2025 NBA playoff picture: Updated bracket, schedule, upcoming games

[ASFN Admin]

The 2025 NBA playoffs will kick off with a bang on Saturday, as eight teams gear up for four thrilling matchups in the first round. The excitement continues on Sunday, with the remaining eight teams stepping onto the court for Game 1 of the playoffs, setting the stage for the entire tournament.

The playoff landscape is coming into focus after the recent Play-In Tournament games, which saw two teams secure some of the final seeds in the playoffs. The Orlando Magic advanced to the playoffs in the Eastern Conference by defeating the Atlanta Hawks, while the Golden State Warriors clinched the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference with a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. The remaining teams in the Play-In Tournament are now in a high-stakes win-or-go-home situation, competing for the final seed in the playoff bracket.

Currently, the top seed in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers, are patiently waiting for the Play-In Tournament to determine their first-round opponent.

Here’s a look at the 2025 NBA Playoff picture.

More: NBA playoffs power rankings: Who are the best teams based on championship odds?

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​

Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks

• Time/TV: 7 p.m. | TNT, truTV, Max
• Winner advances to playoffs as No. 8 seedin East

Dallas Mavericks vs. Memphis Grizzlies

• Time/TV: 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
• Winner advances to playoffs as No. 8 seed in West

2025 NBA Playoffs first round schedule​

All times Eastern.*-if necessary

Eastern Conference​

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) TBD

• Game 1: TBD at Cavaliers| Sunday, April 20, 7 p.m. | TNT
• Game 2: TBD at Cavaliers| Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV
• Game 3: Cavaliers at TBD | Saturday, April 26, TBD | TNT
• Game 4:Cavaliers at TBD | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD
• Game 5: TBD at Cavaliers| Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD *
• Game 6: Cavaliers at TBD | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD *
• Game 7: TBD 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: Pistons at Knicks | Saturday, April 19, 6 p.m. | ESPN
• 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: Bucks at Pacers | Saturday, April 19, 1 p.m. | ESPN
• 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) TBD

• Game 1: TBD at Thunder | Sunday, April 20, 1 p.m. | ABC
• Game 2: TBD at Thunder | Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. | TNT
• Game 3: Thunder at TBD | Thursday, April 24, TBD | TNT
• Game 4:Thunder at TBD | Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m. | TNT
• Game 5: TBD at Thunder | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD *
• Game 6: Thunder at TBD | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD *
• Game 7: TBD 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: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, April 19, 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
• 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 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 schedule​

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)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NBA playoffs: Schedule, bracket, start dates, TV for each series

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