Thunder’s preferred matchup: Clippers or Nuggets?
For The Hoops crew discuss whether the Thunder would prefer to face the Clippers or Nuggets in the second round of the NBA playoffs
The 2025 NBA playoffs have been action-packed, with the first round coming to a close and the conference semifinals looming.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Indiana Pacers all advanced in the Eastern Conference in impressive fashion. With the higher seed in every first-round series moving on, only the Knicks needed more than five games to clinch a spot in the conference semifinals.
Over in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced with a first-round sweep, while the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves needed just five games to upset the Los Angeles Lakers. The Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets are headed to a Game 7 decider on Saturday, while the Houston Rockets need a road win in Game 6 to stay alive against the Golden State Warriors.
Here’s the complete NBA playoffs schedule, including results in the first round and broadcast information:
NBA bracket: Playoff schedule, scores and results
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat
Cavaliers win series 4-0
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic
Celtics win series 4-1
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
Knicks win series 4-2
(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
Pacers win series 4-1
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies
Thunder win series 4-0
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
Warriors lead series 3-2
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Timberwolves win series 4-1
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
Series tied 3-3
Conference semifinals
The conference semifinals are scheduled to begin on May 5-6, but could possibly move up to May 3-4 depending on outcomes of the first round.
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (4) Indiana Pacers
- Game 1: Pacers at Cavaliers | Sunday, May 3, TBD | TBD
- Game 2: Pacers at Cavaliers | Tuesday, May 6, TBD | TBD
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Pacers | Friday, May 9, TBD | TBD
- Game 4: Cavaliers at Pacers | Sunday, May 11, TBD | TBD
- Game 5: Pacers at Cavaliers | Tuesday, May 13, TBD | TBD*
- Game 6: Cavaliers at Pacers | Thursday, May 15, TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: Pacers at Cavaliers | Sunday, May 18, TBD | TBD*
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) New York Knicks
- Game 1: Knicks at Celtics | Monday, May 5, TBD | TBD
- Game 2: Knicks at Celtics | Wednesday, May 7, TBD | TBD
- Game 3: Celtics at Knicks | Saturday, May 10, TBD | TBD
- Game 4: Celtics at Knicks | Monday, May 12, TBD | TBD
- Game 5: Knicks at Celtics | Wednesday, May 14, TBD | TBD*
- Game 6: Celtics at Knicks | Friday, May 16, TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: Knicks at Celtics | Monday, May 19, TBD | TBD*
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Winner of (4) Los Angeles Clippers-(5) Denver Nuggets
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Winner of (2) Houston Rockets-(7) Golden State Warriors
Conference finals
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Eastern Conference
(Series start could 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
(Series start could 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*
- Game 6, June 19: ABC*
- Game 7, June 22: ABC*
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