NBA Playoffs 2025: First-Round Schedule, Scores, Highlights & Key Updates

 The 2025 NBA playoffs are officially underway, and fans can expect a postseason packed with excitement.

After a dominant season, the Cleveland Cavaliers secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, clinched the No. 2 spot, led by Jayson Tatum and Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.

2025 NBA Playoffs Coverage: From the play-in tournament to the NBA Finals, ESPN provides complete coverage.

• Game-by-game analysis: East | West

• Postseason preview: Key questions for every team

• Pelton’s projections: Predicting each series through the Finals

• Kram’s picks: 13 non-stars who could swing the first round

• Offseason guides: What’s next for eliminated teams

• What to know: News, schedule, scores, highlights

In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, behind MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are ready to contend for another title, claiming the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive year. The Houston Rockets, one of the most improved teams this season, earned the No. 2 spot, with LeBron James and Luka Dončić leading the Los Angeles Lakers to No. 3.

Following the play-in tournament’s conclusion, the 16-team playoffs begin on Saturday, April 19, with four games, followed by another four on April 20. In the first round, each conference features eight teams in a best-of-seven series. The team with the better regular-season record holds home-court advantage in each series, with games played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format. No reseeding occurs after each round.

Stay tuned for full coverage throughout the playoffs, leading up to the 2025 NBA Finals, which tip off on June 5, airing on ABC and the ESPN App.

Eastern Conference First-Round Matchups:

Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs. Miami Heat (8)
Game 1, April 20: Miami at Cleveland (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
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)

Boston Celtics (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)
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)

New York Knicks (3) vs. Detroit Pistons (6)
(Knicks lead series, 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)

Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)
(Pacers lead series, 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)

Western Conference First-Round Matchups:

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8)
Game 1, April 20: Memphis at Oklahoma City (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
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)

Houston Rockets (2) vs. Golden State Warriors (7)
Game 1, April 20: Golden State at Houston (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
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)

Los Angeles Lakers (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
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)

Denver Nuggets (4) vs. LA Clippers (5)
(Nuggets lead series, 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)

Stay tuned for all the action as the NBA playoffs unfold!