The 2025 NBA playoffs are progressing, with the second round coming into view. Eleven teams are still competing. Five teams—the Thunder, Cavaliers, Pacers, Celtics, and Timberwolves—have secured their spot in the next round. The Minnesota Timberwolves notably eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Led by Anthony Edwards, the sixth seed Timberwolves defeated the team featuring LeBron James and Luka Dončić in a five-game series.
Three first-round series are heading to a Game 6. The matchups are Knicks vs. Pistons, Nuggets vs. Clippers, and Rockets vs. Warriors. All three series currently stand at 3-2 after five games, with New York, Denver, and Golden State needing just one more win to advance.
The number of remaining teams will be reduced to eight by the end of the weekend. The second round is scheduled to start on or before Monday, May 5th.
Below is the current NBA playoff bracket, including results and the upcoming schedule, as the competition continues. While there was initial consensus among experts on the first-round series outcomes, the playoffs always remind us that upsets and surprises are common.
2025 NBA Playoff Bracket
2025 NBA Playoffs: Schedule, Scores
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: Pistons 106, Knicks 103
Game 5: Celtics 120, Magic 89 (Boston wins 4-1)
Game 5: Nuggets 131, Clippers 115
Wednesday, April 30
Game 5: Rockets 131, Warriors 116 (Golden State leads 3-2)
Game 5: Timberwolves 103, Lakers 96 (Minnesota wins 4-1)
Thursday, May 1
Game 6: Pistons vs. Knicks (New York leads 3-2)
Game 6: Clippers vs. Nuggets (Denver leads 3-2)
Friday, May 2
Game 6: Warriors vs. Rockets
Saturday, May 3
*Game 7: Knicks vs. Pistons
*Game 7: Nuggets vs. Clippers
Sunday, May 4
*Game 7: Rockets vs. Warriors
Game 1: Cavaliers vs. Pacers
2025 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule, Scores
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