Apr 21, 2025, 03:32 PM ET
The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs tips has begun, and fans can expect an action-filled postseason.
After a historic season of dominance, the Cleveland Cavaliers have claimed the No. 1 seed in the East. The defending champions Boston Celtics wrapped up the No. 2 seed, led by Jayson Tatum and reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.
From the play-in tournament to the NBA Finals, ESPN has you covered throughout the playoffs.
• Game-by-game analysis: East | West
• Postseason preview: Big questions for each team
• Pelton: Projecting each series through the Finals
• Kram: 13 non-stars who could swing the 1st round
• Offseason guide: What’s next for eliminated teams
• What to know: News, schedule, scores, highlights
In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder are ready to rumble after commanding the No. 1 seed for a second straight season behind MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Finishing at No. 2 were the Houston Rockets, one of the season’s most improved teams. LeBron James and Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a No. 3 seed.
After the play-in tournament concluded on Friday, the 16-team NBA playoffs begin on Saturday with four games, followed by and four more on April 20. Eight teams from each conference reach the first round and face off in a best-of-seven series to advance. All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-seven, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home-court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary).
We’ll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2025 NBA Finals, which tip off June 5 on ABC and the ESPN App.
Each series picked through the Finals | Offseason guides
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers lead (8) Miami Heat, 1-0
Game 1: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100
Game 2, April 23: Miami at Cleveland (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
Game 3, April 26: Cleveland at Miami (1 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4, April 28: Cleveland at Miami (TBD)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Miami at Cleveland (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Cleveland at Miami (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Miami at Cleveland (TBD)
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(2) Boston Celtics lead (7) Orlando Magic, 1-0
Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86
Game 2, April 23: Orlando at Boston (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 25: Boston at Orlando (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4, April 27: Boston at Orlando (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Orlando at Boston (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Boston at Orlando (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Orlando at Boston (TBD)
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(3) New York Knicks lead (6) Detroit Pistons, 1-0
Game 1, April 19: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
Game 2, April 21: Detroit at New York (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 24: New York at Detroit (TBD, TNT)
Game 4, April 27: New York at Detroit (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Detroit at New York (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): New York at Detroit (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Detroit at New York (TBD)
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(4) Indiana Pacers lead (5) Milwaukee Bucks, 1-0
Game 1, April 19: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Game 2, April 22: Milwaukee at Indiana (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
Game 3, April 25: Indiana at Milwaukee (8 p.m. ET, ESPNU/NBA TV)
Game 4, April 27: Indiana at Milwaukee (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Indiana at Milwaukee (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana (TBD)
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder lead (8) Memphis Grizzlies, 1-0
Game 1, April 20: Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80
Game 2, April 22: Memphis at Oklahoma City (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 24: Oklahoma City at Memphis (TBD, TNT)
Game 4, April 26: Oklahoma City at Memphis (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 28 (if necessary): Memphis at Oklahoma City (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Oklahoma City at Memphis (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Memphis at Oklahoma City (TBD)
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(7) Golden State Warriors lead (2) Houston Rockets, 1-0
Game 1, April 20: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
Game 2, April 23: Golden State at Houston (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 26: Houston at Golden State (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4, April 28: Houston at Golden State (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Golden State at Houston (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Houston at Golden State (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Golden State at Houston (TBD)
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(6) Minnesota Timberwolves lead (3) Los Angeles Lakers, 1-0
Game 1, April 19: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
Game 2, April 22: Minnesota at Los Angeles (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 25: Los Angeles at Minnesota (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4, April 27: Los Angeles at Minnesota (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Minnesota at Los Angeles (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Los Angeles at Minnesota (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Minnesota at Los Angeles (TBD)
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(4) Denver Nuggets lead (5) LA Clippers, 1-0
Game 1, April 19: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
Game 2, April 21: LA at Denver (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 24: Denver at LA (TBD, NBA TV)
Game 4, April 26: Denver at LA (6 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): LA at Denver (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Denver at LA (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): LA at Denver (TBD)
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