NBA Playoff 2025: Schedule, Final standings, and More

The most exciting time to be watching the NBA season is when the NBA playoffs commence. Also known as the post-season, teams best around the entire 82-game regular season schedule to contend for a playoff spot from their respective conferences. Playoffs for this season is set to begin on April 19, following the play-in tournament commencing between April 15 to April 18.

As the 2025 NBA playoffs draw closer, let's get a better picture of all the brackets, schedules, and matchups to look out for in the upcoming postseason action.

NBA 2025 Playoffs Bracket After Play-In Tournament

As of now, the Play-In tournament is underway, with eight teams from the East and the West battling out to earn the final spots in each conference's playoff brackets. The Golden State Warriors officially moved to the playoffs after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies on April 15. They will now be facing the second-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.

At the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic defeated the Hawks to clinch the No.7 seed. They will now be facing the reigning champions Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.

On the other hand, the 9/10 seed games in the Play-In Tournament will decide the No.8 seeding for both the Conferences. This is how the brackets will look like when Playoffs begin on April 19.

Western Conference First Round Brackets

• No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.8 Memphis Grizzlies/Sacramento Kings/ Dallas Mavericks (TBD)
• No. 2 Houston Rockets vs. No.7 Golden State Warriors
• No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No.6 Minnesota Timberwolves
• No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No.5 Los Angeles Clippers

Eastern Conference First Round Brackets

• No.1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No.8 Miami Heat/Chicago Bulls/ Atlanta Hawks (TBD)
• No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs No.5 Milwaukee Bucks
• No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons
• No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic

NBA Playoffs 2025 First Round Schedule

After the Play-In Tournament, here is what the schedule would look like for the NBA playoffs in this post season.

Eastern Conference

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat/ Chicago Bulls

• Game 1: TBD at Cavaliers (Sun. April 20, 7 ET, TNT)
• Game 2: TBD at Cavaliers (Wed. April 23, 7:30 ET, NBA TV)
• Game 3: Cavaliers at TBD (Sat. April 26, 1 ET, TNT)
• Game 4: Cavaliers at TBD (Mon. April 28, TBD)
• Game 5: TBD at Cavaliers (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
• Game 6: Cavaliers at TBD (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: TBD at Cavaliers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
(* if necessary)

(2) Boston vs. (7) Orlando

• Game 1: Magic at Celtics (Sun. April 20, 3:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 2: Magic at Celtics (Wed. April 23, 7 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Celtics at Magic (Fri. April 25, 7 ET, ESPN)
• Game 4: Celtics at Magic (Sun. April 27, 7 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Magic at Celtics (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Celtics at Magic (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Magic at Celtics (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
(* if necessary)

(3) New York vs. (6) Detroit

• Game 1: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. April 19, 6 ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Pistons at Knicks (Mon. April 21, 7:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Knicks at Pistons (Thu. April 24, TBD, TNT)
• Game 4: Knicks at Pistons (Sun. April 27, 1 ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Pistons at Knicks (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Knicks at Pistons (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
(* if necessary)

(4) Indiana vs. (5) Milwaukee

• Game 1: Bucks at Pacers (Sat. April 19, 1 ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Bucks at Pacers (Tue. April 22, 7 ET, NBA TV)
• Game 3: Pacers at Bucks (Fri. April 25, 8 ET, ESPNU/NBA TV)
• Game 4: Pacers at Bucks (Sun. April 27, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Bucks at Pacers (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Pacers at Bucks (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Bucks at Pacers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
(* if necessary)

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) TBD

• Game 1: TBD at Thunder (Sun. April 20, 1 ET, ABC)
• Game 2: TBD at Thunder (Tue. April 22, 7:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Thunder at TBD (Thu. April 24, TBD, TNT)
• Game 4: Thunder at TBD (Sat. April 26, 3:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: TBD at Thunder (Mon. April 28, TBD)*
• Game 6: Thunder at TBD (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: TBD at Thunder (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
(* if necessary)

(2) Houston vs. (7) Golden State

• Game 1: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. April 20, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 2: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 23, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Rockets at Warriors (Sat. April 26, 8:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 4: Rockets at Warriors (Mon. April 28, 10 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
• Game 6: Rockets at Warriors (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
(* if necessary)

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

• Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sat. April 19, 8:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers (Tue. April 22, 10 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves (Fri. April 25, 9:30 ET, ESPN)
• Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves (Sun. April 27, 3:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
• Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
(* if necessary)

(4) Denver vs. (5) LA Clippers

• Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. April 19, 3:30 ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets (Mon. April 21, 10 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers (Thu. April 24, TBD, NBA TV)
• Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers (Sat. April 26, 6 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. May 3, TBD)*

(*if necessary)

Conference Semi-Finals Schedule

The Conference semi-finals are expected to begin on May 5-6 but can move up to May 3-4.

