The 2025 NBA playoff bracket is officially set, following an exhilarating Play-In Tournament where the Warriors, Magic, Heat, and Grizzlies secured the final spots in this year’s 16-team playoffs.
With all eight of the best-of-seven first-round series arranged, the playoff action kicks off this weekend.
Beginning Saturday, fans can look forward to four thrilling series: Pacers vs. Bucks, Nuggets vs. Clippers, Knicks vs. Pistons, and Lakers vs. Timberwolves.
On Sunday, the matches continue with the Thunder taking on the Grizzlies, Cavaliers facing the Heat, Celtics battling the Magic, and the Warriors squaring off against the Rockets.
This year, the Western Conference features a plethora of intriguing first-round matchups that promise to enthrall basketball enthusiasts.
The seventh-seeded and battle-tested Warriors have been favored over the second-seeded but relatively inexperienced Rockets.
In a highly anticipated playoff debut, Luka Dončić of the Lakers will encounter a formidable Timberwolves squad led by Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, who were eliminated by Luka and the Mavericks in the 2024 Western Conference finals.
The 4-5 clash between the Nuggets and Clippers brings together two dynamic teams that could easily tip the series in either direction, with Nikola Jokić and Kawhi Leonard leading their respective squads.
On the Eastern front, experts predict a more predictable first round, with high seeds expected to advance.
On paper, the Cavaliers and Celtics should be able to manage their series against the Heat and Magic, respectively, despite the Knicks entering their matchup with the Pistons having lost the season series.
Despite the odds, it seems New York is heavily favored to win this best-of-seven contest, which could lead to a tantalizing second-round showdown against Boston.
The Bucks and Pacers rekindle a fierce rivalry in this year’s 4-5 matchup; however, Milwaukee will start their series without star player Damian Lillard.
As always, the unpredictability of the playoffs looms large, reminding us that anything can happen in high-stakes basketball.
The full playoff bracket for the Eastern Conference includes: No. 1 Cavaliers facing No. 8 Heat, No. 2 Celtics against No. 7 Magic, No. 3 Knicks taking on No. 6 Pistons, and No. 4 Pacers battling No. 5 Bucks.
In the Western Conference, the first-round matchups are: No. 1 Thunder against No. 8 Grizzlies, No. 2 Rockets versus No. 7 Warriors, No. 3 Lakers clashing with No. 6 Timberwolves, and No. 4 Nuggets squaring off against No. 5 Clippers.
The first-round schedule is as follows, with all times listed in Eastern time:
On Saturday, April 19:
Game 1: Pacers vs. Bucks at 1 p.m., airing on ESPN/fubo.
Game 1: Nuggets vs. Clippers at 3:30 p.m., also on ESPN/fubo.
Game 1: Knicks vs. Pistons at 6 p.m., again on ESPN/fubo.
Game 1: Lakers vs. Timberwolves at 8:30 p.m., on ABC/fubo.
On Sunday, April 20:
Game 1: Thunder vs. Grizzlies at 1 p.m., on ABC/fubo.
Game 1: Celtics vs. Magic at 3:30 p.m., airing on ABC/fubo.
Game 1: Cavaliers vs. Heat at 7 p.m., with coverage on TNT/fubo.
Game 1: Rockets vs. Warriors at 9:30 p.m., aired on TNT.
The matchups then continue:
On Monday, April 21:
Game 2: Knicks vs. Pistons at 7:30 p.m., on TNT/Max.
Game 2: Nuggets vs. Clippers at 10 p.m., on TNT/Max.
On Tuesday, April 22:
Game 2: Pacers vs. Bucks at 7 p.m., airing on NBA TV/fubo.
Game 2: Thunder vs. Grizzlies at 7:30 p.m., on TNT/Max.
Game 2: Lakers vs. Timberwolves at 10 p.m., on TNT/Max.
On Wednesday, April 23:
Game 2: Celtics vs. Magic at 7 p.m., on TNT/Max.
Game 2: Cavaliers vs. Heat at 7:30 p.m., aired on NBA TV/fubo.
Game 2: Rockets vs. Warriors at 9:30 p.m., on TNT/Max.
On Thursday, April 24:
Game 3: Pistons vs. Knicks at 7 p.m., on TNT/fubo.
Game 3: Grizzlies vs. Thunder at 9:30 p.m., with coverage on TNT.
Game 3: Clippers vs. Nuggets at 10 p.m., with the television outlet to be determined.
On Friday, April 25:
Game 3: Magic vs. Celtics at 7 p.m., appearing on ESPN/fubo.
Game 3: Bucks vs. Pacers at 8 p.m., on ESPNU/NBA TV/fubo.
Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Lakers at 9:30 p.m., on ESPN/fubo.
On Saturday, April 26:
Game 3: Heat vs. Cavaliers at 1 p.m., aired on ABC/fubo.
Game 4: Grizzlies vs. Thunder at 3:30 p.m., on TNT/Max.
Game 4: Clippers vs. Nuggets at 6 p.m., on TNT/Max.
Game 3: Warriors vs. Rockets at 8:30 p.m., with the TV outlet to be determined.
On Sunday, April 27:
Game 4: Pistons vs. Knicks at 1 p.m., on ABC/fubo.
Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Lakers at 3:30 p.m., on ABC/fubo.
Game 4: Magic vs. Celtics at 7 p.m., on TNT/Max.
Game 4: Bucks vs. Pacers at 9:30 p.m., on TNT/Max.
As the playoffs progress, fixtures for Games 4 and 5 remain on the schedule, with specific times and TV channels yet to be confirmed for some matchups.
As basketball fans gear up for what promises to be an electric postseason, it’s time for the teams to showcase their talents on the grand stage of the NBA playoffs.
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