The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs tips has begun, and fans can expect an action-filled postseason.
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).
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. The New York Knicks clinched the No. 3 spot, with the No. 4 Indiana Pacers and No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks behind them. The Detroit Pistons, one of the biggest storylines this season, return to the playoffs as the No. 6 seed. The No. 7 Orlando Magic advanced via the play-in tournament, as did the Miami Heat after becoming the first team clinch the No. 8 seed after finishing 10th in the regular season.
In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder landed 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, while three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets clinched the No. 4 seed. The LA Clippers finished at No. 5, followed by the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves. The Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies advanced as the No. 7 and No. 8 seed, respectively, from the play-in tournament.
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
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers lead (8) Miami Heat, 2-0
Game 1, April 20: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100
Game 2, April 23: Cavaliers 121, Heat 112
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)
Donovan Mitchell tallies 30 points, including 17 points in the fourth quarter, in the Cavaliers' Game 2 win vs. the Heat.
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'Battle-tested' Heat advance as first ever 10-seed to make playoffs
MacMahon: How Darius Garland's 'pivotal' season is fueling the Cavaliers
(2) Boston Celtics lead (7) Orlando Magic, 2-0
Game 1, April 20: Celtics 103, Magic 86
Game 2, April 23: Celtics 109, Magic 100
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)
Jaylen Brown goes off for 36 points to make up for the absence of Jayson Tatum, leading the Celtics to a Game 2 win over the Magic.
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Herring: Boston's historic 3-point performance continues -- for better or worse
Spears: Banchero talks about the playoff race, Duke basketball, and more
(3) New York Knicks tied with (6) Detroit Pistons, 1-1
Game 1, April 19: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
Game 2, April 21: Pistons 100, Knicks 94
Game 3, April 24: New York at Detroit (7 p.m. ET, 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)
Cade Cunningham goes off for 33 points and 12 rebounds to power the Pistons to their first playoff win since 2008 and tie the series at 1-1 vs. the Knicks.
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Pistons snap playoff losing streak with Game 2 win; first since '08
Knicks' Tom Thibodeau calls out 'huge' free throw discrepancy in Game 2
Wright: How the Amen and Ausar Thompson are visualizing their NBA goals
Herring: Josh Hart and his do-it-all plays could be Knicks' key
Herring: Tom Thibodeau and the minutes-heavy Knicks are at it again
Woodyard: Cade Cunningham is eyeing more success for the Detroit Pistons
(4) Indiana Pacers lead (5) Milwaukee Bucks, 2-0
Game 1, April 19: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Game 2, April 22: Pacers 123, Bucks 115
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)
Tyrese Haliburton notches 21 points with 12 assists as the Pacers defeat the Bucks 123-115 in Game 2.
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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
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder lead (8) Memphis Grizzlies, 2-0
Game 1, April 20: Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80
Game 2, April 22: Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99
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)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes off for 27 points to help the Thunder claim a 2-0 series lead vs. the Grizzlies.
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Thunder pour it on again, laud balanced attack in Game 2 win
Morant vows Grizzlies 'will never play that bad again' after G1 blowout
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
(7) Golden State Warriors tied with (2) Houston Rockets, 1-1
Game 1, April 20: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
Game 2, April 23: Rockets 109, Warriors 94
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)
Jalen Green goes off for 38 points as the Rockets blow out the Warriors to win Game 2.
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Wright: How the Amen and Ausar Thompson are visualizing their NBA goals
MacMahon: How Ime Udoka built the Houston Rockets' new identity
Youngmisuk: Butler, Green have built a quick bond to stabilize the Warriors
(3) Los Angeles Lakers tied with (6) Minnesota Timberwolves, 1-1
Game 1, April 19: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
Game 2, April 22: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85
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)
Luka Doncic shows off his moves on Rudy Gobert en route to a baseline jumper for the Lakers.
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Redick lauds Lakers' practice, bemoans earlier lack of focus
McMahon: Inside the years-long turmoil that led to the Luka Doncic trade
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'
(4) Denver Nuggets tied with (5) LA Clippers, 1-1
Game 1, April 19: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
Game 2, April 21: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
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)
Kawhi Leonard cooks the Nuggets for 39 points to lead the Clippers to a 105-102 Game 2 win.
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