NBA Playoffs 2025: First Round Preview

The 2025 NBA playoffs are set to ignite this Saturday, promising thrilling basketball action following an unforgettable regular season.

In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers have secured the top seed after a dominant season. Hot on their heels are the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics, seeded second and spearheaded by Jayson Tatum and Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.

Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder are poised to compete for the title, claiming the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive year, driven by MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The final Western Conference standings were decided on the last day, with the Minnesota Timberwolves securing the No. 6 seed and avoiding the play-in tournament.

Before the top seeds begin their playoff journey, the No. 7 and 8 seeds in each conference will be determined in the play-in tournament, starting this Tuesday.

Following the play-in tournament`s conclusion on Friday, the 16-team NBA playoffs commence on Saturday with four games, followed by another four on April 20th. Eight teams from each conference advance to the first round, competing in best-of-seven series. All four playoff rounds are best-of-seven, with no reseeding after each round. Home-court advantage in each series belongs to the team with the better regular-season record. The series format is 2-2-1-1-1, with the higher-seeded team hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if needed).

EASTERN CONFERENCE

TBD

Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs. TBD (8)

• Game 1: Play-in winner at Cleveland
• Game 2: Play-in winner at Cleveland
• Game 3: Cleveland at play-in winner
• Game 4: Cleveland at play-in winner
• Game 5 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Cleveland
• Game 6 (if necessary): Cleveland at play-in winner
• Game 7 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Cleveland

TBD

Boston Celtics (2) vs. TBD (7)

• Game 1: Play-in winner at Boston
• Game 2: Play-in winner at Boston
• Game 3: Boston at play-in winner
• Game 4: Boston at play-in winner
• Game 5 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Boston
• Game 6 (if necessary): Boston at play-in winner
• Game 7 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Boston

New York Knicks (3) vs. Detroit Pistons (6)

• Game 1: Detroit at New York
• Game 2: Detroit at New York
• Game 3: New York at Detroit
• Game 4: New York at Detroit
• Game 5 (if necessary): Detroit at New York
• Game 6 (if necessary): New York at Detroit
• Game 7 (if necessary): Detroit at New York

Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)

• Game 1: Milwaukee at Indiana
• Game 2: Milwaukee at Indiana
• Game 3: Indiana at Milwaukee
• Game 4: Indiana at Milwaukee
• Game 5 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana
• Game 6 (if necessary): Indiana at Milwaukee
• Game 7 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana

WESTERN CONFERENCE

TBD

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. TBD (8)

• Game 1: Play-in winner at Oklahoma
• Game 2: Play-in winner at Cleveland
• Game 3: Oklahoma at play-in winner
• Game 4: Oklahoma at play-in winner
• Game 5 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Oklahoma
• Game 6 (if necessary): Oklahoma at play-in winner
• Game 7 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Oklahoma

TBD

Houston Rockets (2) vs. TBD (7)

• Game 1: Play-in winner at Houston
• Game 2: Play-in winner at Houston
• Game 3: Houston at play-in winner
• Game 4: Houston at play-in winner
• Game 5 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Houston
• Game 6 (if necessary): Houston at play-in winner
• Game 7 (if necessary): Play-in winner at Houston

Los Angeles Lakers (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)

• Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers
• Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers
• Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves
• Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves
• Game 5 (if necessary): Timberwolves at Lakers
• Game 6 (if necessary): Lakers at Timberwolves
• Game 7 (if necessary): Timberwolves at Lakers

Denver Nuggets (4) vs. LA Clippers (5)

• Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets
• Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets
• Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers
• Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers
• Game 5 (if necessary): Clippers at Nuggets
• Game 6 (if necessary): Nuggets at Clippers
• Game 7 (if necessary): Clippers at Nuggets