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: Cavaliers 121, Heat 112
Game 3: Cavaliers 124, Heat 87
Game 4: Cavaliers 138, Heat 83
Cavaliers win series 4-0
(2) Boston vs. (7) Orlando
Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86
Game 2: Celtics 109, Magic 100
Game 3: Magic 95, Celtics 93
Game 4: Celtics 107, Magic 98
Game 5: Celtics 120, Magic 89
Celtics win series 4-1
(3) New York vs. (6) Detroit
Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
Game 2: Pistons 100, Knicks 94
Game 3: Knicks 118, Pistons 116
Game 4: Knicks 94, Pistons 93
Game 5: Pistons 106, Knicks 103
Game 6: Knicks 116, Pistons 113
Knicks win series 4-2
(4) Indiana vs. (5) Milwaukee
Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Game 2: Pacers 123, Bucks 115
Game 3: Bucks 117, Pacers 101
Game 4: Pacers 129, Bucks 103
Game 5: Pacers 119, Bucks 118
Pacers win series 4-1
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) Memphis
Game 1: Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80
Game 2: Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99
Game 3: Thunder 114, Grizzlies 108
Game 4: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115
Thunder win series 4-0
(2) Houston vs. (7) Golden State
Game 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94
Game 3: Warriors 104, Rockets 93
Game 4: Warriors 109, Rockets 106
Game 5: Rockets 131, Warriors 116
Game 6: Rockets 115, Warriors 107
Game 7: Warriors 103, Rockets 89
Warriors win series 4-3
(3) L.A. Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota
Game 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
Game 2: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85
Game 3: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 104
Game 4: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 113
Game 5: Timberwolves 103, Lakers 96
Timberwolves win series 4-1
(4) Denver vs. (5) LA Clippers
Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110
Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
Game 3: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83
Game 4: Nuggets 101, Clippers 99
Game 5: Nuggets 131, Clippers 115
Game 6: Nuggets 105, Clippers 111
Game 7: Nuggets 120, Clippers 101
Nuggets win series 4-3
Conference Semifinals 2025
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (4) Indiana Pacers
Game 1: Pacers 121, Cavaliers 112
Game 2: Pacers 120, Cavaliers 119
Game 3: Cavaliers 126, Pacers 104
Game 4: Pacers 129, Cavaliers 109
Game 5: Pacers 114, Cavaliers 105
Pacers win series 4-1
* if necessary
(2) Boston Celtics vs (3) New York Knicks
Game 1: Knicks 108, Celtics 105
Game 2: Knicks 91, Celtics 90
Game 3: Celtics 115, Knicks 93
Game 4: Knicks 121, Celtics 113
Game 5: Celtics 127, Knicks 102
Game 6: Celtics 81, Knicks 119
Knicks win series 4-2
* if necessary
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (4) Denver Nuggets
Game 1: Nuggets 121, Thunder 119
Game 2: Thunder 149, Nuggets 106
Game 3: Nuggets 113, Thunder 104
Game 4: Thunder 92, Nuggets 87
Game 5: Thunder 112, Nuggets 105
Game 6: Nuggets 119, Thunder 107
Game 7: Thunder 125, Nuggets 93
Nuggets win series 4-3
* if necessary
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs (7) Golden State Warriors
Game 1: Warriors 99, Wolves 88
Game 2: Wolves 117, Warriors 93
Game 3: Wolves 102, Warriors 97
Game 4: Wolves 117, Warriors 110
Game 5: Wolves 121, Warriors 110
Wolves win series 4-1
* if necessary
Conference Finals 2025
Western Conference
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Thunder/Nuggets
Game 1: Thunder 114, Timberwolves 88
Game 2: Timberwolves vs. Thunder (Thu. May 22, 8:30 ET, ESPN)
Game 3: Thunder vs. Timberwolves (Sat. May 24, 8:30 ET, ABC)
Game 4: Thunder vs. Timberwolves (Mon. May 26, 8:30 ET, ESPN)
Game 5: Timberwolves vs. Thunder (Wed. May 28, 8:30 ET, ESPN)*
Game 6: Thunder vs. Timberwolves (Fri. May 30, 8:30 ET, ESPN)*
Game 7: Timberwolves vs. Thunder (Sun. June 1, 8 ET, ESPN)*
Thunder leads series 1-0
* if necessary
Eastern Conference
Indiana Pacers vs Knicks
Game 1: Pacers 138, Knicks 135
Game 2: Pacers vs. Knicks (Fri. May 23, 8 ET, TNT)
Game 3: Knicks vs. Pacers (Sun. May 25, 8 ET, TNT)
Game 4: Knicks vs. Pacers (Tue. May 27, 8 ET, TNT)
Game 5: Pacers vs. Knicks (Thu. May 29, 8 ET, TNT)*
Game 6: Knicks vs. Pacers (Sat. May 31, 8 ET, TNT)*
Game 7: Pacers vs. Knicks (Mon. June 2, 8 ET, TNT)*
Pacers leads series 1-0
* 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)
Read the full article here
