The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs tips has begun, and fans can expect an action-filled postseason.

After a historic season of dominance, the Cleveland Cavaliers have claimed the No. 1 seed in the East. The defending champions Boston Celtics wrapped up the No. 2 seed, led by Jayson Tatum and reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.

In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder are ready to rumble after commanding the No. 1 seed for a second straight season behind MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Finishing at No. 2 were the Houston Rockets, one of the season's most improved teams. LeBron James and Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a No. 3 seed.

After the play-in tournament concluded on Friday, the 16-team NBA playoffs begin on Saturday with four games, followed by and four more on April 20. Eight teams from each conference reach the first round and face off in a best-of-seven series to advance. All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-seven, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home-court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary).

We'll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2025 NBA Finals, which tip off June 5 on ABC and the ESPN App.

: Each series picked through the Finals | Offseason guides

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs. Miami Heat (8)

Game 1, April 20: Miami at Cleveland (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2, April 23: Miami at Cleveland (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
Game 3, April 26: Cleveland at Miami (1 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4, April 28: Cleveland at Miami (TBD)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Miami at Cleveland (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Cleveland at Miami (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Miami at Cleveland (TBD)

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Davion Mitchell buries dagger 3 in OT to clinch 8-seed for the Heat

Davion Mitchell silences the Atlanta crowd after missing a 3-pointer, then getting his own rebound and draining the shot.

More:

• Cavs' Kenny Atkinson named Coach of the Year by peers

• 'Battle-tested' Heat advance as first ever 10-seed to make playoffs

• Donovan Mitchell expected to be ready for Cavaliers' playoff run

• Cavaliers clinch No. 1 seed with win over Bulls

• MacMahon: How Darius Garland's 'pivotal' season is fueling the Cavaliers

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

Game 1, April 20: Orlando at Boston (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 2, April 23: Orlando at Boston (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 25: Boston at Orlando (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4, April 27: Boston at Orlando (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Orlando at Boston (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Boston at Orlando (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Orlando at Boston (TBD)

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Why Stephen A. thinks there's been a lack of appreciation for Jayson Tatum

Stephen A. Smith details why the Celtics' Jayson Tatum should have more recognition for his career thus far.

More:

• Celtics star Jaylen Brown looks 'good' despite knee bruise

• Celtics give G League MVP JD Davison 2-year deal, agent says

• Herring: Boston's historic 3-point performance continues -- for better or worse

• Spears: Banchero talks about the playoff race, Duke basketball, and more

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

(Knicks lead series, 1-0)

Game 1, April 19: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
Game 2, April 21: Detroit at New York (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 24: New York at Detroit (TBD, TNT)
Game 4, April 27: New York at Detroit (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Detroit at New York (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): New York at Detroit (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Detroit at New York (TBD)

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MSG loves Jalen Brunson's cold floater for Knicks

Jalen Brunson floats it in for the Knicks to Madison Square Garden's delight vs. the Pistons.

More:

• Knicks wrest Game 1 away from Pistons with 21-0 run

• Knicks get East's No. 3 seed, seek 'urgency' ahead of playoffs

• Pistons, worst in NBA last season, clinch playoff berth

• Herring: Tom Thibodeau and the minutes-heavy Knicks are at it again

• Woodyard: Cade Cunningham is eyeing more success for the Detroit Pistons

Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)
(Pacers lead series, 1-0)

Game 1, April 19: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Game 2, April 22: Milwaukee at Indiana (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
Game 3, April 25: Indiana at Milwaukee (8 p.m. ET, ESPNU/NBA TV)
Game 4, April 27: Indiana at Milwaukee (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Indiana at Milwaukee (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana (TBD)

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Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton jaw at each other during a timeout

Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton start jawing at each other as both teams are trying to go to their bench.

More:

• Pacers set tone with blowout win over Bucks in Game 1

• Sources: Bucks' Damian Lillard expected to return for Game 2 or 3

• Collier: How a new focus changed Giannis' game and improved the Bucks' playoff outlook

• Collier: What Kyle Kuzma brings to Bucks: 'A better chance to win this year'

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8)

Game 1, April 20: Memphis at Oklahoma City (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 2, April 22: Memphis at Oklahoma City (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 24: Oklahoma City at Memphis (TBD, TNT)
Game 4, April 26: Oklahoma City at Memphis (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 28 (if necessary): Memphis at Oklahoma City (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Oklahoma City at Memphis (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Memphis at Oklahoma City (TBD)

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Ja Morant on his ankle: 'I couldn't feel it, that's why I was out there'

Ja Morant reflects on what it was like to play in the Grizzlies' 120-106 win over the Mavericks to advance to the NBA playoffs.

More:

• Ja Morant plays through ankle sprain as Grizzlies lock up 8-seed

• NBA Finals contenders' top weakness: Who can exploit them?

• Bontemps: SGA or Jokic? Results are in for final MVP straw poll

• Kram: NBA contenders don't fear the Thunder -- here are 22 reasons they should

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

Game 1, April 20: Golden State at Houston (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2, April 23: Golden State at Houston (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 26: Houston at Golden State (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4, April 28: Houston at Golden State (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Golden State at Houston (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Houston at Golden State (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Golden State at Houston (TBD)

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How Jimmy Butler rejuvenated the Warriors' season

Golden State's postseason hopes rest on Jimmy Butler's impact as the Warriors push for one more run with their core.

More:

• Curry, Warriors outlast Grizzlies in play-in thriller to clinch playoff spot

• MacMahon: How Ime Udoka built the Houston Rockets' new identity

• Youngmisuk: Butler, Green have built a quick bond to stabilize the Warriors

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

Game 1, April 19: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
Game 2, April 22: Minnesota at Los Angeles (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 25: Los Angeles at Minnesota (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4, April 27: Los Angeles at Minnesota (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Minnesota at Los Angeles (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Los Angeles at Minnesota (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Minnesota at Los Angeles (TBD)

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Anthony Edwards' deep trey forces a Lakers timeout

Anthony Edwards drains a long 3-pointer to put the Timberwolves up big over the Lakers.

More:

• Timberwolves beat Lakers by 22 in Game 1 of playoff series

• Doncic: Criticism out of Dallas 'painful,' but 'didn't want to talk back'

• Lakers sign Rob Pelinka to contract extension as president/GM

• Shelburne: What's behind this stifling, confusing LeBron-led Lakers defense

• McMenamin: LeBron, Luka and the one player who could swing the playoffs for the Lakers

• MacMahon: The Timberwolves' chemistry with Edwards, Randle and Gobert is 'a work in progress'

Denver Nuggets (4) vs. LA Clippers (5)
(Nuggets lead series, 1-0)

Game 1, April 19: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
Game 2, April 21: LA at Denver (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3, April 24: Denver at LA (TBD, NBA TV)
Game 4, April 26: Denver at LA (6 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): LA at Denver (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Denver at LA (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): LA at Denver (TBD)

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Russell Westbrook's clutch defensive play helps Nuggets hang on in Game 1

Russell Westbrook breaks up an inbounds pass that goes off of James Harden for a Clippers turnover late in overtime.

More:

• Nuggets erase 15-point deficit, stun Clippers in Game 1 OT win

• Nuggets owner: Coach, GM firings months in making

• Nuggets' Nikola Jokic wraps up triple-double average for season

• MacMahon/Shelburne: Why the Nuggets suddenly fired their coach and GM