It seems like it will be time to check out the printable 2025 NBA playoff bracket before you know it. Just after March Madness wraps up, we’ll have a short break before the Play-in games get started. We expect the 2025 NBA Play-in tournament to kick-off on April 15th and go through the 18th. The NBA could move this up a day to start on the 14th if they decide not to give the teams a day off. The regular season concludes on April 13th. We’ll keep you posted when the 2024-25 NBA regular season schedule and playoff dates get confirmed.
*Note: All dates listed are notional and based on the 2023-24 NBA postseason schedule and timing. Once confirmed by the NBA, we’ll let you know.
What TV Channels will the 2025 NBA Playoffs be Shown on?
We expect the 2025 NBA Playoff TV schedule to be pretty similar to what the league has done for the 2024 NBA Playoffs. We’ll see games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV. The TNT deal goes away after next year, so we’ll see what happens there with the broadcast teams. If things change before the playoff schedule starts up, we’ll keep you posted.
2025 NBA Playoff Bracket and Schedule
The printable 2025 NBA Playoff bracket is set once the 2025 NBA Play In tournament is over. The playoffs run from April 19th through mid-end of June depending on how many games it takes for a team to win four games in the NBA Finals to win the playoffs. Here are the nominal dates and schedule for the playoffs for you.
- 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
2025 NBA Play-In Schedule
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| April 15 | No. 7 Magic vs. No. 8 Hawks | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| No. 7 Warriors vs. No. 8 Grizzlies | 10 p.m. | TNT | |
| April 16 | No. 9 Bulls vs. No. 10 Heat | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| No. 9 Kings vs. No. 10 Mavericks | 10 p.m. | ESPN | |
| April 18 | East 7/8 loser vs. East 9/10 winner | TBD | TNT |
| West 7/8 loser vs. West 9/10 winner | TBD | ESPN |
The 2025 NBA Play-In scheduled determines who will be the #7 and #8 seed in each conference. All of the matchups and TV assignments are now set for those games.
Updated 2025 NBA Play-In TV Schedule
Wednesday, April 16
Miami Heat (East 10) vs. Chicago Bulls (East 9) | 7:30 ET, ESPN
loser is eliminated
Dallas Mavericks (West 10) vs. Sacramento Kings (West 9) | 10 ET, ESPN
loser is eliminated
Friday, April 18
East 9/10 winner vs. Atlanta Hawks (East 8) | 7 ET, TNT
winner advances to playoffs as East No. 8 seed
West 9/10 winner vs. Memphis Grizzlies (West 8) | 9:30 ET, ESPN
winner advances to playoffs as West No. 8 seed
2025 NBA Playoff Seeds
Eastern Conference
(1) Cavaliers vs. (8) Heat
(4) Pacers vs. (5) Bucks
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Pistons
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Magic
East Play-In Tournament
(7) Magic vs. (8) Hawks
(9) Bulls vs. (10) Heat
Western Conference
(1) Thunder vs. (8) Grizzlies
(4) Nuggets vs. (5) Clippers
(3) Lakers vs. (6) Timberwolves
(2) Rockets vs. (7) Warriors
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: Heat at Cavaliers (Sun. April 20, TBD)
- Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers (TBD)
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat (TBD)
- Game 4:Cavaliers at Heat (TBD)
- Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers (TBD)*
- Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat (TBD)*
- Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers (TBD)*
- if necessary
Series tied 0-0
(2) Boston vs. (7) Magic
- Game 1: Magic at Celtics (Sun. April 20, TBD)
- Game 2: Magic at Celtics (TBD)
- Game 3: Celtics at Magic(TBD)
- Game 4: Celtics at Magic(TBD)
- Game 5: Magic at Celtics (TBD)*
- Game 6: Celtics at Magic (TBD)*
- Game 7: Magic 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) Grizzlies
- Game 1: Grizzlies at Thunder (Sun. April 20, TBD)
- Game 2: Grizzlies at Thunder (TBD)
- Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies (TBD)
- Game 4:Thunder at Grizzlies (TBD)
- Game 5: Grizzlies at Thunder (TBD)*
- Game 6: Thunder at Grizzlies (TBD)*
- Game 7: Grizzlies at Thunder (TBD)*
- if necessary
Series tied 0-0
(2) Houston vs. (7) Warriors
- Game 1: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. April 20, TBD)
- Game 2: Warriors at Rockets (TBD)
- Game 3: Warriors at Magic (TBD)
- Game 4: Warriors at Magic (TBD)
- Game 5: Magic at Warriors (TBD)*
- Game 6: Warriors at Magic (TBD)*
- Game 7: Magic at Warriors(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
Printable 2025 NBA Playoff Bracket
We have a blank, printable 2025 NBA playoff bracket posted for you to use throughout the season in PDF format. As the NBA Playoff picture solidifies, you will be able to do your own NBA bracketology to see where teams might land or use for your respective office or other NBA pools that you might play. The 2025 NBA playoff schedule will always be subject to change until we reach the finals based on how many games each series goes. We’ll see if we get another Boston vs Dallas rematch in the Finals this season, or if we get the King back in the game. You can checkout all of the NBA Finals winners here too.
Updated Printable 2025 NBA Playoff Bracket
Here’s a local copy of the bracket the NBA updates for us on a regular basis. Once the seeds are set, we’ll update both versions of the bracket for you to use.
Here’s the updated, printable 2025 NBA Playoff Bracket for you too.
