2025 NBA playoff TV schedule: Postseason dates, game times, matchups, bracket for first round and play-in
The 2025 NBA playoffs have arrived, and part of the first-round schedule has been set by the NBA. The postseason gets started on Tuesday with the Play-In Tournament, and four series start on Saturday: Pacers-Bucks, Nuggets-Clippers, Knicks-Pistons and Lakers-Timberwolves. The other four first-round matchups — all of which still need to be decided via the play-in — will begin on Sunday.
The postseason has become the NBA’s second season. All of the drama from the 2024-25 NBA regular season — the blockbuster trades, the stunning coach firings, the social media and player podcast feuds, the increasingly dangerous celebrations of Ja Morant — is in the rearview mirror. It was just prologue, the setup before the real story began.
Now we’re here. The 2025 NBA playoffs are at hand, and they’re primed to be some of the most competitive the league has seen in quite some time. The field, at least for now, is reasonably healthy. Aside from the ones that have missed most of the year (sorry, Philadelphia), the stars are seemingly ready to go. The standings were as tight as ever. Entering the final week, there was a five-way tie in the Western Conference standings. Clippers vs. Warriors was the final game of the regular season, and it sent Los Angeles to the playoffs and Golden State to the play-in.
While a few obvious favorites stand out, the playoff field is, generally, pretty open. You could talk yourself into eight or nine legitimate contenders. The Thunder (who are the championship favorites with +170 odds at FanDuel) and Cavaliers were the two best teams all season long, but the Celtics enter the postseason as the reigning champs.
After Sunday, 12 teams have guaranteed playoff spots and we know four of the eight first-round matchups: Knicks vs. Pistons and Pacers vs. Bucks in the East and Lakers vs. Timberwolves and Nuggets vs. Clippers in the West. The Magic, Hawks, Bulls and Heat are competing in the East’s Play-In Tournament; the Warriors, Grizzlies, Kings and Mavs are the West’s play-in teams.
In the coming weeks, that 20-team field will be whittled down to the best of the best. We’ll be with you every step of the way. Below is the schedule for the 2025 NBA playoffs, starting with the first round, which is now set. Follow along with us here at CBS Sports as we cover and analyze all of the biggest moments from one of the most anticipated postseasons the NBA has ever seen.
Play-In Tournament schedule
All times Eastern
Tuesday, April 15
Magic vs. Hawks, 7:30 p.m., TNT
Warriors vs. Grizzlies, 10 p.m., TNT
Wednesday, April 16
Bulls vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Kings vs. Mavericks, 10 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Friday, April 18
East TBD vs. East TBD, Time TBD, ESPN/fubo
West TBD vs. West TBD, Time TBD, TNT
2025 NBA playoff schedule
All times Eastern
Saturday, April 19
Game 1: Pacers vs. Bucks, 1 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Game 1: Nuggets vs. Clippers, 3:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Game 1: Knicks vs. Pistons, 6 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Game 1: Lakers vs. Timberwolves, 8:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
Sunday, April 20
Game 1: Cavaliers vs. TBD, Time/Channel TBD
Game 1: Celtics vs. Magic/Hawks, Time/Channel TBD
Game 1: Thunder vs. TBD, Time/Channel TBD
Game 1: Rockets vs. Warriors/Grizzlies, Time/Channel TBD
More of the first-round schedule will be released this week. CBS Sports will have an updated schedule with dates, times and TV information as soon as it’s available.
Key dates for 2025 NBA playoffs
- April 15-18: Play-In Tournament
- April 19: Playoffs begin
- May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
- June 5: NBA Finals begin
