2025 NBA Playoffs: First Round Matchups and Schedule

The 2025 NBA playoffs have begun! Following the Play-In Tournament, where the Warriors, Magic, Heat, and Grizzlies secured the final spots, the first round of the 16-team playoffs is now underway. Saturday marked the start of the postseason with four exciting series: Pacers vs. Bucks, Nuggets vs. Clippers, Knicks vs. Pistons, and Lakers vs. Timberwolves.

Sunday`s schedule features the tip-off for Thunder vs. Grizzlies, Cavaliers vs. Heat, Celtics vs. Magic, and Warriors vs. Rockets series.

The Western Conference boasts several compelling first-round matchups. Despite being the seventh seed, the experienced Warriors are favored against the second-seeded Rockets, who are relatively new to the playoff scene. Luka Dončić made his playoff debut with the Lakers, facing Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and the Timberwolves, a team Dončić and the Mavericks defeated in the 2024 Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets vs. Clippers series, a 4-5 matchup, is highly anticipated and could swing either way with stars like Nikola Jokić and Kawhi Leonard facing off.

In the Eastern Conference, experts anticipate a more predictable 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 heavily favored to win this best-of-seven series and potentially advance to a second-round showdown with Boston. The Bucks vs. Pacers matchup renews a divisional rivalry, but the Bucks will begin the series without Damian Lillard.

As playoff history shows, surprises are always possible.

2025 NBA Playoff Bracket

Eastern Conference 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

Western Conference 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 vs. Grizzlies, 1 p.m., ABC/fubo
• Game 1: Celtics vs. Magic, 3:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
• Game 1: Cavaliers vs. Heat, 7 p.m., TNT/fubo
• 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: 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: End of Regular Season
• April 15-18: Play-In Tournament
• April 19: Playoffs Start
• May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
• June 5: NBA Finals Begin