The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs tips off Saturday, 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.
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. The final seeding came down to the last day of the regular season, as the Minnesota Timberwolves claimed the No. 6 seed to avoid the play-in.
After the play-in tournament concludes 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.
MORE: Play-in tournament coverage |
Offseason guides
EASTERN CONFERENCE
TBD
Game 1, April 20 : Play-in winner at Cleveland (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2, April 23: Play-in winner at Cleveland (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
Game 3, April 26: Cleveland at play-in winner (1 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4, April 28: Cleveland at play-in winner (TBD)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Cleveland (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Cleveland at play-in winner (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Cleveland (TBD)
2:31
Brian Windhorst: The Celtics are the favorites to win the title
Brian Windhorst and Kendrick Perkins explain why they have the Celtics as the favorites going into the playoffs.
More:
Game 1, April 20: Orlando at Boston (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
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)
More: Game 1, April 19: Detroit at New York (6 p.m. ET, ESPN) More: Game 1, April 19: Milwaukee at Indiana (1 p.m. ET, ESPN) More: Game 1, April 20: Play-in winner at Oklahoma (1 p.m. ET, ABC) More: Game 1, April 20: Golden State at Houston (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT) More: Game 1, April 19: Timberwolves at Lakers (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) More: Game 1, April 19: Clippers at Nuggets (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) More:
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)
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)WESTERN CONFERENCE
TBD
Game 2, April 22: Play-in winner at Cleveland (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 24: Oklahoma at play-in winner (TBD, TNT)
Game 4, April 26: Oklahoma at play-in winner (3:30 p.m ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 28 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Oklahoma (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Oklahoma at play-in winner (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Oklahoma (TBD)
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)
Game 2, April 22: Timberwolves at Lakers (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 25: Lakers at Timberwolves (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4, April 27: Lakers at Timberwolves (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Timberwolves at Lakers (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Lakers at Timberwolves (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Timberwolves at Lakers (TBD)
Game 2, April 21: Clippers at Nuggets (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 24: Nuggets at Clippers (TBD, NBA TV)
Game 4, April 26: Nuggets at Clippers (6 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Clippers at Nuggets (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Nuggets at Clippers (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Clippers at Nuggets (TBD)
