Who is the real team to beat in the Eastern Conference?
Analyzing whether the Celtics or Cavaliers are better built to advance to the NBA finals.
The 2025 NBA playoffs have moved into the second round and there are plenty of intriguing storylines to follow.
In the Eastern Conference, things went pretty much according to plan in the opening round with all four of the top seeds — the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Indiana Pacers — advancing in impressive fashion.
Things were much different out West. The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder completed a first-round sweep, but the other matchups were all won by the lower seeds. The Thunder will be heavy favorites as they take on the No. 5-seeded Denver Nuggets. And in a battle of underdogs, the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves face the No. 7 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
The conference semifinals are underway, potentially running through May 19.
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (4) Indiana Pacers
Pacers lead series 1-0
- Game 1: Pacers 121, Cavaliers 112
- Game 2: Pacers at Cavaliers | Tuesday, May 6, 7 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Pacers | Friday, May 9, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 4: Cavaliers at Pacers | Sunday, May 11, 8 p.m. | TNT
- Game 5: Pacers at Cavaliers | Tuesday, May 13, TBD | TNT*
- 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, 7 p.m. | TNT
- Game 2: Knicks at Celtics | Wednesday, May 7, 7 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Celtics at Knicks | Saturday, May 10, TBD | ABC
- Game 4: Celtics at Knicks | Monday, May 12, TBD | ESPN
- Game 5: Knicks at Celtics | Wednesday, May 14, TBD | TNT*
- Game 6: Celtics at Knicks | Friday, May 16, TBD | ESPN*
- Game 7: Knicks at Celtics | Monday, May 19, TBD | TNT*
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Denver Nuggets
- Game 1: Nuggets at Thunder | Monday, May 5, 9:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 2: Nuggets at Thunder | Wednesday, May 7, 9:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Thunder at Nuggets | Friday, May 9, 10 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 4: Thunder at Nuggets | Sunday, May 11, 3:30 p.m. | ABC
- Game 5: Nuggets at Thunder | TBD*
- Game 6: Thunder at Nuggets | TBD*
- Game 7: Nuggets at Thunder | TBD*
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
- Game 1: Warriors at Timberwolves | Tuesday, May 6, 9:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 2: Warriors at Timberwolves | Thursday, May 8, 8:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Timberwolves at Warriors | Saturday, May 10, TBD | ABC
- Game 4: Timberwolves at Warriors | Monday, May 12, TBD | ESPN
- Game 5: Warriors at Timberwolves | TBD | TBD*
- Game 6: Timberwolves at Warriors | TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: Warriors at Timberwolves | TBD | TBD*
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*
First-round NBA playoff results
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 win series 4-3
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Timberwolves win series 4-1
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
Nuggets win series 4-3
