The lineup for the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs is now finalized. The Golden State Warriors secured the last remaining spot by defeating the Houston Rockets in a decisive Game 7 on Sunday night, concluding the first round. The conference semifinals feature these compelling matchups: Cleveland Cavaliers versus Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics against New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder facing the Denver Nuggets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves taking on the Golden State Warriors. Interestingly, the second round commenced before the first round officially ended, with the Indiana Pacers already clinching an upset victory over the Cavaliers in their Game 1 clash in Cleveland.
On Saturday night, the Denver Nuggets also advanced after winning their own Game 7 showdown, eliminating the Los Angeles Clippers. This victory sets up a series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept the Memphis Grizzlies in their first-round series. The Thunder are widely considered the favorites to win the championship and are set to begin their series against Denver on Monday.
In the Eastern Conference, the top four seeds successfully navigated the first round. The number one seeded Cleveland Cavaliers swept aside the Miami Heat. The second-seeded Boston Celtics and fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers each won their respective series in five games, overcoming the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks. The third-seeded New York Knicks advanced by defeating the Detroit Pistons in six games. The highly anticipated series between the Knicks and Celtics is scheduled to tip off Monday in Boston.
2025 NBA Playoffs: First Round Results
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: 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
Game 5: Timberwolves 103, Lakers 96 (Minnesota wins 4-1)
Thursday, May 1
Game 6: Knicks 116, Pistons 113 (New York wins 4-2)
Game 6: Clippers 111, Nuggets 105 (Series tied, 3-3)
Friday, May 2
Game 6: Rockets 115, Warriors 107
Saturday, May 3
Game 7: Nuggets 120, Clippers 101 (Denver wins 4-3)
Sunday, May 4
Game 7: Warriors 103, Rockets 89 (Golden State wins 4-3)
2025 NBA Playoffs: Second Round Schedule and Results
All times Eastern
Sunday, May 4
Game 1: Pacers 121, Cavaliers 112
Monday, May 5
Game 1: Celtics vs. Knicks, 7 p.m.
Game 1: Thunder vs. Nuggets, 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 6
Game 2: Cavaliers vs. Pacers, 7 p.m.
Game 1: Timberwolves vs. Warriors, 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7
Game 2: Celtics vs. Knicks, 7 p.m.
Game 2: Thunder vs. Nuggets, 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 8
Game 2: Timberwolves vs. Warriors, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, May 9
Game 3: Pacers vs. Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: Nuggets vs. Thunder, 10 p.m.
Saturday, May 10
Game 3: Knicks vs. Celtics, 3:30 p.m.
Game 3: Warriors vs. Timberwolves, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 11
Game 4: Nuggets vs. Thunder, 3:30 p.m.
Game 4: Pacers vs. Cavaliers, 8 p.m.
Monday, May 12
Game 4: Knicks vs. Celtics, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: Warriors vs. Timberwolves, 10 p.m.
Tuesday, May 13
*Game 5: Cavaliers vs. Pacers, Time/TV TBD
*Game 5: Thunder vs. Nuggets, Time/TV TBD
Wednesday, May 14
*Game 5: Celtics vs. Knicks, Time/TV TBD
*Game 5: Timberwolves vs. Warriors, Time/TV TBD
Thursday, May 15
*Game 6: Pacers vs. Cavaliers, Time/TV TBD
*Game 6: Nuggets vs. Thunder, Time/TV TBD
Friday, May 16
*Game 6: Knicks vs. Celtics, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 18
*Game 6: Warriors vs. Timberwolves, Time/TV TBD
*Game 7: Cavaliers vs. Pacers, Time/TV TBD
*Game 7: Thunder vs. Nuggets, Time/TV TBD
Monday, May 19
*Game 7: Celtics vs. Knicks, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 20
*Game 7: Timberwolves vs. Warriors, 8:30 p.m.
2025 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule and 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
2025 NBA Playoffs: Key Dates
- April 15-18: Play-In Tournament
- April 19: Playoffs begin
- May 3-6: Second round begins
- May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
- May 18-21: Conference finals begin
- June 5: NBA Finals begin
Jasper Hawthorne