2025 NBA Playoff Schedule; Matchups and TV Broadcast

2025 NBA Playoff Schedule

The 2025 NBA Playoff schedule starts on Saturday, April 19th, 2025. The playoffs wrap up with the NBA Finals that start on Thursday, June 5th, 2025. Prior to the playoffs, the NBA holds a Play-In tournament between the #8 through #10 seeds in each conference. The outcome of these games is the winners are the #7 and #8 seeds in each respective conference bracket. For last season’s playoffs we saw the Lakers, Pelicans, Heat, and 76ers emerge from the Play-in to join in the first round of the playoffs.

*Note: All updated schedules and information from the NBA is included in the schedules for you below.

When does the 2025 NBA Playoff Start? 

The 2025 NBA Playoffs start with the Play-in tournament. The tournament is held right after the regular season concludes. The Play-in tourney takes place April 15-18th, 2025 this year. The first round of the NBA Playoffs gets started on April 19th, 2025. Please note that we expect the 2024-25 NBA regular season to conclude on April 13th. If the league decides not to have a rest/travel day, then the play-in and first round dates will shift one day left.

2025 NBA Playoff Schedule

Here’s the high-level 2025 NBA Playoff schedule. In the NBA, there are four rounds of play in the postseason. If we count the play-in, its technically five rounds. The NBA allows the postseason schedule to be fluid between the first round and the Finals. This way, if you see too many sweeps, we don’t have as long of a pause in the action. 2024 did see a week+ pause between the Conference finals and the championship. If you would like to checkout the printable 2025 NBA Playoff Bracket, we have that up for you too.

  • NBA Play-in Tournament: April 15-18, 2025
  • NBA Playoffs – First Round: April 19-29 
  • Conference Semifinals: May 5-6 (start estimate)
  • Conference Finals: May 20-21
  • NBA Finals June 5-22, 2025

Once we have all of the finalized seeds and brackets, we’ll update the NBA Playoff schedule and sports bracket for you to follow the tournament. We’ll also get you a blank, printable 2025 NBA Playoff bracket in PDF to follow throughout the regular season. After we get through the 2024 NBA Draft, we’ll start updating you on the 2025 NBA Playoff Picture as well. 

When Do the 2025 NBA Finals Take Place? 

The 2025 NBA Finals take place June 5-22, 2025 (if the series goes for the complete seven games). These are another best of seven game contest. Once a team gets to four wins, they win the NBA Championship. You can checkout all of the NBA Finals winners here and the Finals MVP winners here.

What TV Channels Show the 2025 NBA Playoffs? 

The NBA playoffs will be shown across several networks this year. These include ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV. The 2025 NBA Finals will only be shown on ABC (part of the ESPN family of networks now). If things change as we get closer to the NBA Playoffs in 2025, we’ll update you here with the changes. 

2025 NBA Play-In Schedule

Here’s the 2025 NBA Play-in schedule.

DateGameTime (ET)TV
April 15No. 7 Magic vs. No. 8 Hawks7:30 p.m.TNT
 No. 7 Warriors vs. No. 8 Grizzlies10 p.m.TNT
April 16No. 9 Bulls vs. No. 10 Heat7:30 p.m.ESPN
 No. 9 Kings vs. No. 10 Mavericks10 p.m.ESPN
April 18East 7/8 loser vs. East 9/10 winnerTBDTNT
 West 7/8 loser vs. West 9/10 winnerTBDESPN

 

2025 NBA Playoff Schedule

The 2025 NBA Playoff schedule kicks off right after the Play-in tournament concludes. No rest for the weary in some cases. 

2025 NBA Playoff Seeds

Eastern Conference
(1) Cavaliers vs. (8) TBD
(4) Pacers vs. (5) Bucks
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Pistons
(2) Celtics vs. (7) TBD
East Play-In Tournament
(7) Magic vs. (8) Hawks
(9) Bulls vs. (10) Heat

Western Conference
(1) Thunder vs. (8) TBD
(4) Nuggets vs. (5) Clippers
(3) Lakers vs. (6) Timberwolves
(2) Rockets vs. (7) TBD
West Play-In Tournament
(7) Warriors vs. (8) Grizzlies
(9) Kings vs. (10) Mavericks

