2025 NBA Playoffs: First round schedule, matchups, results

By: 4 weeks ago

2025 NBA Eastern and Western Conference First Round Schedule

After a grueling regular season, the race for the Larry O’Brien Trophy is down to 16 teams as the much-awaited 2025 NBA Playoffs begin.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers leading their respective conferences as the top seeds, the road to the NBA Finals promises to be as unpredictable as ever.

Each series is a best-of-seven. Here is the full schedule, matchups and results for the opening round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.

2025 NBA Eastern and Western Conference bracket (as of April 19)

Eastern Conference Playoff matchups – First Round

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat – Play-in winner
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
(4) Indiana Pacers vs (5) Milwaukee Bucks

Western Conference Playoff matchups – First Round

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies – Play-in winner
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
(4) Denver Nuggets vs (5) Los Angeles Clippers

2025 NBA Eastern and Western Conference bracket, PH time (as of April 19)

April 20, Sunday

1am – Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks (Game 1)
3:30am – Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers (Game 1)
6am – New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons (Game 1)
8:30am – Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves (Game 1)

April 21 Monday

1am – Oklahoma City Thunder vs Memphis Grizzles (Game 1)
3:30am – Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic (Game 1)
7am – Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat (Game 1)
9:30am – Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors (Game 1)

April 22, Tuesday

7:30am – New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons (Game 2)
10am – Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers (Game 2)

April 23, Wednesday

7am – Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks (Game 2)
7:30am – Oklahoma City THunder vs Memphis Grizzlies (Game 2)
10am – Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves (Game 2)

April 24, Thursday

7am – Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic (Game 2)
7:30am – Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat (Game 2)
9:30am – Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors (Game 2)

April 25, Friday

7am – Detroit Pistons vs New York Knicks (Game 3)
9:30am – Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 3)
10am – Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets (Game 3)

April 26, Saturday

7am – Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics (Game 3)
8am – Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers (Game 3)
9:30am – Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers (Game 3)

April 27, Sunday

10am – Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers (Game 3)
3:30am – Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 4)
6am – Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets (Game 4)
8:30am – Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets (Game 4)

April 28, Monday

1am – Detroit Pistons vs New York Knicks (Game 4)
3:30am – Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers (Game 4)
7am – Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics (Game 4)
9:30am – Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers (Game 4)
TBD – Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers (Game 4)
TBD – Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers (Game 4)

April 29, Tuesday

10am – Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets (Game 4)
TBD – New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons (Game 5)
TBD – Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic (Game 5)
TBD – Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers (Game 5)
TBD – Indaian Pacers vs Milwauee Bucks (Game 5)

April 30, Wednesday

TBD – Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat (Game 5)
TBD – Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves (Game 5)
TBD – Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors (Game 5)

May 1, Thursday

TBD – Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets (Game 6)
TBD – Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics (Game 6)
TBD – Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 6)
TBD – Detroit Pistons vs New York Knicks (Game 6)

May 2, Friday

TBD – Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers (Game 6)
TBD – Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers (Game 6)
TBD – Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets (Game 6)
TBD – Miwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers (Game 6)

May 3, Saturday

TBD – Oklahoma City Thunder vs Memphis Grizzlies (Game 7)
TBD – Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers (Game 7)
TBD – New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons (Game 7)
TBD – Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic (Game 7)

May 4 – Sunday

TBD – Indiana Pacers vs Milwauke Bucks (Game 7)
TBD – Los Anges Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves (Game 7)
TBD – Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat (Game 7)
TBD – Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors (Game 7)