

* Game 6: Celtics at Pistons (TBD)*

* Game 7: Pistons at Celtics (TBD)*

* if necessary

(4) Indiana vs. (5) Milwaukee

* Game 1: Bucks at Pacers (Sat. April 19, 1 ET, ESPN)

* Game 2: Bucks at Pacers (TBD)

* Game 3: Pacers at Bucks (TBD)

* Game 4: Pacers at Bucks (TBD)

* Game 5: Bucks at Pacers (TBD)*

* Game 6: Pacers at Bucks (TBD)*

* Game 7: Bucks at Pacers (TBD)*

* if necessary

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) TBD

* Game 1: TBD at Thunder (Sun. April 20, TBD)

* Game 2: TBD at Thunder (TBD)

* Game 3: Thunder at TBD (TBD)

* Game 4:Thunder at TBD (TBD)

* Game 5: TBD at Thunder (TBD)*

* Game 6: Thunder at TBD (TBD)*

* Game 7: TBD at Thunder (TBD)*

* if necessary

Series tied 0-0

(2) Houston vs. (7) TBD

* Game 1: TBD at Rockets (Sun. April 20, TBD)

* Game 2: TBD at Rockets (TBD)

* Game 3: Rockets at TBD (TBD)

* Game 4: Rockets at TBD (TBD)

* Game 5: TBD at Rockets (TBD)*

* Game 6: Rockets at TBD (TBD)*

* Game 7: TBD at Rockets (TBD)*

* if necessary

(3) L.A. Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota

* Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sat. April 19, 8:30 ET, ABC)

* Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers (TBD)

* Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves (TBD)

* Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves (TBD)

* Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers (TBD)*

* Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves (TBD)*

* Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers (TBD)*

* if necessary

Series tied 0-0

(4) Denver vs. (5) LA Clippers

* Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. April 19, 3:30 ET, ESPN)

* Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets (TBD)

* Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers (TBD)

* Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers (TBD)

* Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets (TBD)*

* Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers (TBD)*

* Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets (TBD)*

Conference Semifinals 2025

• May 5-6 (possible move up to May 3-4)

Conference Finals 2025

Western Conference

• May 20: Game 1 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET (possible series move up to May 18)
• May 22: Game 2 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET
• May 24: Game 3 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• May 26: Game 4 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET
• May 28: Game 5 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET (*if necessary)
• May 30: Game 6 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET (*if necessary)
• June 1: Game 7 on ESPN, 8 p.m. ET (*if necessary)

Eastern Conference

• May 21: Game 1 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (possible series move up to May 19)
• May 23: Game 2 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET
• May 25: Game 3 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET
• May 27: Game 4 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET
• May 29: Game 5 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (*if necessary)
• May 31: Game 6 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (*if necessary)
• June 2: Game 7 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (*if necessary)

NBA Finals 2025

• June 5: Game 1 on ABC
• June 8: Game 2 on ABC
• June 11: Game 3 on ABC
• June 13: Game 4 on ABC
• June 16: Game 5 on ABC (*if necessary)
• June 19: Game 6 on ABC (*if necessary)
• June 22: Game 7 on ABC (*if necessary)