The 2025 NBA Playoffs represent a significant moment in the ongoing story of basketball. Traditional dynasties have splintered. New talent refreshes the league. As the ageing legends step aside, a group of dynamic young candidates emerges with intensity, accuracy, and unwavering determination. With so many great teams and players competing for a chance to win the championship, it’s sure to be a thrilling postseason. It is necessary to remain informed about the NBA Playoffs TV schedule in order to view all the thrilling games, regardless of whether you are a devoted fan or a casual viewer.
Perennial powerhouses are no longer the only ones with supremacy. Upstart franchisees are shattering presumptions and revising expectations, upending the formerly stable hierarchy. There is geographic parity. The conferences’ power dynamics have never seemed more evenly distributed, and the playoffs will provide both genius and uncertainty in equal measure.
April 20 will mark the beginning of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, which will be presented by Google Pixel. The first phase is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, May 5, featuring a total of eight best-of-seven series.
Key dates for the 2025 NBA Playoffs
- April 15–16 – NBA Play-In Tournament
- April 19 – Start of the First Round of the NBA Playoffs
- May 5–6 (can move up to May 3-4) – Start of the Conference Semifinals
- May 20–21 (can move up to May 18-19) – Start of the Conference Finals
- June 5 – NBA Finals Game 1
The NBA has released the schedule for all the possible first-round games, including the dates, times, and TV information for the first four games in each series.
NBA playoff TV Schedule
🏀 Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat
| Date, Time, TV | Game and Location |
|---|---|
| April 20, 1:00 PM ABC | Game 1 Heat at Cavaliers |
| April 23, 7:30 PM NBATV | Game 2 Heat at Cavaliers |
| April 26, 1:00 PM TNT | Game 3 Cavaliers at Heat |
| April 28, TBD NBATV | Game 4 Cavaliers at Heat |
| April 30, TBD TBD | Game 5 (if necessary) Heat at Cavaliers |
| May 2, TBD TBD | Game 6 (if necessary) Cavaliers at Heat |
| May 4, TBD TBD | Game 7 (if necessary) Heat at Cavaliers |
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic
| Date, Time, TV | Game and Location |
|---|---|
| April 20, 3:30 PM ESPN | Game 1 Magic at Celtics |
| April 23, 7:00 PM TNT | Game 2 Magic at Celtics |
| April 25, 7:00 PM ESPN | Game 3 Celtics at Magic |
| April 27, 7:00 PM TNT | Game 4 Celtics at Magic |
| April 29, TBD TBD | Game 5 (if necessary) Magic at Celtics |
| May 1, TBD TBD | Game 6 (if necessary) Celtics at Magic |
| May 3, TBD TBD | Game 7 (if necessary) Magic at Celtics |
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
| Date, Time, TV | Game and Location |
|---|---|
| April 19, 7:00 PM ESPN | Game 1 Pistons at Knicks |
| April 21, 7:00 PM NBATV | Game 2 Pistons at Knicks |
| April 24, TBD TNT | Game 3 Knicks at Pistons |
| April 27, 1:00 PM ABC | Game 4 Knicks at Pistons |
| April 29, TBD TBD | Game 5 (if necessary) Pistons at Knicks |
| May 1, TBD TBD | Game 6 (if necessary) Knicks at Pistons |
| May 3, TBD TBD | Game 7 (if necessary) Pistons at Knicks |
(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
| Date, Time, TV | Game and Location |
|---|---|
| April 19, 3:30 PM ABC | Game 1 Bucks at Pacers |
| April 22, 7:00 PM NBATV | Game 2 Bucks at Pacers |
| April 25, 8:00 PM NBATV | Game 3 Pacers at Bucks |
| April 27, 9:30 PM TNT | Game 4 Pacers at Bucks |
| April 29, TBD TBD | Game 5 (if necessary) Bucks at Pacers |
| May 2, TBD TBD | Game 6 (if necessary) Pacers at Bucks |
| May 4, TBD TBD | Game 7 (if necessary) Bucks at Pacers |
