This weekend, there are eight Game 1s in the 2025 NBA playoffs, which begin on Saturday.
Everything You Need to Know About the Officially Announced 2025 NBA Playoff Bracket
The excitement is officially in the air as the 2025 NBA Playoff picture is finally finished. Four teams—the Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, and Memphis Grizzlies—have secured the final slots in the 16-team playoff field following a fierce and thrilling Play-In Tournament.
All eyes are now on the first round, a best-of-seven series battle that promises drama, intensity, and lots of surprises, now that the scene has been set and the pairings have been finalized. With the first slate of games set for Saturday and Sunday, the action starts this weekend.
Let’s examine the forthcoming games, the stakes, and the reasons why this year’s playoff race might be among the most exciting in recent memory.
Opening Games on Saturday: Start of Four Series
On Saturday, the playoff craze begins with four crucial games:
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks
The Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Every one of these programs has an own plot. Due to the fact that superstar guard Damian Lillard is anticipated to miss the opening of the series due to injury, the Pacers and Bucks will rekindle their rivalry. Giannis Antetokounmpo is under more pressure to lead the club as a result.
The Nuggets-Clippers series, meanwhile, is among the bracket’s most evenly matched. With Kawhi Leonard bolstering LA’s aspirations and Nikola Jokić leading the charge for Denver, the matchup between the four and five seeds could go either way. Both are accomplished postseason players, and their matchup might be one of the most thrilling of the opening round.
The Knicks are seeking atonement over in the East. New York is the favorite going into the playoffs, even though they lost the regular-season series against the Pistons. They are predicted to win the series and advance to play the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the following round because of their deep squad and capable coaching.
Another game to watch is the Lakers vs. Timberwolves matchup. The Minnesota team, which includes Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards, will be tough and tenacious against Los Angeles. More drama is added by the fact that Luka Dončić is making his playoff debut with the Lakers during this series. Luka now has the opportunity to exact retribution, this time in purple and gold, after the Timberwolves eliminated him and his old team, the Mavericks, in the Western Conference Finals last year.
Showdowns on Sunday: Four More Series Take the Court
Sunday is when the final four games begin:
Memphis Grizzlies versus Oklahoma City Thunder
Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics vs. Magic City
The Houston Rockets versus the Golden State Warriors
There are many exciting first-round matchups in the Western Conference, but the Warriors vs. Rockets series is one of the most anticipated. The battle-hardened Warriors are favored over the youthful and comparatively inexperienced Houston team, even if they are seeded seventh. In a high-stakes series, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are always dangerous because they have years of playoff experience.
The Cavaliers are playing the Miami Heat over in the East. Cleveland should win on paper, but no one should undervalue the Heat’s playoff tenacity, particularly with Jimmy Butler at the forefront and Erik Spoelstra coaching. It is anticipated that these two teams will face off in a fierce series.
In the meanwhile, the Celtics will take on the Magic to start their title defense. Boston will be greatly favored because of their dominance throughout the season, but the Magic are resilient and have a lot of young players. Orlando might make things more tough than anticipated if Boston becomes complacent.
Then there’s the Thunder vs. Grizzlies game, which is a timeless conflict between youth and perseverance. All season long, Oklahoma City has played with composure and confidence, and their young group is among the league’s most exciting. Conversely, the Grizzlies persevered through setbacks and injuries to secure their postseason berth in the Play-In Tournament. With Ja Morant back in the mix, this series might end up being action-packed and plenty of highlights.
What to anticipate from the playoffs this year
If the NBA postseason has taught us anything, it’s that anything can happen every year. Top seeds may drop. Magical runs can occur with lower seeds. Role players can suddenly become heroes and injuries can change the course of events in an instance.
Anticipate pandemonium in the Western Conference. Every series seems erratic, and games like Warriors vs. Rockets, Lakers vs. Timberwolves, and Nuggets vs. Clippers are intense. Particularly for the Warriors and Lakers, who are both led by players who have played in the playoffs, the experience of seasoned teams may be quite important.
However, avoid sleeping on the East as well. Although the Celtics are the conference favorites, they have seen a number of heartbreaking postseason losses recently. It is possible for the Cavaliers, Knicks, and perhaps the Heat to pull off a few upsets. Additionally, even if the Bucks are injured, they still have Giannis, which always gives them a shot.
The rise of new talent will be a major theme in both conferences. The league may be shaped for years to come by the performances of players like Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Paolo Banchero, who are assuming more prominence.
One Last Word
The 2025 NBA Playoffs are here, and it’s going to be an exciting journey, so fasten your seatbelt.
This year’s postseason is full of memorable moments, from fierce rivalries to standout performances, from underdog tales to championship aspirations.
There’s never been a better moment to watch, whether you’re rooting for your favorite team or just enjoying the action. Every possession, every choice, and every game counts in the race to the NBA Finals.
Let the chaos start.
