NBA play-in predictions: Magic, Heat, Warriors, Grizzlies, Bulls
For The Hoopers crew debate which teams will make it into the NBA play-in games.
A basketball season full of 82 games, blockbuster trades and multiple head coach terminations comes down to this: the 2025 NBA playoffs.
Who will be crowned the next NBA champion? Will the Boston Celtics become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018? Will Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers bring Cleveland its first title since 2016? Or will the young core of the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Houston Rockets hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
Before the first round officially gets underway on Friday, the final four spots in the playoffs are up for grabs. The play-in tournament will decide which teams advance to the postseason or are cleared for takeoff to Cancun.
Here’s the complete NBA playoffs schedule, including the play-In tournament dates,
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Play-in tournament schedule
All times Eastern
Tuesday, April 15
Game 1: Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic
- Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. | TNT
- Winner advances to playoffs as No. 7 seed in East
Game 2: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors
- Time/TV: 10 p.m. | TNT
- Winner advances to playoffs as West No. 7 seed
Wednesday, April 16
Game 3: Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls
- Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Loser is eliminated.
Game 4: Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings
- Time/TV: 10 p.m. | ESPN
- Loser is eliminated
Friday, April 18
Game 3 winner vs. Game 1 loser
- Time/TV: TBD | TNT
- Winner advances to playoffs as No. 8 seed in East
Game 4 winner vs. Game 2 loser
- Time/TV: TBD | TNT
- Winner advances to playoffs as No. 8 seed in West
First round
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) TBD
- Game 1: TBD at Cavaliers| Sunday, April 20
- Game 2: TBD at Cavaliers| TBD
- Game 3: Cavaliers at TBD | TBD
- Game 4:Cavaliers at TBD | TBD
- Game 5: TBD at Cavaliers| TBD*
- Game 6: Cavaliers at TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: TBD at Cavaliers| TBD*
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) TBD
- Game 1: TBD at Celtics | Sunday, April 20
- Game 2: TBD at Celtics | TBD
- Game 3: Celtics at TBD | TBD
- Game 4: Celtics at TBD | TBD
- Game 5: TBD at Celtics | TBD*
- Game 6: Celtics at TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: TBD at Celtics | TBD*
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
- Game 1: Pistons at Knicks | Saturday, April 19, 6 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 2: Pistons at Knicks | TBD
- Game 3: Knicks at Pistons | TBD
- Game 4: Knicks at Pistons | TBD
- Game 5: Pistons at Knicks | TBD*
- Game 6: Knicks at Pistons | TBD*
- Game 7: Pistons at Knicks | TBD*
(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
- Game 1: Bucks at Pacers | Saturday, April 19, 1 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 2: Bucks at Pacers | TBD
- Game 3: Pacers at Bucks | TBD
- Game 4: Pacers at Bucks | TBD
- Game 5: Bucks at Pacers | TBD*
- Game 6: Pacers at Bucks | TBD*
- Game 7: Bucks at Pacers | TBD*
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) TBD
- Game 1: TBD at Thunder | Sunday, April 20
- Game 2: TBD at Thunder | TBD
- Game 3: Thunder at TBD | TBD
- Game 4:Thunder at TBD | TBD
- Game 5: TBD at Thunder | TBD*
- Game 6: Thunder at TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: TBD at Thunder | TBD*
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) TBD
- Game 1: TBD at Rockets | Sunday, April 20
- Game 2: TBD at Rockets | TBD
- Game 3: Rockets at TBD | TBD
- Game 4: Rockets at TBD | TBD
- Game 5: TBD at Rockets | TBD*
- Game 6: Rockets at TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: TBD at Rockets | TBD*
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
- Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers | Saturday, April 19, 8:30 p.m. | ABC
- Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers | TBD
- Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves | TBD
- Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves | TBD
- Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers | TBD*
- Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves | TBD*
- Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers | TBD*
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
- Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, April 19, 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets | TBD
- Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers | TBD
- Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers | TBD
- Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets | TBD*
- Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers | TBD*
- Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets | TBD*
Conference semifinals
The conference semifinals is scheduled to begin on May 5-6, but could possibly move up to May 3-4 depending on outcomes of first round.
Conference finals
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Eastern Conference Finals
(Possible series move up to May 19)
- Game 1, May 21: TNT, 8 p.m.
- Game 2, May 23: TNT, 8 p.m.
- Game 3, May 25: TNT, 8 p.m.
- Game 4, May 27: TNT, 8 p.m.
- Game 5, May 29: TNT, 8 p.m.*
- Game 6, May 31: TNT, 8 p.m.*
- Game 7, June 2: TNT, 8 p.m.*
Western Conference Finals
(Possible series move up to May 18)
- Game 1, May 20: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
- Game 2, May 22: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
- Game 3, May 24: ABC, 8:30 p.m.
- Game 4, May 26: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
- Game 5, May 28: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.*
- Game 6, May 30: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.*
- Game 7, June 1: ESPN, 8 p.m.*
2025 NBA Finals schedule
*-if necessary
- Game 1, June 5: ABC
- Game 2, June 8: ABC
- Game 3, June 11: ABC
- Game 4, June 13: ABC
- Game 5, June 16: ABC (if necessary)
- Game 6, June 19: ABC (if necessary)
- Game 7, June 22: ABC (if necessary)
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