The 2025 NBA Playoffs officially begin on April 19 after the Play-In Tournament, which runs from April 15 to 18. The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will determine which teams advance as the No. 7 and 8 seeds in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Here is the schedule:
SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament:
Tuesday, April 15
- Atlanta Hawks (East 8) vs. Orlando Magic (East 7): winner advances to playoffs as East No. 7 seed.
- Memphis Grizzlies (West 8) vs. Golden State Warriors (West 7): winner advances to playoffs as West No. 7 seed.
Wednesday, April 16
- Miami Heat (East 10) vs. Chicago Bulls (East 9): loser is eliminated.
- Dallas Mavericks (West 10) vs. Sacramento Kings (West 9): loser is eliminated.
Friday, April 18
- East 9/10 winner vs. East 7/8 loser
- winner advances to playoffs as East No. 8 seed
- West 9/10 winner vs. West 7/8 loser
- winner advances to playoffs as West No. 8 seed
First round schedule:
Eastern Conference
All times Eastern Standard Time
(1) Cleveland vs. (8) TBD
• Game 1: TBD at Cavaliers (Sun. April 20, TBD)
• 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)*
* if necessary
(2) Boston vs. (7) TBD
• Game 1: TBD at Celtics (Sun. April 20, TBD)
• 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)*
* if necessary
(3) New York vs. (6) Detroit (Bet Now)
• Game 1: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. April 19, 6 ET, 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)*
* if necessary
(4) Indiana vs. (5) Milwaukee (Bet Now)
• Game 1: Bucks at Pacers (Sat. April 19, 1 ET, 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)*
* if necessary
Western Conference
All times Eastern Standard Time
(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) TBD
• Game 1: TBD at Thunder (Sun. April 20, TBD)
• 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)*
* if necessary
(2) Houston vs. (7) TBD
• Game 1: TBD at Rockets (Sun. April 20, TBD)
• 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)*
* if necessary
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota (Bet Now)
• Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sat. April 19)
• 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)*
* if necessary
(4) Denver vs. (5) LA Clippers (Bet Now)
• Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. April 19)
• 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)*
* if necessary
Conference semifinals
The conference semifinals will begin May 5-6 but can move up to May 3-4.
Conference finals
The conference finals will begin May 20-21 but can move up to May 18-19.
- May 20: Western Conference Finals—Game 1 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET (possible series move up to May 18)
- May 21: Eastern Conference Finals—Game 1 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (possible series move up to May 19)
- May 22: Western Conference Finals—Game 2 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET
- May 23: Eastern Conference Finals—Game 2 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET
- May 24: Western Conference Finals—Game 3 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET
- May 25: Eastern Conference Finals—Game 3 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET
- May 26: Western Conference Finals—Game 4 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET
- May 27: Eastern Conference Finals—Game 4 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET
- May 28: Western Conference Finals—Game 5 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)
- May 29: Eastern Conference Finals—Game 5 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (if necessary)
- May 30: Western Conference Finals—Game 6 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)
- May 31: Eastern Conference Finals—Game 6 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (if necessary)
- June 1: Western Conference Finals—Game 7 on ESPN, 8 p.m. ET (if necessary)
- June 2: Eastern Conference Finals—Game 7 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET (if necessary)
NBA Finals
The 2025 NBA Playoffs Finals will begin June 5, with ABC as the exclusive broadcaster.
- June 5: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV—Game 1 on ABC
- June 8: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV—Game 2 on ABC
- June 11: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV—Game 3 on ABC
- June 13: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV—Game 4 on ABC
- June 16: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV—Game 5 on ABC (if necessary)
- June 19: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV—Game 6 on ABC (if necessary)
- June 22: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV—Game 7 on ABC (if necessary)