Conference Finals Schedule

The Conference Finals are expected to begin May 20-21 but can move up to May 18-19. Here is the expected schedule for both Eastern and Western Conference Finals

• May 20: Western Conference Finals – Game 1 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET (possible series move up to May 18)
• May 21: Eastern Conference Finals – Game 1 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (possible series move up to May 19)
• May 22: Western Conference Finals – Game 2 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET
• May 23: Eastern Conference Finals – Game 2 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET
• May 24: Western Conference Finals – Game 3 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• May 25: Eastern Conference Finals – Game 3 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET
• May 26: Western Conference Finals – Game 4 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET
• May 27: Eastern Conference Finals – Game 4 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET
• May 28: Western Conference Finals – Game 5 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)
• May 29: Eastern Conference Finals – Game 5 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (if necessary)
• May 30: Western Conference Finals – Game 6 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)
• May 31: Eastern Conference Finals – Game 6 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (if necessary)
• June 1: Western Conference Finals – Game 7 on ESPN, 8 p.m. ET (if necessary)
• June 2: Eastern Conference Finals – Game 7 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (if necessary)

NBA Finals 2025 Schedule

The NBA Finals this year will begin on June 5. Here is the schedule for the same:

• June 5: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV – Game 1 on ABC
• June 8: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV – Game 2 on ABC
• June 11: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV – Game 3 on ABC
• June 13: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV – Game 4 on ABC
• June 16: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV – Game 5 on ABC (if necessary)
• June 19: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV – Game 6 on ABC (if necessary)
• June 22: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV – Game 7 on ABC (if necessary)

NBA Playoffs 2025 picture

There are quite a few expectations for the NBA playoffs this season. For example, the fourth and fifth seeds in each conferences can provide much thrilling action and entertainment that one would expect during a post season. In that case, we have the Indiana Pacers and the Bucks in the Eastern Conference who will be facing off each other in the postseason.

The Milwaukee Bucks will be without Damian Lillard, who had a rather disappointing run this season. Though Giannis Antetokounmpo alone is helping the offense run, the series could be a tight matchup between Indiana and Milwaukee. The Bucks are no longer feared as an elite from the East and the only way they could prove this wrong is by progressing to the next round of the playoffs.

In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Clippers will be challenging the former NBA champions Denver Nuggets right after Denver's head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin booth were fired. Though this is a transition period for the Nuggets, the Clippers' chances of advancing solely depends on a healthy Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round this playoffs. Fans are quite excited to see Luka Doncic run it back for another Finals run, this time with the Lakers and LeBron James. It is expected that the Lakers most pertinently push for a Conference Finals appearance, given they have the two best playoff performers of their respective generations.

For the Timberwolves, Julius Randle might come around, given how increasingly comfortable he has gotten with the roster. However, it would be quite far-sighted to expect a deep push from Randle and the T-Wolves for that matter. But playoffs are all about surprises and surpassing expectations!

In the East, Jalen Brunson and Cade Cunningham seem hungry to defy the doubters. The Detroit Pistons had a fairy tale season, coming back from one of the worst records last season to clinch the sixth seed in this one. Also, Brunson became the first player since Michael Jordan to record four consecutive 40-point games in the playoffs last year. Expect a tight matchup between the two Eastern Conference underdogs but it is best expected for New York Knicks to progress to the second round.

Last but not the least, OKC Thunder seem to be the likeliest candidates for the Larry O'Brien trophy this year. Thunder has great functional depth, combined with lineup flexibility and likely MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showing up during clutch moments. However, let's not rule out the Boston Celtics either, who are planning to run it back for this season.

The playoffs are indeed going to be a treat for every NBA fan expecting thrill and drama for the next one and a half months.