The NBA Playoffs 2025 Schedule
The 2025 NBA Playoffs tip off on Saturday, April 19, following a four‑day Play‑In Tournament from April 15–18 that finalized the 7th and 8th seeds in each conference .
Sixteen teams—eight per conference—will then battle through best‑of‑seven series in a fixed bracket format, culminating in the NBA Finals beginning June 5 .
This year’s field features historic storylines, including the Miami Heat making history as the first 10th seed to advance via the Play‑In.
Schedule Overview
Play‑In Tournament: April 15–18
First Round: April 19–May 4
Conference Semifinals: May 5–16 (or May 3–14, if series conclude early)
Conference Finals: May 18–May 26
NBA Finals: June 5–June 19 (if necessary)
Game 1 First‑Round Matchups
Saturday, April 19:
Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Denver Nuggets vs. L.A. Clippers
New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons
L.A. Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Sunday, April 20:
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat
Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors
Bracket Breakdown
Eastern Conference
1. (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat
2. (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
3. (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
4. (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic
Western Conference
1. (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies
2. (4) Houston Rockets vs. (5) Golden State Warriors
3. (3) L.A. Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
4. (2) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) L.A. Clippers
Bracket remains fixed—no reseeding—and each series follows a 2‑2‑1‑1‑1 home‑court format .
Notable First‑Round Matchups
Cavs vs. Heat: Miami’s historic Play‑In run meets top‑seeded Cleveland in a rematch of recent Eastern Finals .
Thunder vs. Grizzlies: A clash of young stars in OKC and Memphis, with the Thunder heavy favorites despite Memphis clinching via Play‑In .
Lakers vs. Timberwolves: LeBron James and Anthony Davis host an up‑and‑coming Timberwolves squad led by Anthony Edwards .
How to Watch
National broadcasts are split across ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV, with streaming available on Sling TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, and Max . Check local listings for exact game times and blackout restrictions.
This concise schedule and bracket breakdown will help you bookmark key dates and matchups as the NBA Playoffs 2025 unfold. Stay tuned for up‑to‑the‑minute updates and expert analysis throughout each thrilling round!
FAQs
1. When do the 2025 NBA Playoffs start and end?
The 2025 NBA Playoffs tip off on April 19, 2025, following the conclusion of the Play‑In Tournament on April 18, and will run through mid‑to‑late June, with the Finals potentially concluding as late as June 22, 2025 .
2. How is the 2025 NBA Playoffs bracket structured?
Sixteen teams (eight per conference) compete in a fixed, no‑reseeding bracket, with each round played as a best‑of‑seven series under the 2–2–1–1–1 home‑court format .
3. Where can I view the official NBA Playoffs 2025 bracket online?
You can find the interactive bracket on NBA.com under the Playoffs tab and on Basketball‑Reference’s 2025 Playoffs section, both of which update in real time as series progress .
4. How can I see which NBA games are on today during the 2025 Playoffs?
Check the “NBA Games Today” schedule on Oklahoman.com, which lists all first‑round matchups by date and tip‑off time (e.g., Bucks vs. Pacers at 1 p.m. ET on April 19) .