NBA Playoffs 2025: Bracket, start dates, TV times, matchups, and scores for first round
Here are the matchups, bracket, and schedule for the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
The 2025 NBA Playoff picture is set, with 16 teams competing for the championship after the final four spots are determined by the play-in tournament. The Boston Celtics are dreaming of back-to-back championships, but it won’t be easy: parity is in full swing with a deep and talented field of contenders. The NBA has had a unique champion each of the last six years, and that streak could extend another year with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers among the title favorites this year.
The Thunder put up the second-best net rating in NBA history behind the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls by out-scoring opponents by 12.7 points per 100 possessions. OKC finished 68-14 despite a long injury to their second best player, big man Chet Holmgren, but heads into the playoffs healthy. The Thunder should have a championship-or-bust mentality, but their second round exit last year leaves the rest of the West hopeful to pull an upset.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors have renewed hope after acing the trade deadline. The Lakers somehow landed Luka Doncic in the wildest trade in league history. The Warriors grabbed Jimmy Butler, and have been cruising ever since. Neither team has a traditional center playing big minutes, but each has length and defensive versatility to go along with multiple stars driving the offense. The East seems like it will come down to the Celtics vs. the Cavs, but we’ve seen sleepers make Cinderella runs to the Eastern Conference Finals several times in recent years, including the Indiana Pacers’ run last year.
The bracket won’t be fully determined until the results of the play-in tournament. Read about how the play-in tournament works here. The Warriors will face the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 7 seed in the West, with the Orlando Magic facing the Atlanta Hawks for the 7th spot in the East. The Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings make up a forgettable 9-10 West trying to backdoor their way into the No. 8 seed, while the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat have similar dreams in the East.
Here are the 2025 NBA Playoff series already determined, starting with the East.
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 seed winner
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 seed winner.
No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons
No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks
Now here’s the Western Conference matchups:
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 seed winner
No. 2 Houston Rockets vs. No. 7 seed winner
No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
Here’s the full playoff bracket and schedule for every first round matchup, plus a look at the play-in tournament.
NBA Playoffs 2025 bracket
Every series is a best-of-7 in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Here’s a look at the playoff bracket, which includes the single-elimination play-in tournament matchups on the side.
NBA Playoffs 2025: Start dates, TV times, and more
2025 NBA playoff schedule
All times Eastern
Saturday, April 19
Game 1: Pacers vs. Bucks, 1 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Game 1: Nuggets vs. Clippers, 3:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Game 1: Knicks vs. Pistons, 6 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Game 1: Lakers vs. Timberwolves, 8:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
Sunday, April 20
Game 1: Cavaliers vs. TBD, Time/Channel TBD
Game 1: Celtics vs. Magic/Hawks, Time/Channel TBD
Game 1: Thunder vs. TBD, Time/Channel TBD
Game 1: Rockets vs. Warriors/Grizzlies, Time/Channel TBD
The rest of the NBA Playoffs schedule will be released later this week.
2025 NBA Play-In Tournament schedule
Tuesday, April 15
Wednesday, April 16
Friday, April 18
- East 7-8 loser vs. East 9-10 winner, ESPN
- West 7-8 loser vs. West 9-10 winner, TNT