The 2025 NBA playoffs begin on April 20, showcasing intense matchups in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The Cleveland Cavaliers secured the No. 1 seed in the East, followed by the Boston Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Oklahoma City Thunder, featuring MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are the top seed in the West. Each conference’s playoffs will follow a best-of-seven format, with teams not reseeded after each round. ESPN will cover all playoff games leading to the NBA Finals, starting June 5. Key matchups include Miami vs. Cleveland and Memphis vs. Oklahoma City.
The 2025 NBA playoffs are set to begin on Saturday, promising an exhilarating postseason ahead.
After an impressive season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Defending champions, the Boston Celtics, followed closely as the No. 2 seed, spearheaded by Jayson Tatum and reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are gearing up after clinching the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive year, led by MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The final playoff positions were determined on the last day of the regular season, with the Minnesota Timberwolves nabbing the No. 6 seed to bypass the play-in.
Once the play-in tournament wraps up on Friday, the NBA playoffs commence on Saturday with four matchups, followed by an additional four games on April 20. Each conference will have eight teams competing in a best-of-seven series format to advance to the next round. All playoff rounds employ a best-of-seven format, and teams are not reseeded post each round. The advantage of home-court goes to the team with a superior regular-season record in each matchup, with the hosting format as 2-2-1-1-1, allowing the better-record team to host Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if necessary).
We’ll be providing comprehensive coverage of the NBA playoffs through to the 2025 NBA Finals, which kick off on June 5 airing on ABC and the ESPN App.
MORE: Coverage of the play-in tournament | 
Offseason guides
EASTERN CONFERENCE
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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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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Game 1, April 19: Detroit at New York (6 p.m. ET, ESPN)
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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Game 1, April 19: Milwaukee at Indiana (1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
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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WESTERN CONFERENCE
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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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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Game 1, April 19: Minnesota at Los Angeles (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
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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Game 1, April 19: LA at Denver (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
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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