NBA playoff bracket: 2025 schedule, times and scores Show Caption Hide Caption Best first-round NBA playoff matchups The For The Hoops crew discuss the most exciting first-round NBA playoff series, including Lakers vs. Timberwolves and Rockets vs. Warriors. The Boston Celtics' title defense has hit a bump in the road. The defending NBA champions were without Jayson Tatum in Game 2 against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday at TD Garden after Tatum suffered a right distal radius bone bruise in the Celtics' 103-86 Game 1 win over the Magic.
Despite Tatum's absence, the Celtics were able to defeat the Magic 109-100 to take a 2-0 series lead. Kristaps Porzingis was shaken up in the process and received five stitches after taking an elbow to the face in the win. Meanwhile, there's concern surrounding the status of Warriors star Jimmy Butler, who exited Golden State's 109-94 Game 2 loss to the Houston Rockets after landing hard on his backside.
He was ruled out the remainder of the contest with a pelvis contusion. The series is now tied 1-1 and shifts to San Francisco for Game 3 on Saturday. Here's the complete NBA playoffs schedule, including the entire first round: All times Eastern.
*-if necessary Eastern Conference (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat Cleveland leads the series 2-0 Game 1: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100 Cavaliers 121, Heat 100 Game 2: Cavaliers 121, Heat 112 Cavaliers 121, Heat 112 Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat | Saturday, April 26, TBD | TNT Cavaliers at Heat | Saturday, April 26, TBD | TNT Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD Cavaliers at Heat | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers| Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD * Heat at Cavaliers| Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD * Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD * Cavaliers at Heat | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD * Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers| Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD * (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic Boston leads the series 2-0 Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86 Celtics 103, Magic 86 Game 2: Celtics 109, Magic 100 Celtics 109, Magic 100 Game 3: Celtics at Orlando Magic | Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. | ESPN Celtics at Orlando Magic | Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. | ESPN Game 4: Celtics at Orlando Magic | Sunday, April 27, 7 p.m. | TNT Celtics at Orlando Magic | Sunday, April 27, 7 p.m. | TNT Game 5: Orlando Magic at Celtics | TBD* Orlando Magic at Celtics | TBD* Game 6: Celtics at Orlando Magic | TBD* Celtics at Orlando Magic | TBD* Game 7: Orlando Magic at Celtics | TBD* JAYSON TATUM INJURY UPDATE: Celtics star's status revealed for Game 2 vs. Magic (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons Series tied 1-1 Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112 Knicks 123, Pistons 112 Game 2: Pistons 100, Knicks 94 Pistons 100, Knicks 94 Game 3: Knicks at Pistons | Thursday, April 24, TBD | TNT Knicks at Pistons | Thursday, April 24, TBD | TNT Game 4: Knicks at Pistons | Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m. | ABC Knicks at Pistons | Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m. | ABC Game 5: Pistons at Knicks | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD Pistons at Knicks | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD Game 6: Knicks at Pistons | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD* Knicks at Pistons | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD* Game 7: Pistons at Knicks | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD* (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks Pacers lead series 2-0 Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98 Pacers 117, Bucks 98 Game 2: Pacers 123, Bucks 115 Pacers 123, Bucks 115 Game 3: Pacers at Bucks | Friday, April 25, 8 p.m. | ESPN Pacers at Bucks | Friday, April 25, 8 p.m. | ESPN Game 4: Pacers at Bucks | Sunday, April 27, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN Pacers at Bucks | Sunday, April 27, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN Game 5: Bucks at Pacers | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD * Bucks at Pacers | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD * Game 6: Pacers at Bucks | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD * Pacers at Bucks | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD * Game 7: Bucks at Pacers | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD * OPINION: You have to love how much the Bucks and Pacers hate each other DAMIAN LILLARD INJURY UPDATE: How many points did he score against Pacers? Western Conference (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies Thunder leads the series 2-0 Game 1: Thunder 131, Grizzles 80 Thunder 131, Grizzles 80 Game 2: Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99 Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99 Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies | Thursday, April 24, 8:30 p.m. | TNT Thunder at Grizzlies | Thursday, April 24, 8:30 p.m. | TNT Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies | Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m. | TNT Thunder at Grizzlies | Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m. | TNT Game 5: Grizzlies at Thunder | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD * Grizzlies at Thunder | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD * Game 6: Thunder at Grizzlies | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD * Thunder at Grizzlies | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD * Game 7: Grizzlies at Thunder | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD * (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors Series tied 1-1 Game 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85 Warriors 95, Rockets 85 Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94 Rockets 109, Warriors 94 Game 3: Rockets at Warriors | Saturday, April 26, 9:30 p.m. | ABC Rockets at Warriors | Saturday, April 26, 9:30 p.m. | ABC Game 4: Rockets at Warriors | Monday, April 28, 9:30 p.m. | TNT Rockets at Warriors | Monday, April 28, 9:30 p.m. | TNT Game 5: Warriors at Rockets | TBD Warriors at Rockets | TBD Game 6: Rockets at Warriors | TBD* Rockets at Warriors | TBD* Game 7: Warriors at Rockets | TBD* (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves Series tied 1-1 Game 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95 Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95 Game 2: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85 Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85 Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves | Friday, April 25, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN Lakers at Timberwolves | Friday, April 25, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves | Sunday, April 27, 3:30 p.m. | ABC Lakers at Timberwolves | Sunday, April 27, 3:30 p.m. | ABC Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers | Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD Timberwolves at Lakers | Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD* Lakers at Timberwolves | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD* Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD* LOS ANGELES LAKERS: JJ Redick berates team during timeout in Game 2, Lakers respond vs. Timberwolves (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers Series tied 1-1 Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102 Clippers 105, Nuggets 102 Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, April 24, TBD | NBA TV Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, April 24, TBD | NBA TV Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers | Saturday, April 26, 6 p.m. | TNT Nuggets at Clippers | Saturday, April 26, 6 p.m. | TNT Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD Clippers at Nuggets | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD* Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD* Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, May 3, TBD | 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. TNT, 8 p.m. Game 2, May 23: TNT, 8 p.m. TNT, 8 p.m. Game 3, May 25: TNT, 8 p.m. TNT, 8 p.m. Game 4, May 27: TNT, 8 p.m. TNT, 8 p.m. Game 5, May 29: TNT, 8 p.m.* TNT, 8 p.m.* Game 6, May 31: TNT, 8 p.m.* 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. ESPN, 8:30 p.m. Game 2, May 22: ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ESPN, 8:30 p.m. Game 3, May 24: ABC, 8:30 p.m. ABC, 8:30 p.m. Game 4 , May 26: ESPN, 8:30 p.m. , ESPN, 8:30 p.m. Game 5, May 28: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.* ESPN, 8:30 p.m.* Game 6, May 30: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.* ESPN, 8:30 p.m.* Game 7, June 1: ESPN, 8 p.m.* 2025 NBA Finals schedule *-if necessary Game 1, June 5: ABC ABC Game 2, June 8: ABC ABC Game 3, June 11: ABC ABC Game 4, June 13: ABC ABC Game 5, June 16: ABC (if necessary) ABC (if necessary) Game 6, June 19: ABC (if necessary) ABC (if necessary) Game 7, June 22: ABC (if necessary) The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
