NBA playoff bracket: 2025 schedule, times and scores
The Boston Celtics' title defense has hit a bump in the road.
The defending NBA champions were without Jayson Tatum in Game 2 against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday at TD Garden after Tatum suffered a right distal radius bone bruise in the Celtics' 103-86 Game 1 win over the Magic. Despite Tatum's absence, the Celtics were able to defeat the Magic 109-100 to take a 2-0 series lead. Kristaps Porzingis was shaken up in the process and received five stitches after taking an elbow to the face in the win.
Meanwhile, there's concern surrounding the status of Warriors star Jimmy Butler, who exited Golden State's 109-94 Game 2 loss to the Houston Rockets after landing hard on his backside. He was ruled out the remainder of the contest with a pelvis contusion. The series is now tied 1-1 and shifts to San Francisco for Game 3 on Saturday.
Here's the complete NBA playoffs schedule, including the entire first round:
NBA playoff bracket: Schedule, results
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat
Cleveland leads the series 2-0
- Game 1: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100
- Game 2: Cavaliers 121, Heat 112
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat | Saturday, April 26, TBD | TNT
- Game 4:Cavaliers at Heat | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD
- Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers| Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD *
- Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD *
- Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers| Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD *
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic
Boston leads the series 2-0
- Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86
- Game 2: Celtics 109, Magic 100
- Game 3: Celtics at Orlando Magic | Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 4: Celtics at Orlando Magic | Sunday, April 27, 7 p.m. | TNT
- Game 5: Orlando Magic at Celtics | TBD*
- Game 6: Celtics at Orlando Magic | TBD*
- Game 7: Orlando Magic at Celtics | TBD*
JAYSON TATUM INJURY UPDATE: Celtics star's status revealed for Game 2 vs. Magic
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
Series tied 1-1
- Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
- Game 2: Pistons 100, Knicks 94
- Game 3: Knicks at Pistons | Thursday, April 24, TBD | TNT
- Game 4: Knicks at Pistons | Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m. | ABC
- Game 5: Pistons at Knicks | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD
- Game 6: Knicks at Pistons | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: Pistons at Knicks | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD*
(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
Pacers lead series 2-0
- Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
- Game 2: Pacers 123, Bucks 115
- Game 3: Pacers at Bucks | Friday, April 25, 8 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 4: Pacers at Bucks | Sunday, April 27, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 5: Bucks at Pacers | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD *
- Game 6: Pacers at Bucks | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD *
- Game 7: Bucks at Pacers | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD *
OPINION: You have to love how much the Bucks and Pacers hate each other
DAMIAN LILLARD INJURY UPDATE: How many points did he score against Pacers?
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies
Thunder leads the series 2-0
- Game 1: Thunder 131, Grizzles 80
- Game 2: Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99
- Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies | Thursday, April 24, 8:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 4:Thunder at Grizzlies | Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m. | TNT
- Game 5: Grizzlies at Thunder | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD *
- Game 6: Thunder at Grizzlies | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD *
- Game 7: Grizzlies at Thunder | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD *
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
Series tied 1-1
- Game 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
- Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94
- Game 3: Rockets at Warriors | Saturday, April 26, 9:30 p.m. | ABC
- Game 4: Rockets at Warriors | Monday, April 28, 9:30 p.m. | TNT
- Game 5: Warriors at Rockets | TBD
- Game 6: Rockets at Warriors | TBD*
- Game 7: Warriors at Rockets | TBD*
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Series tied 1-1
- Game 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
- Game 2: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85
- Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves | Friday, April 25, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves | Sunday, April 27, 3:30 p.m. | ABC
- Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers | Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD
- Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD*
LOS ANGELES LAKERS: JJ Redick berates team during timeout in Game 2, Lakers respond vs. Timberwolves
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
Series tied 1-1
- Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110
- Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
- Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, April 24, TBD | NBA TV
- Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers | Saturday, April 26, 6 p.m. | TNT
- Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD
- Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD*
Conference semifinals
The conference semifinals is scheduled to begin on May 5-6, but could possibly move up to May 3-4 depending on outcomes of first round.
Conference finals
All times Eastern. *-if necessary
Eastern Conference Finals
(Possible series move up to May 19)
- Game 1, May 21: TNT, 8 p.m.
- Game 2, May 23: TNT, 8 p.m.
- Game 3, May 25: TNT, 8 p.m.
- Game 4, May 27: TNT, 8 p.m.
- Game 5, May 29: TNT, 8 p.m.*
- Game 6, May 31: TNT, 8 p.m.*
- Game 7, June 2: TNT, 8 p.m.*
Western Conference Finals
(Possible series move up to May 18)
- Game 1, May 20: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
- Game 2, May 22: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
- Game 3, May 24: ABC, 8:30 p.m.
- Game 4, May 26: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
- Game 5, May 28: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.*
- Game 6, May 30: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.*
- Game 7, June 1: ESPN, 8 p.m.*
2025 NBA Finals schedule
*-if necessary
- Game 1, June 5: ABC
- Game 2, June 8: ABC
- Game 3, June 11: ABC
- Game 4, June 13: ABC
- Game 5, June 16: ABC (if necessary)
- Game 6, June 19: ABC (if necessary)
- Game 7, June 22: ABC (if necessary)
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