2025 NBA Playoffs – First Round

Eastern Conference
All times Eastern Standard Time

(1) Cleveland vs. (8) TBD

  • Game 1: TBD at Cavaliers (Sun. April 20, TBD)
  • Game 2: TBD at Cavaliers (TBD)
  • Game 3: Cavaliers at TBD (TBD)
  • Game 4:Cavaliers at TBD (TBD)
  • Game 5: TBD at Cavaliers (TBD)*
  • Game 6: Cavaliers at TBD (TBD)*
  • Game 7: TBD at Cavaliers (TBD)*
  • if necessary
    Series tied 0-0

(2) Boston vs. (7) TBD

  • Game 1: TBD at Celtics (Sun. April 20, TBD)
  • Game 2: TBD at Celtics (TBD)
  • Game 3: Celtics at TBD (TBD)
  • Game 4: Celtics at TBD (TBD)
  • Game 5: TBD at Celtics (TBD)*
  • Game 6: Celtics at TBD (TBD)*
  • Game 7: TBD at Celtics (TBD)*
  • if necessary
    Series tied 0-0

(3) New York vs. (6) Detroit

  • Game 1: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. April 19, 6 ET, ESPN)
  • Game 2: Pistons at Knicks (TBD)
  • Game 3: Knicks at Pistons (TBD)
  • Game 4: Knicks at Pistons (TBD)
  • Game 5: Pistons at Celtics (TBD)*
  • Game 6: Celtics at Pistons (TBD)*
  • Game 7: Pistons at Celtics (TBD)*
  • if necessary
    Series tied 0-0

(4) Indiana vs. (5) Milwaukee

  • Game 1: Bucks at Pacers (Sat. April 19, 1 ET, ESPN)
  • Game 2: Bucks at Pacers (TBD)
  • Game 3: Pacers at Bucks (TBD)
  • Game 4: Pacers at Bucks (TBD)
  • Game 5: Bucks at Pacers (TBD)*
  • Game 6: Pacers at Bucks (TBD)*
  • Game 7: Bucks at Pacers (TBD)*
  • if necessary
    Series tied 0-0

Western Conference
All times Eastern Standard Time

(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) TBD

  • Game 1: TBD at Thunder (Sun. April 20, TBD)
  • Game 2: TBD at Thunder (TBD)
  • Game 3: Thunder at TBD (TBD)
  • Game 4:Thunder at TBD (TBD)
  • Game 5: TBD at Thunder (TBD)*
  • Game 6: Thunder at TBD (TBD)*
  • Game 7: TBD at Thunder (TBD)*
  • if necessary
    Series tied 0-0

(2) Houston vs. (7) TBD

  • Game 1: TBD at Rockets (Sun. April 20, TBD)
  • Game 2: TBD at Rockets (TBD)
  • Game 3: Rockets at TBD (TBD)
  • Game 4: Rockets at TBD (TBD)
  • Game 5: TBD at Rockets (TBD)*
  • Game 6: Rockets at TBD (TBD)*
  • Game 7: TBD at Rockets (TBD)*
  • if necessary
    Series tied 0-0

(3) L.A. Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota

  • Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sat. April 19, 8:30 ET, ABC)
  • Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers (TBD)
  • Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves (TBD)
  • Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves (TBD)
  • Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers (TBD)*
  • Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves (TBD)*
  • Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers (TBD)*
  • if necessary
    Series tied 0-0

(4) Denver vs. (5) LA Clippers

  • Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. April 19, 3:30 ET, ESPN)
  • Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets (TBD)
  • Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers (TBD)
  • Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers (TBD)
  • Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets (TBD)*
  • Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers (TBD)*
  • Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets (TBD)*
  • if necessary
    Series tied 0-0

2025 NBA Playoffs – Conference Semifinals

MATCHUPDATETIME (ET)TV
Winner of 1-8 vs. Winner of 4-5May 6-7TBDTBD
Winner of 2-7 vs. Winner of 3-6May 6-7TBDTBD
2025 NBA Playoff Schedule – Conference Semifinals

2025 NBA Playoffs – Conference Finals

MATCHUPDATETIME (ET)TV
Winner of 1-4-5-8 vs. Winner of 2-3-6-7May 21-22TBDTBD
2025 NBA Playoff Schedule – Conference Finals

2025 NBA Playoffs – Finals

GAMEDATETIME (ET)TV
Game 1June 58:30 PMABC
Game 2June 88:00 PMABC
Game 3June 118:30 PMABC
Game 4June 138:30 PMABC
Game 5*June 168:30 PMABC
Game 6*June 198:30 PMABC
Game 7*June 228:00 PMABC
2025 NBA Playoff Schedule – Finals

2024 NBA Playoff Highlights

Here are some of the best plays and highlights for the 2024 NBA Playoffs for you. 

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