The 2025 NBA playoffs have officially commenced. The opening weekend saw the Pacers, Nuggets, Knicks, and Timberwolves secure Game 1 victories on Saturday, followed by wins for the Thunder, Celtics, Cavaliers, and Warriors on Sunday. The series shifted on Monday, with the Pistons and Clippers both leveling their matchups at 1-1 against the Knicks and Nuggets, respectively. Tuesday`s action saw the Thunder and Pacers establish dominant 2-0 leads over the Grizzlies and Bucks, while the Lakers bounced back to tie their series with the Timberwolves at 1-1.
The Western Conference features several compelling first-round matchups this year. The experienced seventh seed, the Warriors, are notably favored over the less playoff-tested second seed, the Rockets; Golden State demonstrated this advantage with a Sunday road win. The Lakers, after struggling physically in Game 1 against Minnesota, delivered a much more robust performance to secure their Game 2 victory. The clash between the fourth-seeded Nuggets and fifth-seeded Clippers is tightly contested, highlighted by Denver`s Game 1 overtime triumph and the Clippers` Game 2 win, where Kawhi Leonard put up 39 points.
In the Eastern Conference, many anticipate predictable outcomes for the top seeds. As expected, the Cavaliers and Celtics successfully opened their series against the Heat and Magic, respectively, with wins on Sunday. The Knicks secured Game 1 against the Pistons with a strong fourth quarter, but the Pistons bounced back to win Game 2. The 4-5 series revives the rivalry between the Bucks and Pacers; however, the Pacers currently hold a commanding 2-0 lead.
However, as history consistently shows, the playoffs are full of surprises, and anything can happen.
2025 NBA Playoff Bracket Overview
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 & Scores
All times Eastern
Saturday, April 19
Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
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: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
Monday, April 21
Game 2: Pistons 100, Knicks 94
Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
Tuesday, April 22
Game 2: Pacers 125, Bucks 115
Game 2: Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99
Game 2: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85
Wednesday, April 23
Game 2: Celtics vs. Magic, 7 p.m.
Game 2: Cavaliers vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Rockets vs. Warriors, 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 24
Game 3: Pistons vs. Knicks, 7 p.m.
Game 3: Grizzlies vs. Thunder, 9:30 p.m.
Game 3: Clippers vs. Nuggets, 10 p.m.
Friday, April 25
Game 3: Magic vs. Celtics, 7 p.m.
Game 3: Bucks vs. Pacers, 8 p.m.
Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 26
Game 3: Heat vs. Cavaliers, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Grizzlies vs. Thunder, 3:30 p.m.
Game 4: Clippers vs. Nuggets, 6 p.m.
Game 3: Warriors vs. Rockets, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 27
Game 4: Pistons vs. Knicks, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Lakers, 3:30 p.m.
Game 4: Magic vs. Celtics, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Bucks vs. Pacers, 9:30 p.m.
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.
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 & Results
All times 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 (OT)
Grizzlies 120, Mavericks 106
Key Dates for the 2025 NBA Playoffs
- 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