🏀 Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies
| Date, Time, TV | Game and Location |
|---|---|
| April 20, 3:30 PM ESPN | Game 1 Grizzlies at Thunder |
| April 22, 7:30 PM TNT | Game 2 Grizzlies at Thunder |
| April 24, 9:30 PM TNT | Game 3 Thunder at Grizzlies |
| April 26, 3:30 PM TNT | Game 4 Thunder at Grizzlies |
| April 28, TBD TBD | Game 5 (if necessary) Grizzlies at Thunder |
| May 1, TBD TBD | Game 6 (if necessary) Thunder at Grizzlies |
| May 3, TBD TBD | Game 7 (if necessary) Grizzlies at Thunder |
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
| Date, Time, TV | Game and Location |
|---|---|
| April 20, 6:30 PM TNT | Game 1 Warriors at Rockets |
| April 23, 9:30 PM TNT | Game 2 Warriors at Rockets |
| April 26, 8:30 PM ABC | Game 3 Rockets at Warriors |
| April 28, 10:00 PM TNT | Game 4 Rockets at Warriors |
| April 30, TBD TBD | Game 5 (if necessary) Warriors at Rockets |
| May 2, TBD TBD | Game 6 (if necessary) Rockets at Warriors |
| May 4, TBD TBD | Game 7 (if necessary) Warriors at Rockets |
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
| Date, Time, TV | Game and Location |
|---|---|
| April 19, 10:00 PM ESPN | Game 1 Timberwolves at Lakers |
| April 22, 10:00 PM TNT | Game 2 Timberwolves at Lakers |
| April 25, 9:30 PM ESPN | Game 3 Lakers at Timberwolves |
| April 27, 3:30 PM ABC | Game 4 Lakers at Timberwolves |
| April 30, TBD TBD | Game 5 (if necessary) Timberwolves at Lakers |
| May 2, TBD TBD | Game 6 (if necessary) Lakers at Timberwolves |
| May 4, TBD TBD | Game 7 (if necessary) Timberwolves at Lakers |
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
| Date, Time, TV | Game and Location |
|---|---|
| April 19, 9:00 PM ESPN | Game 1 Clippers at Nuggets |
| April 21, 9:00 PM TNT | Game 2 Clippers at Nuggets |
| April 24, 10:00 PM NBATV | Game 3 Nuggets at Clippers |
| April 26, 10:00 PM ABC | Game 4 Nuggets at Clippers |
| April 29, TBD TBD | Game 5 (if necessary) Clippers at Nuggets |
| May 1, TBD TBD | Game 6 (if necessary) Nuggets at Clippers |
| May 3, TBD TBD | Game 7 (if necessary) Clippers at Nuggets |
When do the NBA Finals start?
The 2025 NBA Finals are scheduled to commence on Thursday, June 5, 2025, and will follow the traditional best-of-seven format. The series will conclude by June 22, 2025, if it extends to a seventh game. The exact locations will be determined based on the home-court advantage, which is awarded to the team with the better regular-season record.
| Date | Game |
|---|---|
| Thursday, June 5 | Game 1 |
| Sunday, June 8 | Game 2 |
| Wednesday, June 11 | Game 3 |
| Friday, June 13 | Game 4 |
| Monday, June 16 | Game 5 (if necessary) |
| Thursday, June 19 | Game 6 (if necessary) |
| Sunday, June 22 | Game 7 (if necessary) |
What channel are the NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals on?
The NBA Playoffs will be televised across multiple platforms throughout North America, including ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV. Coverage of the NBA Finals, beginning on June 5, will air exclusively on ABC.
Internationally, games will be accessible through the NBA’s global broadcast and digital streaming partners. This includes coverage via TNT Sports in the United Kingdom and worldwide access through NBA League Pass.
When is the next NBA Draft?
The NBA Draft 2025 is set to occur on June 25-26. This yearly event acts as a venue for teams to choose talented players to add to their rosters for the forthcoming season. The venue and its specific details may vary, but the NBA generally conducts the draft at a central location, with past events hosted in arenas or conference centres.