NBA playoff bracket for 2025
East first-round matchups
No. 1 Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Heat
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Magic
No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Pistons
No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 5 Bucks
West first-round matchups
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 Grizzlies
No. 2 Rockets vs. No. 7 Warriors
No. 3 Lakers vs. No. 6 Timberwolves
No. 4 Nuggets vs. No. 5 Clippers
2025 NBA playoffs: First-round schedule, scores
All times Eastern
Saturday, April 19
Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
Game 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
Sunday, April 20
Game 1: Thunder vs. Grizzlies, 1 p.m., ABC/fubo
Game 1: Celtics vs. Magic, 3:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
Game 1: Cavaliers vs. Heat, 7 p.m., TNT/fubo
Game 1: Rockets vs. Warriors, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Monday, April 21
Game 2: Knicks vs. Pistons, 7:30 p.m., TNT/Max
Game 2: Nuggets vs. Clippers, 10 p.m., TNT/Max
Tuesday, April 22
Game 2: Pacers vs. Bucks, 7 p.m., NBA TV/fubo
Game 2: Thunder vs. Grizzlies, 7:30 p.m., TNT/Max
Game 2: Lakers vs. Timberwolves, 10 p.m., TNT/Max
Wednesday, April 23
Game 2: Celtics vs. Magic, 7 p.m., TNT/Max
Game 2: Cavaliers vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV/fubo
Game 2: Rockets vs. Warriors, 9:30 p.m., TNT/Max
Thursday, April 24
Game 3: Pistons vs. Knicks, 7 p.m., TNT/fubo
Game 3: Grizzlies vs. Thunder, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Clippers vs. Nuggets, 10 p.m., TV TBD
Friday, April 25
Game 3: Magic vs. Celtics, 7 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Game 3: Bucks vs. Pacers, 8 p.m., ESPNU/NBA TV/fubo
Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Lakers, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Saturday, April 26
Game 3: Heat vs. Cavaliers, 1 p.m., ABC/fubo
Game 4: Grizzlies vs. Thunder, 3:30 p.m., TNT/Max
Game 4: Clippers vs. Nuggets, 6 p.m., TNT/Max
Game 3: Warriors vs. Rockets, 8:30 p.m., TV TBD
Sunday, April 27
Game 4: Pistons vs. Knicks, 1 p.m., ABC/fubo
Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Lakers, 3:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
Game 4: Magic vs. Celtics, 7 p.m., TNT/Max
Game 4: Bucks vs. Pacers, 9:30 p.m., TNT/Max
Monday, April 28
Game 4: Heat vs. Cavaliers, Time/TV TBD
*Game 5: Thunder vs. Grizzlies, Time/TV TBD
Game 4: Warriors vs. Rockets, 10 p.m., TNT/Max
Tuesday, April 29
*Game 5: Celtics vs. Magic, Time/TV TBD
*Game 5: Knicks vs. Pistons, Time/TV TBD
*Game 5: Pacers vs. Bucks, Time/TV TBD
*Game 5: Nuggets vs. Clippers, Time/TV TBD
Wednesday, April 30
*Game 5: Cavaliers vs. Heat, Time/TV TBD
*Game 5: Rockets vs. Warriors, Time/TV TBD
*Game 5: Lakers vs. Timberwolves, Time/TV TBD
Thursday, May 1
*Game 6: Magic vs. Celtics, Time/TV TBD
*Game 6: Pistons vs. Knicks, Time/TV TBD
*Game 6: Grizzlies vs. Thunder, Time/TV TBD
*Game 6: Clippers vs. Nuggets, Time/TV TBD
Friday, May 2
*Game 6: Heat vs. Cavaliers, Time/TV TBD
*Game 6: Bucks vs. Pacers, Time/TV TBD
*Game 6: Warriors vs. Rockets, Time/TV TBD
*Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Lakers, Time/TV TBD
Saturday, May 3
*Game 7: Celtics vs. Magic, Time/TV TBD
*Game 7: Knicks vs. Pistons, Time/TV TBD
*Game 7: Thunder vs. Grizzlies, Time/TV TBD
*Game 7: Nuggets vs. Clippers, Time/TV TBD
Sunday, May 4
*Game 7: Cavaliers vs. Heat, Time/TV TBD
*Game 7: Pacers vs. Bucks, Time/TV TBD
*Game 7: Rockets vs. Warriors, Time/TV TBD
*Game 7: Lakers vs. Timberwolves, Time/TV TBD
2025 NBA Play-In Tournament schedule, scores
All times Eastern
Tuesday, April 15
Magic 120, Hawks 95
Warriors 121, Grizzlies 116
Wednesday, April 16
Heat 109, Bulls 90
Mavericks 120, Kings 106
Friday, April 18
Heat 123, Hawks 114 (OT)
Grizzlies 120, Mavericks 106
2025 NBA playoffs: Key dates
April 13: Final day of regular season
April 15-18: Play-In Tournament
April 19: Playoffs begin
May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
June 5: NBA Finals begin
