NBA playoffs 2025: full first-round schedule, scores, dates, times, TV info, key players, where to watch

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.

2025 Eastern Conference first-round series, TV schedules, game times, how to watch

All times Eastern, ET.

(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 *

Key players

Donovan Mitchell: 24 PPG, 1.3 SPG – 2025 All-Star

Jarrett Allen: 13.5 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 70.6 FG%

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic

Season series: Magic, 2-1.

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*

Key players

Jayson Tatum (BOS): 26.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 6.0 APG – 2025 All-Star

Kristaps Porziņģis (BOS): 41.2 3P%, 1.5 BPG

Paolo Banchero (ORL): 25.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG – 2025 All-Star

Franz Wagner (ORL): 24.2 PPG, 1.3 SPG

(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons

Season series: Pistons, 3-1.

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*

Key players

Jalen Brunson (NYK): 26 PPG, 7.3 APG – 2025 All-Star

Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK): 24.4 PPG, 12.8 RPG – 2025 All-Star

Cade Cunningham (DET): 26.1 PPG, 9.1 APG – 2025 All-Star

Jalen Duren (DET): 11.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 69.2 FG%

(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks

Season series: Bucks, 3-1.

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 *

Key players

Tyrese Haliburton (IND): 18.6 PPG, 9.2 APG – 2025 All-Star

Pascal Siakam (IND): 20.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG – 2025 All-Star

Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 30.4 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 10.6 FTA – 2025 All-Star

Damian Lillard (MIL): 24.9 PPG, 7.1 APG – 2025 All-Star

2025 Western Conference first-round series, schedules, game times, how to watch, TV info

All times Eastern, ET.

(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 *

Key players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 32.7 PPG, 1.7 SPG – 2025 All-Star, 2024-25 NBA scoring champion

Chet Holmgren: 15 PPG, 8 RPG, 2.2 BPG

(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors

Season series: Warriors, 3-2 (includes one NBA Cup game).

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*

Key players

Alperen Şengün (HOU): 19.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG – 2025 All-Star

Amen Thompson (HOU): 14.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.4 SPG

Stephen Curry (GSW): 24.5 PPG, 39.7% 3PT – 2025 All-Star

Jimmy Butler (GSW): 17.5 PPG, 1.4 SPG

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

Season series: Tied, 2-2.

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*

Key players

LeBron James (LAL): 24.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 8.2 APG – 2025 All-Star

Luka Doncic (LAL): 28.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 7.7 APG

Anthony Edwards (MIN): 27.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 39.5% 3PT – 2025 All-Star

Rudy Gobert (MIN): 12.0 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 1.4 BPG

(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers

Season series: Tied, 2-2.

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*

Key players:

Nikola Jokić (DEN): 29.6 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 10.2 APG – 2025 All-Star

Jamal Murray (DEN): 21.4 PPG, 39.3% 3PT

Kawhi Leonard (LAC): 21.5 PPG, 1.6 SPG, 41.1% 3PT

James Harden (LAC): 22.8 PPG, 8.7 APG – 2025 All-Star

Where to watch and stream the NBA playoffs

NBA playoff games will be broadcast nationally across ESPN, TNT, NBA TV and ABC.

Games on ABC and ESPN will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app. TNT games can be streamed on TNTdrama.com and the TNT app. Games on NBA TV can be streamed on NBA.com and the NBA app.

Do the NBA playoffs reseed?

Unlike the NFL playoffs, teams aren't reseeded after the first round. So the winner of the 1-8 matchup faces the winner of the 4-5 matchup in Round 2, while the winner of the 2-7 matchup faces the winner of the 3-6 matchup.