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.
Lebron James laughs with Anthony Edwards showing him he isn’t worried about going down on the series
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 at Heat (Mon. April 28, 7:30 ET, TNT)
Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers (Wed. April 30, 7 ET, NBA TV)*
Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
Cavaliers lead series 3-0
* if necessary
(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 at Magic (Sun. April 27, 7 ET, TNT)
Game 5: Magic at Celtics (Tue. April 29, 8:30 ET, NBA TV)
Game 6: Celtics at Magic (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
Game 7: Magic at Celtics (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
Celtics lead series 2-1
* if necessary
(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 at Knicks (Tue. April 29, 7:30 ET, TNT)
Game 6: Knicks at Pistons (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
Game 7: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
Knicks lead series 3-1
* if necessary
(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 at Bucks (Sun. April 27, 9:30 ET, TNT)
Game 5: Bucks at Pacers (Tue. April 29, 6 ET, NBA TV)
Game 6: Pacers at Bucks (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
Game 7: Bucks at Pacers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
Pacers lead series 2-1
* if necessary
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: Rockets at Warriors (Mon. April 28, 10 ET, TNT)
Game 5: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 30, 7:30 ET, TNT)
Game 6: Rockets at Warriors (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
Game 7: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
Warriors lead series 2-1
* if necessary
(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: Lakers at Timberwolves (Sun. April 27, 3:30 ET, ABC)
Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers (Wed. April 30, 10 ET, TNT)
Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
Timberwolves lead series 2-1
* if necessary
(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 at Clippers 99
Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets (Tue. April 29, 10 ET, TNT)
Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers (Thu. May 1, TBD)
Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
Series tied 2-2
* if necessary
Conference Semifinals 2025
(1) Oklahoma City vs. TBD
- 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)
