A basketball season full of 82 games, blockbuster trades and multiple head coach terminations comes down to this: the 2025 NBA playoffs.
Who will be crowned the next NBA champion? Will the Boston Celtics become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018? Will Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers bring Cleveland its first title since 2016? Or will the young core of the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Houston Rockets hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
Before the first round officially gets underway on Friday, the final four spots in the playoffs are up for grabs. The play-in tournament will decide which teams advance to the postseason or are cleared for takeoff to Cancun.
Here’s the complete NBA playoffs schedule, including the play-In tournament dates,
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Play-in tournament schedule
All times Eastern
Tuesday, April 15
Game 1: Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. | TNT
Winner advances to playoffs as No. 7 seed in East
Game 2: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors
Time/TV: 10 p.m. | TNT
Winner advances to playoffs as West No. 7 seed
Wednesday, April 16
Game 3: Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Loser is eliminated.
Game 4: Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings
Time/TV: 10 p.m. | ESPN
Loser is eliminated
Friday, April 18
Game 3 winner vs. Game 1 loser
Time/TV: TBD | TNT
Winner advances to playoffs as No. 8 seed in East
Game 4 winner vs. Game 2 loser
Time/TV: TBD | TNT
Winner advances to playoffs as No. 8 seed in West
First round
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) TBD
Game 1: TBD at Cavaliers| Sunday, April 20
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*
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) TBD
Game 1: TBD at Celtics | Sunday, April 20
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*
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
Game 1: Pistons at Knicks | Saturday, April 19, 6 p.m. | ESPN
Game 2: Pistons at Knicks | TBD
Game 3: Knicks at Pistons | TBD
Game 4: Knicks at Pistons | TBD
Game 5: Pistons at Knicks | TBD*
Game 6: Knicks at Pistons | TBD*
Game 7: Pistons at Knicks | TBD*
(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
Game 1: Bucks at Pacers | Saturday, April 19, 1 p.m. | 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*
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) TBD
Game 1: TBD at Thunder | Sunday, April 20
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*
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) TBD
Game 1: TBD at Rockets | Sunday, April 20
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*
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers | Saturday, April 19, 8:30 p.m. | 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*
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, April 19, 3:30 p.m. | 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*
Conference semifinals
The conference semifinals is scheduled to begin on May 5-6, but could possibly move up to May 3-4 depending on outcomes of first round.
Conference finals
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Eastern Conference Finals
(Possible series move up to May 19)
Game 1, May 21: TNT, 8 p.m.
Game 2, May 23: TNT, 8 p.m.
Game 3, May 25: TNT, 8 p.m.
Game 4, May 27: TNT, 8 p.m.
Game 5, May 29: TNT, 8 p.m.*
Game 6, May 31: TNT, 8 p.m.*
Game 7, June 2: TNT, 8 p.m.*
Western Conference Finals
(Possible series move up to May 18)
Game 1, May 20: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
Game 2, May 22: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
Game 3, May 24: ABC, 8:30 p.m.
Game 4, May 26: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
Game 5, May 28: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.*
Game 6, May 30: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.*
Game 7, June 1: ESPN, 8 p.m.*
2025 NBA Finals schedule
*-if necessary
Game 1, June 5: ABC
Game 2, June 8: ABC
Game 3, June 11: ABC
Game 4, June 13: ABC
Game 5, June 16: ABC (if necessary)
Game 6, June 19: ABC (if necessary)
Game 7, June 22: ABC (if necessary)
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