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
- Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14)
- Houston Rockets (52-30)
- Los Angeles Lakers (50-32)
- Denver Nuggets (50-32)
- Los Angeles Clippers (50-32)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)
- Golden State Warriors (48-34)
- Memphis Grizzlies (48-34)
- Sacramento Kings (40-42)
- Dallas Mavericks (39-43)
Eastern Conference
- Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18)
- Boston Celtics (61-21)
- New York Knicks (51-31)
- Indiana Pacers (50-32)
- Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)
- Detroit Pistons (44-38)
- Orlando Magic (41-41)
- Atlanta Hawks (40-42)
- Chicago Bulls (39-43)
- Miami Heat (37-45)
NBA Play-In Tournament
Tuesday, April 15
- Atlanta Hawks (East 8) 95 vs 120 Orlando Magic (East 7) (*winner advances to playoffs as East No. 7 seed)
- Memphis Grizzlies (West 8) 116 vs 121 Golden State Warriors (West 7) (*winner advances to playoffs as West No. 7 seed)
Wednesday, April 16
- Miami Heat (East 10) 109 vs 90 Chicago Bulls (East 9)
- Dallas Mavericks (West 10) 120 vs 106 Sacramento Kings (West 9)
Friday, April 18
- Miami Heat (East 10) 123 vs 114 Atlanta Hawks (East 8) (*winner advances to playoffs as East No. 8 seed)
- Dallas Mavericks (West 10) 106 vs 120 Memphis Grizzlies (West 8) (*winner advances to playoffs as East No. 8 seed)
NBA Playoffs 2025: First Round
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland vs. (8) Miami
Game 1: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100
Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers (Wed. April 23, 7:30 ET, NBA TV)
Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat (Sat. April 26, 1 ET, TNT)
Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat (Mon. April 28, TBD)
Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
Cavaliers lead series 1-0
* if necessary
(2) Boston vs. (7) Orlando
Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86
Game 2: Magic at Celtics (Wed. April 23, 7 ET, TNT)
Game 3: Celtics at Magic (Fri. April 25, 7 ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Celtics at Magic (Sun. April 27, 7 ET, TNT)
Game 5: Magic at Celtics (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
Game 6: Celtics at Magic (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
Game 7: Magic at Celtics (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
Celtics lead series 1-0
* if necessary
(3) New York vs. (6) Detroit
Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
Game 2: Pistons 100, Knicks 94
Game 3: Knicks at Pistons (Thu. April 24, 7 ET, TNT)
Game 4: Knicks at Pistons (Sun. April 27, 1 ET, ABC)
Game 5: Pistons at Knicks (Tue. April 29, TBD)
Game 6: Knicks at Pistons (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
Game 7: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
Series tied 1-1
* if necessary
(4) Indiana vs. (5) Milwaukee
Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Game 2: Bucks at Pacers (Tue. April 22, 7 ET, NBA TV)
Game 3: Pacers at Bucks (Fri. April 25, 8 ET, ESPNU/NBA TV)
Game 4: Pacers at Bucks (Sun. April 27, 9:30 ET, TNT)
Game 5: Bucks at Pacers (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
Game 6: Pacers at Bucks (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
Game 7: Bucks at Pacers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
Pacers lead series 1-0
* if necessary
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) Memphis
Game 1: Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80
Game 2: Grizzlies at Thunder (Tue. April 22, 7:30 ET, TNT)
Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies (Thu. April 24, 9:30 ET, TNT)
Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies (Sat. April 26, 3:30 ET, TNT)
Game 5: Grizzlies at Thunder (Mon. April 28, TBD)*
Game 6: Thunder at Grizzlies (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
Game 7: Grizzlies at Thunder (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
Thunder lead series 1-0
* if necessary
(2) Houston vs. (7) Golden State
Game 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
Game 2: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 23, 9:30 ET, TNT)
Game 3: Rockets at Warriors (Sat. April 26, 8:30 ET, ABC)
Game 4: Rockets at Warriors (Mon. April 28, 10 ET, TNT)
Game 5: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
Game 6: Rockets at Warriors (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
Game 7: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
Warriors lead series 1-0
* if necessary
(3) L.A. Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota
Game 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers (Tue. April 22, 10 ET, TNT)
Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves (Fri. April 25, 9:30 ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves (Sun. April 27, 3:30 ET, ABC)
Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
Timberwolves lead series 1-0
* if necessary
(4) Denver vs. (5) LA Clippers
Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110
Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers (Thu. April 24, 10 ET, NBA TV)
Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers (Sat. April 26, 6 ET, TNT)
Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets (Tue. April 29, TBD)
Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
Series tied 1-1
* if necessary
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)
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