The 2025 NBA playoffs first round starts on Saturday, promising exciting basketball action after an unforgettable regular season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers dominated this season and secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Following closely are the Boston Celtics, the defending champions, holding the second seed and led by stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Eastern Conference First Round Matchups
Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs. TBD (8)
TBD
Game 1: Play-in winner at Cleveland
Game 2: Play-in winner at Cleveland
Game 3: Cleveland at play-in winner
Game 4: Cleveland at play-in winner
Game 5 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Cleveland
Game 6 (if necessary): Cleveland at play-in winner
Game 7 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Cleveland
Boston Celtics (2) vs. TBD (7)
TBD
Game 1: Play-in winner at Boston
Game 2: Play-in winner at Boston
Game 3: Boston at play-in winner
Game 4: Boston at play-in winner
Game 5 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Boston
Game 6 (if necessary): Boston at play-in winner
Game 7 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Boston
New York Knicks (3) vs. Detroit Pistons (6)
Game 1: Detroit at New York
Game 2: Detroit at New York
Game 3: New York at Detroit
Game 4: New York at Detroit
Game 5 (if necessary): Detroit at New York
Game 6 (if necessary): New York at Detroit
Game 7 (if necessary): Detroit at New York
Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)
Game 1: Milwaukee at Indiana
Game 2: Milwaukee at Indiana
Game 3: Indiana at Milwaukee
Game 4: Indiana at Milwaukee
Game 5 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana
Game 6 (if necessary): Indiana at Milwaukee
Game 7 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana
Western Conference First Round Matchups
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are set to compete as the top seed for the second year in a row, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in MVP contention. The final seedings were decided on the last day of the regular season, with the Minnesota Timberwolves securing the sixth seed to avoid the play-in tournament.
Before the top teams begin, the 7th and 8th seeds in each conference will be determined in the play-in tournament starting Tuesday.
Following the play-in tournament concluding Friday, the 16-team NBA playoffs commence on Saturday with four games, and four more on April 20. Eight teams per conference will compete in best-of-seven first-round series. All playoff rounds are best-of-seven, and reseeding does not occur. Home-court advantage is granted to the team with the better regular-season record. Series follow a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 if needed.
Full NBA playoffs coverage will continue through the 2025 NBA Finals, starting June 5.
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. TBD (8)
TBD
Game 1: Play-in winner at Oklahoma
Game 2: Play-in winner at Cleveland
Game 3: Oklahoma at play-in winner
Game 4: Oklahoma at play-in winner
Game 5 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Oklahoma
Game 6 (if necessary): Oklahoma at play-in winner
Game 7 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Oklahoma
Houston Rockets (2) vs. TBD (7)
TBD
Game 1: Play-in winner at Houston
Game 2: Play-in winner at Houston
Game 3: Houston at play-in winner
Game 4: Houston at play-in winner
Game 5 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Houston
Game 6 (if necessary): Houston at play-in winner
Game 7 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Houston
Los Angeles Lakers (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers
Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers
Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves
Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves
Game 5 (if necessary): Timberwolves at Lakers
Game 6 (if necessary): Lakers at Timberwolves
Game 7 (if necessary): Timberwolves at Lakers
Denver Nuggets (4) vs. LA Clippers (5)
Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets
Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets
Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers
Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers
Game 5 (if necessary): Clippers at Nuggets
Game 6 (if necessary): Nuggets at Clippers
Game 7 (if necessary): Clippers at Nuggets
