NBA playoff preview: Who can beat Boston or Cleveland?
Analyzing if the Bucks, Knicks, or Pacers have what it takes to beat Boston or Cleveland in the playoffs
The 2025 NBA playoffs have moved on to the first round, with high drama already unfolding in Saturday’s games.
Following the Play-In Tournament — which saw the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat (Eastern Conference) and the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies (Western Conference) advance to the first round — Saturday saw the beginning of best-of-seven play.
Saturday’s slate included the Indiana Pacers running away with Game 1 in its series against the Milwaukee Bucks, while another game was much closer. The Denver Nuggets made home-court advantage stand up, but only after a wild 112-110 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Here is the complete NBA playoff bracket, including schedule, results, and broadcast information:
NBA Play-In Tournament schedule, results
All times Eastern.
Tuesday, April 15
Game 1: Orlando Magic def. Atlanta Hawks, 120-95, Orlando advances to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the East
Game 2: Golden State Warriors def. Memphis Grizzlies, 121-116, Golden State Warriors advance to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the West
Wednesday, April 16
Game 3: Miami Heat def. Chicago Bulls, 109-90, the Miami Heat advance in the Play-In Tournament
Game 4: Dallas Mavericks def. Sacramento Kings 120-106, the Dallas Mavericks advance in the Play-In Tournament
Friday, April 18
Game 5: Miami Heat def. Atlanta Hawks 123-114 (OT), the Heat advance to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the East.
Game 6: Memphis Grizzlies def. Dallas Mavericks 120-106, the Grizzlies advance to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the West.
2025 NBA Playoffs first round schedule: Results and scores
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat
- Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers | Sunday, April 20, 7 p.m. | TNT
- Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat | Saturday, April 26, TBD | TNT
- Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD
- Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD *
- Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD *
- Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD *
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic
- Game 1: Orlando Magic at Celtics | Sunday, April 20, 3:30 p.m. | ABC
- Game 2: Orlando Magic at Celtics | Wednesday, April 23, 7 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Celtics at Orlando Magic | Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 4: Celtics at Orlando Magic | Sunday, April 27, 7 p.m. | TNT
- Game 5: Orlando Magic at Celtics | TBD*
- Game 6: Celtics at Orlando Magic | TBD*
- Game 7: Orlando Magic at Celtics | TBD*
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
- Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
- Game 2: Pistons at Knicks | Monday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Knicks at Pistons | Thursday, April 24, TBD | TNT
- Game 4: Knicks at Pistons | Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m. | ABC
- Game 5: Pistons at Knicks | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD*
- Game 6: Knicks at Pistons | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: Pistons at Knicks | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD*
(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
- Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
- Game 2: Bucks at Pacers | Tuesday, April 22, 7 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 3: Pacers at Bucks | Friday, April 25, 8 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 4: Pacers at Bucks | Sunday, April 27, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 5: Bucks at Pacers | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD *
- Game 6: Pacers at Bucks | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD *
- Game 7: Bucks at Pacers | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD *
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies
- Game 1: Grizzlies at Thunder | Sunday, April 20, 1 p.m. | ABC
- Game 2: Grizzlies at Thunder | Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies | Thursday, April 24, TBD | TNT
- Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies | Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m. | TNT
- Game 5: Grizzlies at Thunder | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD *
- Game 6: Thunder at Grizzlies | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD *
- Game 7: Grizzlies at Thunder | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD *
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
- Game 1: Warriors at Rockets | Sunday, April 20, 9:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 2: Warriors at Rockets | Wednesday, April 23, 9:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Rockets at Warriors | Saturday, April 26, 9:30 p.m. | ABC
- Game 4: Rockets at Warriors | Monday, April 28, 9:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 5: Warriors at Rockets | TBD*
- Game 6: Rockets at Warriors | TBD*
- Game 7: Warriors 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 | Tuesday, April 22, 10 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves | Friday, April 25, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves | Sunday, April 27, 3:30 p.m. | ABC
- Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers | Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD*
- Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD*
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
- Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
- Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets | Monday, April 21, 10 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, April 24, TBD | NBA TV
- Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers | Saturday, April 26, 6 p.m. | TNT
- Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD*
- Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD*
Conference semifinals
The conference semifinals are scheduled to begin on May 5, but could possibly move up to May 3-4 depending on outcomes of first round.
Conference Finals schedule
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Eastern Conference Finals
The series could possibly be moved up as early as 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
The series could possibly be moved up as early as 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)
