It’s finally that time: the NBA post-season is upon us once again. After an exciting regular season, the top 20 teams are one step closer to reaching the pinnacle of post-season basketball success: the NBA Finals.
This guide will give you the information you need to make sure you can keep up with the game, including which teams made the 2025 NBA Playoffs and how to watch the NBA Playoffs live.
Watch the 2025 NBA Playoffs live on DIRECTV!
2025 NBA Postseason Schedule & Results
First Round Game Schedule:
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat
Cavaliers lead the series 3-0.
- Game 1: Heat (100) at Cavaliers (121)
- Game 2: Heat (112) at Cavaliers (121)
- Game 3: Cavaliers (124) at Heat (87)
- Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat (Mon. April 28 @ 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
- Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers (Wed. April 30 @ 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV)*
- Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat (Fri. May 2 @ TBD)*
- Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers (Sun. May 4 @ TBD)*
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic
Celtics lead the series 3-1.
- Game 1: Magic (86) at Celtics (103)
- Game 2: Magic (100) at Celtics (109)
- Game 3: Celtics (93) at Magic (95)
- Game 4: Celtics (107) at Magic (98)
- Game 5: Magic at Celtics (Tue. April 29 @ 8:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV)
- Game 6: Celtics at Magic (Thu. May 1 @ TBD)*
- Game 7: Magic at Celtics (Sat. May 3 @ TBD)*
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
Knicks lead 3-1.
- Game 1: Pistons (112) at Knicks (123)
- Game 2: Pistons (100) at Knicks (94)
- Game 3: Knicks (118) at Pistons (116)
- Game 4: Knicks (94) at Pistons (93)
- Game 5: Pistons at Knicks (Tue. April 29 @ 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
- Game 6: Knicks at Pistons (Thu. May 1 @ TBD)*
- Game 7: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. May 3 @ TBD)*
(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
Pacers lead the series 3-1.
- Game 1: Bucks (98) at Pacers (117)
- Game 2: Bucks (115) at Pacers (123)
- Game 3: Pacers (101) at Bucks (117)
- Game 4: Pacers (129) at Bucks (103)
- Game 5: Bucks at Pacers (Tue. April 29 @ 6 p.m. ET om NBA TV)
- Game 6: Pacers at Bucks (Fri. May 2 @ TBD)*
- Game 7: Bucks at Pacers (Sun. May 4 @ TBD)*
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies
Thunder wins series 4-0
Game 6: Thunder at Grizzlies (Thu. May 1 @ TBD)*
- Game 1: Grizzlies (80) at Thunder (131)
- Game 2: Grizzlies (99) at Thunder (118)
- Game 3: Thunder (114) at Grizzlies (108)
- Game 4: Thunder (117) at Grizzlies (115)
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
Warriors tied 2-1.
- Game 1: Warriors (95) at Rockets (85)
- Game 2: Warriors (94) at Rockets (109)
- Game 3: Rockets (93) at Warriors (104)
- Game 4: Rockets at Warriors (Mon. April 28 @ ET on TNT)
- Game 5: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 30 @ 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)*
- Game 6: Rockets at Warriors (Fri. May 2 @ TBD)*
- Game 7: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. May 4 @ TBD)*
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Timberwolves lead series 3-1.
- Game 1: Timberwolves (117) at Lakers (95)
- Game 2: Timberwolves (85) at Lakers (94)
- Game 3: Lakers (104) at Timberwolves (116)
- Game 4: Lakers (113) at Timberwolves (116)
- Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers (Wed. April 30 @ 10 p.m. ET on TNT)*
- Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves (Fri. May 2 @ TBD)*
- Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sun. May 4 @ TBD)*
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers
Series tied 2-2.
- Game 1: Clippers (112) at Nuggets (110)
- Game 2: Clippers (102) at Nuggets (105)
- Game 3: Nuggets (83) at Clippers (117)
- Game 4: Nuggets (101) at Clippers (99)
- Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets (Tue. April 29 @ 10 p.m. ET on TNT)*
- Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers (Thu. May 1 @ TBD)*
- Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. May 3 @ TBD)*
*if necessary
Which Teams Made the 2025 NBA Playoffs
Here’s the final playoffs picture:
Western Conference Playoff Picture:
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Houston Rockets
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Denver Nuggets
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Golden State Warriors
- Memphis Grizzlies
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture:
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Boston Celtics
- New York Knicks
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Detroit Pistons
- Orlando Magic
- Miami Heat
Which Teams Did Not Make the 2025 Postseason?
So, which unfortunate NBA teams have already been eliminated from playoff contention?
Eliminated Western Conference Teams:
- Utah Jazz
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Portland Trail Blazers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
- Dallas Mavericks
Eliminated Eastern Conference Teams:
- Brooklyn Nets
- Toronto Raptors
- Charlotte Hornets
- Washington Wizards
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Atlanta HawksChicago Bulls
Better luck next year!
How can I watch the 2025 NBA Playoffs?
You can catch all of the excitement live during the 2025 NBA Playoffs on the following networks:
- ABC (find your local ABC affiliate)
- ESPN (channel 206)
- TNT (channel 245)
- NBA TV (channel 216)
And for those fans who don’t have access to NBA TV, now’s the time to change that with DIRECTV. Learn more here.
When do the NBA Playoffs Start?
The 2025 NBA Playoffs will begin after the conclusion of the regular season with the SoFi Play-In Tournament from April 15 to April 18. For more information on how the Play-In Tournament works, check out this Play-In Tournament watch guide.
2025 NBA Playoffs Key Dates
But what happens after the Play-In Tournament? And when can you expect to see your team play live, if they make the playoffs? Below, you’ll find all the dates you need catch all the NBA postseason action. And check back here as the playoff picture is solidified and matchups and game times are announced.
- End of regular season: Sunday, April 13
- 2025 SoFi Play-In Tournament: April 15-18
- Conference Semifinals: May 5-6*
- Conference Finals: May 20-21**
- May 20: Western Conference Finals – Game 1 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET
- May 21: Eastern Conference Finals – Game 1 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET
- 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***
- May 29: Eastern Conference Finals – Game 5 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET***
- May 30: Western Conference Finals – Game 6 on ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET***
- May 31: Eastern Conference Finals – Game 6 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET***
- June 1: Western Conference Finals – Game 7 on ESPN, 8 p.m. ET***
- June 2: Eastern Conference Finals – Game 7 on TNT, 8 p.m. ET***
- NBA Finals: June 5-22 (may conclude earlier)
- NBA Finals Game 1: Thursday, June 5
- NBA Finals Game 2: Sunday, June 8
- NBA Finals Game 3: Wednesday, June 11
- NBA Finals Game 4: Friday, June 13
- NBA Finals Game 5: Monday, June 16***
- NBA Finals Game 6: Thursday, June 19***
- NBA Finals Game 7: Sunday, June 22***
*May be moved up based on first round results
**May be moved up based on Conference Semifinal results
*** If necessary
Watch More Basketball with NBA League Pass & DIRECTV
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And if you’re looking for even more NBA action, you can get NBA League Pass through your DIRECTV account, so everything you need for a top-notch basketball experience is in one place.
You don’t need a cable subscription to see your favorite teams hit the court live. Stream basketball games today with DIRECTV.
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