The 2025 NBA Playoffs have begun, and several first-round series are already decided, while others are still intensely competitive. The Indiana Pacers have successfully advanced to the second round following a dramatic Game 5 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. They are now set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers, who secured their spot by sweeping the Miami Heat in Game 4. The Oklahoma City Thunder also advanced swiftly, completing a sweep against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons have extended their series against the New York Knicks by forcing a Game 6. Other ongoing series include the Orlando Magic versus the Boston Celtics and the LA Clippers taking on the Denver Nuggets. In other matchups, the Golden State Warriors hold a 3-1 lead over the Houston Rockets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are similarly ahead 3-1 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Thirteen teams currently remain in contention for the Larry O`Brien trophy, a number that will be reduced to eight by Sunday, May 4.
As the NBA playoffs continue, here is a look at the results and upcoming schedule for the first round, along with key playoff dates. As is often seen, unexpected outcomes are always possible in the postseason.
2025 NBA Playoff Bracket
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 109, Magic 100
Game 2: Cavaliers 121, Heat, 112
Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94 - Thursday, April 24
Game 3: Knicks 118, Pistons 116
Game 3: Thunder 114, Grizzlies 108
Game 3: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83 - Friday, April 25
Game 3: Magic 95, Celtics 93
Game 3: Bucks 117, Pacers 101
Game 3: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 104 - Saturday, April 26
Game 3: Cavaliers 124, Heat 87
Game 4: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115 (Oklahoma City wins 4-0)
Game 4: Nuggets 101, Clippers 99
Game 3: Warriors 104, Rockets 93 - Sunday, April 27
Game 4: Knicks 94, Pistons 93
Game 4: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 113
Game 4: Celtics 107, Magic 98
Game 4: Pacers 129, Bucks 103 - Monday, April 28
Game 4: Cavaliers 138, Heat 83 (Cleveland wins 4-0)
Game 4: Warriors 109, Rockets 106 - Tuesday, April 29
Game 5: Pacers 119, Bucks 118 (Indiana wins 4-1)
Game 5: Knicks vs. Pistons, 7:30 p.m., TNT/Max (New York leads 3-1)
Game 5: Celtics vs. Magic, 8:30 p.m., NBA TV/fubo (Boston leads 3-1)
Game 5: Nuggets vs. Clippers, 10 p.m., TNT/Max (Series tied 2-2) - Wednesday, April 30
Game 5: Rockets vs. Warriors, 7:30 p.m., TNT/Max (Golden State leads 3-1)
Game 5: Lakers vs. Timberwolves, 10 p.m., TNT/Max (Minnesota leads 3-1) - Thursday, May 1
*Game 6: Magic vs. Celtics, Time/TV TBD
*Game 6: Pistons vs. Knicks, Time/TV TBD
Game 6: Clippers vs. Nuggets, Time/TV TBD - Friday, May 2
*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: Nuggets vs. Clippers, Time/TV TBD - Sunday, May 4
*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, 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 15-18: Play-In Tournament
- April 19: Playoffs begin
- May 5-6 (or May 3-4): Second round begins
- May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
- May 20-21 (or May 18-19): Conference finals begin
- June 5: NBA Finals begin
Jasper Hawthorne