ESPN
Apr 19, 2025, 11:17 PM ET
The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs tips has begun, and fans can expect an action-filled postseason.
After a historic season of dominance, the Cleveland Cavaliers have claimed the No. 1 seed in the East. The defending champions Boston Celtics wrapped up the No. 2 seed, led by Jayson Tatum and reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.
In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder are ready to rumble after commanding the No. 1 seed for a second straight season behind MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Finishing at No. 2 were the Houston Rockets, one of the season's most improved teams. LeBron James and Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a No. 3 seed.
After the play-in tournament concluded on Friday, the 16-team NBA playoffs begin on Saturday with four games, followed by and four more on April 20. Eight teams from each conference reach the first round and face off in a best-of-seven series to advance. All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-seven, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home-court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary).
We'll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2025 NBA Finals, which tip off June 5 on ABC and the ESPN App.
: Each series picked through the Finals | Offseason guides
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs. Miami Heat (8)
Game 1, April 20: Miami at Cleveland (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2, April 23: Miami at Cleveland (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
Game 3, April 26: Cleveland at Miami (1 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4, April 28: Cleveland at Miami (TBD)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Miami at Cleveland (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Cleveland at Miami (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Miami at Cleveland (TBD)
Davion Mitchell buries dagger 3 in OT to clinch 8-seed for the Heat
Davion Mitchell silences the Atlanta crowd after missing a 3-pointer, then getting his own rebound and draining the shot.
More:
Cavs' Kenny Atkinson named Coach of the Year by peers
'Battle-tested' Heat advance as first ever 10-seed to make playoffs
Donovan Mitchell expected to be ready for Cavaliers' playoff run
Cavaliers clinch No. 1 seed with win over Bulls
MacMahon: How Darius Garland's 'pivotal' season is fueling the Cavaliers
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)
Game 1, April 20: Orlando at Boston (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 2, April 23: Orlando at Boston (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 25: Boston at Orlando (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4, April 27: Boston at Orlando (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Orlando at Boston (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Boston at Orlando (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Orlando at Boston (TBD)
Why Stephen A. thinks there's been a lack of appreciation for Jayson Tatum
Stephen A. Smith details why the Celtics' Jayson Tatum should have more recognition for his career thus far.
More:
Celtics star Jaylen Brown looks 'good' despite knee bruise
Celtics give G League MVP JD Davison 2-year deal, agent says
Herring: Boston's historic 3-point performance continues -- for better or worse
Spears: Banchero talks about the playoff race, Duke basketball, and more
New York Knicks (3) vs. Detroit Pistons (6)
(Knicks lead series, 1-0)
Game 1, April 19: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
Game 2, April 21: Detroit at New York (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 24: New York at Detroit (TBD, TNT)
Game 4, April 27: New York at Detroit (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Detroit at New York (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): New York at Detroit (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Detroit at New York (TBD)
Knicks use 21-0 run to take control in 4th vs. Pistons
The Knicks go off for 21 unanswered points to send Madison Square Garden into a frenzy vs. the Pistons.
More:
Knicks wrest Game 1 away from Pistons with 21-0 run
Knicks get East's No. 3 seed, seek 'urgency' ahead of playoffs
Pistons, worst in NBA last season, clinch playoff berth
Herring: Tom Thibodeau and the minutes-heavy Knicks are at it again
Woodyard: Cade Cunningham is eyeing more success for the Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)
(Pacers lead series, 1-0)
Game 1, April 19: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Game 2, April 22: Milwaukee at Indiana (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
Game 3, April 25: Indiana at Milwaukee (8 p.m. ET, ESPNU/NBA TV)
Game 4, April 27: Indiana at Milwaukee (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Indiana at Milwaukee (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana (TBD)
Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton jaw at each other during a timeout
Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton start jawing at each other as both teams are trying to go to their bench.
More:
Pacers set tone with blowout win over Bucks in Game 1
Sources: Bucks' Damian Lillard expected to return for Game 2 or 3
Collier: How a new focus changed Giannis' game and improved the Bucks' playoff outlook
Collier: What Kyle Kuzma brings to Bucks: 'A better chance to win this year'
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8)
Game 1, April 20: Memphis at Oklahoma City (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 2, April 22: Memphis at Oklahoma City (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 24: Oklahoma City at Memphis (TBD, TNT)
Game 4, April 26: Oklahoma City at Memphis (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 28 (if necessary): Memphis at Oklahoma City (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Oklahoma City at Memphis (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Memphis at Oklahoma City (TBD)
Ja Morant on his ankle: 'I couldn't feel it, that's why I was out there'
Ja Morant reflects on what it was like to play in the Grizzlies' 120-106 win over the Mavericks to advance to the NBA playoffs.
More:
Ja Morant plays through ankle sprain as Grizzlies lock up 8-seed
NBA Finals contenders' top weakness: Who can exploit them?
Bontemps: SGA or Jokic? Results are in for final MVP straw poll
Kram: NBA contenders don't fear the Thunder -- here are 22 reasons they should
Houston Rockets (2) vs. Golden State Warriors (7)
Game 1, April 20: Golden State at Houston (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2, April 23: Golden State at Houston (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 26: Houston at Golden State (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4, April 28: Houston at Golden State (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Golden State at Houston (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Houston at Golden State (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Golden State at Houston (TBD)
How Jimmy Butler rejuvenated the Warriors' season
Golden State's postseason hopes rest on Jimmy Butler's impact as the Warriors push for one more run with their core.
More:
Curry, Warriors outlast Grizzlies in play-in thriller to clinch playoff spot
MacMahon: How Ime Udoka built the Houston Rockets' new identity
Youngmisuk: Butler, Green have built a quick bond to stabilize the Warriors
Los Angeles Lakers (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
Game 1, April 19: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
Game 2, April 22: Minnesota at Los Angeles (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 25: Los Angeles at Minnesota (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4, April 27: Los Angeles at Minnesota (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Minnesota at Los Angeles (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Los Angeles at Minnesota (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Minnesota at Los Angeles (TBD)
Timberwolves top Lakers in Game 1 behind franchise-playoff-record 21 3s
The Timberwolves jump to an early lead and never look back as they hammer the Lakers on the road in Game 1 of their series.
More:
Timberwolves beat Lakers by 22 in Game 1 of playoff series
Doncic: Criticism out of Dallas 'painful,' but 'didn't want to talk back'
Lakers sign Rob Pelinka to contract extension as president/GM
Shelburne: What's behind this stifling, confusing LeBron-led Lakers defense
McMenamin: LeBron, Luka and the one player who could swing the playoffs for the Lakers
MacMahon: The Timberwolves' chemistry with Edwards, Randle and Gobert is 'a work in progress'
Denver Nuggets (4) vs. LA Clippers (5)
(Nuggets lead series, 1-0)
Game 1, April 19: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
Game 2, April 21: LA at Denver (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 24: Denver at LA (TBD, NBA TV)
Game 4, April 26: Denver at LA (6 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): LA at Denver (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Denver at LA (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): LA at Denver (TBD)
Russell Westbrook's clutch defensive play helps Nuggets hang on in Game 1
Russell Westbrook breaks up an inbounds pass that goes off of James Harden for a Clippers turnover late in overtime.
More:
Nuggets erase 15-point deficit, stun Clippers in Game 1 OT win
Nuggets owner: Coach, GM firings months in making
Nuggets' Nikola Jokic wraps up triple-double average for season
MacMahon/Shelburne: Why the Nuggets suddenly fired their coach and GM
