The 2025 NBA playoffs have begun. On Saturday, the Pacers, Nuggets, Knicks, and Timberwolves all secured victories in their Game 1 matchups, marking the start of the first round. Sunday features the remaining four series, with the Thunder facing the Grizzlies, the Celtics playing the Magic, the Cavaliers battling the Heat, and the Rockets taking on the Warriors.
This year`s Western Conference boasts several compelling first-round series. Despite being the seventh seed and having playoff experience, the Warriors are considered underdogs against the second-seeded Rockets, who are relatively new to the playoff scene. Luka Dončić made his playoff debut for the Lakers, scoring 37 points against the Timberwolves on Saturday, but it wasn`t enough as L.A. struggled inside. The matchup between the fourth-seeded Nuggets and fifth-seeded Clippers is highly anticipated and could swing either way, featuring stars like Nikola Jokić and Kawhi Leonard. Game 1 in Denver went to overtime, with the Nuggets ultimately winning.
In the Eastern Conference, experts predict a more straightforward first round. The Cavaliers and Celtics are expected to handle the Heat and Magic, respectively, based on team strength. While the Knicks lost their regular season series against the Pistons, they are still favored to win their best-of-seven series, demonstrated by their Game 1 victory fueled by a strong fourth-quarter performance. The Bucks and Pacers rivalry is renewed in their 4-5 matchup, but Milwaukee began the series without Damian Lillard.
However, playoff history consistently shows that surprises are always possible.
2025 NBA Playoff Bracket
East First-Round Matchups
No. 1 Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Heat
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Magic
No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Pistons
No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 5 Bucks
West First-Round Matchups
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 Grizzlies
No. 2 Rockets vs. No. 7 Warriors
No. 3 Lakers vs. No. 6 Timberwolves
No. 4 Nuggets vs. No. 5 Clippers
2025 NBA Playoffs: First-Round Schedule and Scores
All Times are Eastern
Saturday, April 19
- Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
- Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110
- Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
- Game 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
Sunday, April 20
- Game 1: Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80
- Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86
- Game 1: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100
- Game 1: Rockets vs. Warriors, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Monday, April 21
- Game 2: Knicks vs. Pistons, 7:30 p.m., TNT/Max
- Game 2: Nuggets vs. Clippers, 10 p.m., TNT/Max
Tuesday, April 22
- Game 2: Pacers vs. Bucks, 7 p.m., NBA TV/fubo
- Game 2: Thunder vs. Grizzlies, 7:30 p.m., TNT/Max
- Game 2: Lakers vs. Timberwolves, 10 p.m., TNT/Max
Wednesday, April 23
- Game 2: Celtics vs. Magic, 7 p.m., TNT/Max
- Game 2: Cavaliers vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV/fubo
- Game 2: Rockets vs. Warriors, 9:30 p.m., TNT/Max
Thursday, April 24
- Game 3: Pistons vs. Knicks, 7 p.m., TNT/fubo
- Game 3: Grizzlies vs. Thunder, 9:30 p.m., TNT
- Game 3: Clippers vs. Nuggets, 10 p.m., TV TBD
Friday, April 25
- Game 3: Magic vs. Celtics, 7 p.m., ESPN/fubo
- Game 3: Bucks vs. Pacers, 8 p.m., ESPNU/NBA TV/fubo
- Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Lakers, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Saturday, April 26
- Game 3: Heat vs. Cavaliers, 1 p.m., ABC/fubo
- Game 4: Grizzlies vs. Thunder, 3:30 p.m., TNT/Max
- Game 4: Clippers vs. Nuggets, 6 p.m., TNT/Max
- Game 3: Warriors vs. Rockets, 8:30 p.m., TV TBD
Sunday, April 27
- Game 4: Pistons vs. Knicks, 1 p.m., ABC/fubo
- Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Lakers, 3:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
- Game 4: Magic vs. Celtics, 7 p.m., TNT/Max
- Game 4: Bucks vs. Pacers, 9:30 p.m., TNT/Max
Monday, April 28
- Game 4: Heat vs. Cavaliers, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 5: Thunder vs. Grizzlies, Time/TV TBD
- Game 4: Warriors vs. Rockets, 10 p.m., TNT/Max
Tuesday, April 29
- *Game 5: Celtics vs. Magic, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 5: Knicks vs. Pistons, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 5: Pacers vs. Bucks, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 5: Nuggets vs. Clippers, Time/TV TBD
Wednesday, April 30
- *Game 5: Cavaliers vs. Heat, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 5: Rockets vs. Warriors, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 5: Lakers vs. Timberwolves, Time/TV TBD
Thursday, May 1
- *Game 6: Magic vs. Celtics, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 6: Pistons vs. Knicks, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 6: Grizzlies vs. Thunder, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 6: Clippers vs. Nuggets, Time/TV TBD
Friday, May 2
- *Game 6: Heat vs. Cavaliers, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 6: Bucks vs. Pacers, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 6: Warriors vs. Rockets, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Lakers, Time/TV TBD
Saturday, May 3
- *Game 7: Celtics vs. Magic, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 7: Knicks vs. Pistons, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 7: Thunder vs. Grizzlies, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 7: Nuggets vs. Clippers, Time/TV TBD
Sunday, May 4
- *Game 7: Cavaliers vs. Heat, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 7: Pacers vs. Bucks, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 7: Rockets vs. Warriors, Time/TV TBD
- *Game 7: Lakers vs. Timberwolves, Time/TV TBD
2025 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule and Scores
All Times are Eastern
Tuesday, April 15
- Magic 120, Hawks 95
- Warriors 121, Grizzlies 116
Wednesday, April 16
- Heat 109, Bulls 90
- Mavericks 120, Kings 106
Friday, April 18
- Heat 123, Hawks 114
- Grizzlies 120, Mavericks 106
2025 NBA Playoffs: Key Dates
- April 13: Final day of regular season
- April 15-18: Play-In Tournament
- April 19: Playoffs begin
- May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
- June 5: NBA Finals begin
Jasper Hawthorne