Heat vs. Cavaliers in 2025 NBA playoffs: Schedule, dates, series odds
The 2025 NBA playoffs first round is here, and hours from tip-off. In the Eastern Conference, the No. 1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers will face the No. 8 seed Miami Heat in the first-round best-of-seven series.
The Cavaliers secured the top position in the Eastern Conference after an impressive season with 60 wins, marking the third time in franchise history they have achieved this feat. This is also the first time they have clinched the No. 1 seed since their championship season in 2015-16. The team is led by Donovan Mitchell, who has averaged 24 points per game but is considered a game-time decision due to an ankle injury as the Cavaliers head into the playoffs.
In a historic turn of events, the Heat secured the No. 8 seed in the playoffs after two impressive road victories, first defeating the Chicago Bulls 109-90 and then the Atlanta Hawks 123-114. Miami made history by becoming the first No. 10-seeded team to reach the playoffs since the Play-In Tournament was introduced in the 2020-21 season.
Here is the schedule and series odds for the Heat vs. Cavaliers in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Heat vs. Cavaliers: NBA playoffs odds
The Cavaliers are favored to defeat the Heat in the NBA playoffs first round, per BetMGM odds (as of Saturday, April 19):
- Series winner: Cavaliers (-2500)
- Game 1 spread: Cavaliers (-12.5)
- Game 1 Moneyline: Cavaliers (-900); Heat (+550)
- Game 1 Over/Under: 214.5
Heat vs. Cavaliers: NBA playoffs schedule, how to watch, time, TV channel, streaming
The first-round NBA playoff series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat will begin Sunday, April 20 and could go until Sunday, May 4.
ABC, ESPN and TNT will each carry at least one game of the series, while details for Games 5 through 7 (should they be necessary) have yet to be announced. Cord-cutting fans can stream the action on Sling for games on TNT and Fubo for those on ABC. Fubo is offering a free trial for new subscribers.
All times Eastern.
- Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers | Sunday, April 20 | 7 p.m | TNT, Sling TV
- Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 23 | 7:30 p.m | NBA TV
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat | Saturday, April 26 | 1 p.m. | TNT, Fubo
- Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat | Monday, April 28 | TBD | TNT, Sling TV
- Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 30 | time/broadcast TBD*
- Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat | Friday, May 2 | time/broadcast TBD*
- Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers | Sunday, May 4 | time/broadcast TBD*
Watch Heat vs. Cavaliers Game 1 on Sling TV