The 2025 NBA playoffs have officially commenced.
The Western Conference features captivating first-round contests. As of Wednesday night`s games, three out of the four series in the West are tied at 1-1: the Nuggets vs. Clippers, Lakers vs. Timberwolves, and Rockets vs. Warriors. Meanwhile, the top-seeded Thunder hold a commanding 2-0 advantage over the Grizzlies.
In the Eastern Conference, experts anticipated a straightforward first round, which is largely proving true so far. The Cavaliers, Celtics, and Pacers each have a 2-0 lead against the Heat, Magic, and Bucks, respectively. The sole tied series in the East after two games is the Knicks vs. Pistons. The Knicks secured Game 1 with a fierce fourth-quarter rally, but the Pistons bounced back to win Game 2 before the series heads to Detroit.
As is often the case, the playoffs remind us that unpredictability is part of the game.
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 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 109, Magic 100
- Game 2: Cavaliers 121, Heat, 112
- Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94
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., NBA TV
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 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
2025 NBA Playoffs: Key Dates
- April 13: Final day of the regular season
- April 15-18: Play-In Tournament
- April 19: Playoffs commence
- May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
- June 5: NBA Finals begin
Jasper Hawthorne