Brian Windhorst explains how Ivica Zubac's presence in the paint could be the difference-maker versus Nikola Jokic. (1:01) Open Extended Reactions The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs tips has begun, and fans can expect an action-filled postseason. Eight teams from each conference reach the first round and face off in a best-of-seven series to advance.
All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-seven, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home-court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary).
The Cleveland Cavaliers claimed the No. 1 seed in the East and advanced to the second round after sweeping the No. 8 Miami Heat.
The Cavs will now face the No. 4 Indiana Pacers, who eliminated the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks in five games.
The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics continue their title defense after also only needing five games to oust the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic.
The Celtics will face off against the No. 3 New York Knicks. In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder landed the No.
1 seed for a second straight season behind MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and and became the first team to advance to the second round after sweeping the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies. Finishing at No.
2 were the Houston Rockets, one of the season's most improved teams, but are now in must-win mode against the No. 7 Golden State Warriors. LeBron James and Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a No.
3 seed but were eliminated the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the No.4 Denver Nuggets outlasted the No.
5 LA Clippers in a Game 7 rout. We'll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2025 NBA Finals, which tip off June 5 on ABC and the ESPN App. Each series picked through the Finals | Offseason guides EASTERN CONFERENCE (1) Cleveland Cavaliers win series over the (8) Miami Heat, 4-0 Game 1, April 20: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100 Game 2, April 23: Cavaliers 121, Heat 112 Game 3, April 26: Cavaliers 124, Heat 87 Game 4, April 28: Cavaliers 138, Heat 83 play 2:09 Cavs put on a clinic in historic blowout to sweep the Heat The Cavaliers secure their largest playoff win in history with a 138-83 series-sealing victory.
More: (2) Boston Celtics win series over the (7) Orlando Magic, 4-1 Game 1, April 20: Celtics 103, Magic 86 Game 2, April 23: Celtics 109, Magic 100 Game 3, April 25: Magic 95, Celtics 93 Game 4, April 27: Celtics 107, Magic 98 Game 5, April 29: Celtics 120, Magic 89 play 1:52 Jayson Tatum ensures Celtics close out the Magic Jayson Tatum's 35 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists lead the Celtics to a series-clinching win over the Magic. More: (3) New York Knicks win series over the (6) Detroit Pistons, 4-2 Game 1, April 19: Knicks 123, Pistons 112 Game 2, April 21: Pistons 100, Knicks 94 Game 3, April 24: Knicks 118, Pistons 116 Game 4, April 27: Knicks 94, Pacers 93 Game 5, April 29: Pistons 106, Knicks 103 Game 6, May 1: Knicks 116, Pistons 113 play 1:13 Jalen Brunson's clutch 3 in final seconds wins series for Knicks Jalen Brunson knocks down a huge 3-pointer in the closing seconds to put the Knicks ahead in their series-clinching win over the Pistons. More: (4) Indiana Pacers win series over the (5) Milwaukee Bucks, 4-1 Game 1, April 19: Pacers 117, Bucks 98 Game 2, April 22: Pacers 123, Bucks 115 Game 3, April 25: Bucks 117, Pacers 101 Game 4, April 27: Pacers 129, Bucks 103 Game 5, April 29: Pacers 119, Buckers 118 (OT) play 0:53 Haliburton wins it for Pacers in final seconds after Trent Jr. fumble After Gary Trent Jr. fumbles a pass out of bounds, Tyrese Haliburton takes charge with a smooth lay-in in the final seconds to clinch the series.
More: WESTERN CONFERENCE (1) Oklahoma City Thunder win series over the (8) Memphis Grizzlies, 4-0 Game 1, April 20: Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80 Game 2, April 22: Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99 Game 3, April 24: Thunder 114, Grizzlies 108 Game 4, April 26: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115 play 0:18 SGA sends OKC into the second round with a game-sealing jumper Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hits a sweet jumper to complete OKC's sweep over the Grizzlies. More: Game 1, April 20: Warriors 95, Rockets 85 Game 2, April 23: Rockets 109, Warriors 94 Game 3, April 26: Warriors 104, Rockets 93 Game 4, April 28: Warriors 109, Rockets 106 Game 5, April 30: Rockets 131, Rockets 116 Game 6, May 2: Rockets 115, Warriors 107 Game 7, May 4: Golden State at Houston (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT) play 0:26 Fred VanVleet's 6th 3-pointer gives Rockets their largest lead Fred VanVleet's sixth 3-pointer forces a Warriors timeout in the fourth quarter.
More: (6) Minnesota Timberwolves win series over the (3) Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1 Game 1, April 19: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95 Game 2, April 22: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85 Game 3, April 25: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 104 Game 4, April 27: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 113 Game 5, April 30: Timberwolves 103, Lakers 96 play 0:58 JWill on Luka's conditioning: 'He has the body of a 40-year-old' Jay Williams and Mike Greenberg discuss Luka Doncic's conditioning and how long he will be able to play in the NBA at an elite level. More: (4) Denver Nuggets win series over the (5) LA Clippers, 4-3 Game 1, April 19: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT) Game 2, April 21: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102 Game 3, April 24: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83 Game 4, April 26: Nuggets 101, Clippers 99 Game 5, April 29: Nuggets 131, Clippers 115 Game 6, May 1: Clippers 111, Nuggets 105 Game 7, May 3: Nuggets 120, Clippers 101 play 0:30 Westbrook blows a layup, Powell hits dagger 3 After Russell Westbrook blows a layup, the Clippers go downcourt and get a Norman Powell 3-pointer to go up nine late in the fourth. More:
