By Floyd Barber
> First round
The schedule for the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs Presented by Google is below:
Eastern Conference
All times Eastern Standard Time
• Game 1: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100
• Game 2: Cavaliers 121, Heat 112
• Game 3: Cavaliers 124, Heat 87
• Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat (Mon. April 28, 7:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers (Wed. April 30, 7 ET, NBA TV)*
• Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
* if necessary
Cavaliers lead series 3-0
• Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86
• Game 2: Celtics 109, Magic 100
• Game 3: Magic 95, Celtics 93
• Game 4: Celtics at Magic (Sun. April 27, 7 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Magic at Celtics (Tue. April 29, 8:30 ET, NBA TV)
• Game 6: Celtics at Magic (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Magic at Celtics (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
* if necessary
Celtics lead series 2-1
• Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
• Game 2: Pistons 100, Knicks 94
• Game 3: Knicks 118, Pistons 116
• Game 4: Knicks at Pistons (Sun. April 27, 1 ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Pistons at Knicks (Tue. April 29, 7:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 6: Knicks at Pistons (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
* if necessary
Knicks lead series 2-1
• Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
• Game 2: Pacers 123, Bucks 115
• Game 3: Bucks 117, Pacers 101
• Game 4: Pacers at Bucks (Sun. April 27, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Bucks at Pacers (Tue. April 29, 6 ET, NBA TV)
• Game 6: Pacers at Bucks (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Bucks at Pacers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
* if necessary
Pacers lead series 2-1
Western Conference
All times Eastern Standard Time
(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) Memphis
• Game 1: Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80
• Game 2: Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99
• Game 3: Thunder 114, Grizzlies 108
• Game 4: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115
Thunder win series 4-0
(2) Houston vs. (7) Golden State
• Game 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
• Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94
• Game 3: Warriors 104, Rockets 93
• Game 4: Rockets at Warriors (Mon. April 28, 10 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 30, 7:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 6: Rockets at Warriors (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
* if necessary
Warriors lead series 2-1
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota
• Game 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
• Game 2: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85
• Game 3: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 104
• Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves (Sun. April 27, 3:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers (Wed. April 30, 10 ET, TNT)
• Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
* if necessary
Timberwolves lead series 2-1
(4) Denver vs. (5) LA Clippers
• Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
• Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
• Game 3: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83
• Game 4: Nuggets 101 at Clippers 99
• Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets (Tue. April 29, 10 ET, TNT)
• Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers (Thu. May 1, TBD)
• Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
* if necessary
Series tied 2-2
> Conference semifinals
The conference semifinals will begin May 5-6, but can move up to May 3-4.
> Conference finals
The conference finals will begin May 20-21, but can move up to May 18-19.
- 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
The 2025 NBA Finals will begin June 5, with ABC as the exclusive broadcaster.
- 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)
> SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
The 2025 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will take place April 15-18.
Friday, April 18
> Miami & Memphis advance to playoffs as No. 8 seed; Atlanta & Dallas are eliminated
Wednesday, April 16
> Chicago & Sacramento are eliminated
Tuesday, April 15
Orlando & Golden State advance to playoffs as No. 7 seeds
COURTESY NBA COMMUNICATIONS
