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.
Has no patience! Shaquille O’Neal playfully tells two young Celtics fans to stop yelling in his ear
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: Heat at Cavaliers (Sun. April 20, 7 ET, TNT)
* 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)*
* if necessary
(2) Boston vs. (7) Orlando
* Game 1: Magic at Celtics (Sun. April 20, 3:30 ET, ABC)
* 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)*
* if necessary
(3) New York vs. (6) Detroit
* Game 1: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. April 19, 6 ET, ESPN)
* Game 2: Pistons at Knicks (Mon. April 21, 7:30 ET, TNT)
* 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)*
* if necessary
(4) Indiana vs. (5) Milwaukee
* Game 1: Bucks at Pacers (Sat. April 19, 1 ET, ESPN)
* 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)*
* if necessary
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) Memphis
* Game 1: Grizzlies at Thunder (Sun. April 20, 1 ET, ABC)
* 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)*
* if necessary
Series tied 0-0
(2) Houston vs. (7) Golden State
* Game 1: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. April 20, 9:30 ET, TNT)
* 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)*
* 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 (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)*
* 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 (Mon. April 21, 10 ET, TNT)
* 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)*
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)
