NBA releases 1st-round playoff schedule
The NBA announced its schedule for the opening round of the 2025 postseason Wednesday.
The eighth seed in both the East and West is still up for grabs. The winner of the Sacramento Kings versus the Dallas Mavericks will play the Memphis Grizzlies in a single-elimination game for the final spot in the West; the winner of the Miami Heat versus the Chicago Bulls will face the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 8 slot in the East.
Here are the schedules for all eight series:
Eastern Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs. East's No. 8 Seed
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 20 | 7 p.m. | Cavaliers | No. 8 Seed |
| 2 | April 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Cavaliers | No. 8 Seed |
| 3 | April 26 | 1 p.m. | No. 8 Seed | Cavaliers |
| 4 | April 28 | TBD | No. 8 Seed | Cavaliers |
| 5* | April 30 | TBD | Cavaliers | No. 8 Seed |
| 6* | May 2 | TBD | No. 8 Seed | Cavaliers |
| 7* | May 4 | TBD | Cavaliers | No. 8 Seed |
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 20 | 3:30 p.m. | Celtics | Magic |
| 2 | April 23 | 7 p.m. | Celtics | Magic |
| 3 | April 25 | 7 p.m. | Magic | Celtics |
| 4 | April 27 | 7 p.m. | Magic | Celtics |
| 5* | April 29 | TBD | Celtics | Magic |
| 6* | May 1 | TBD | Magic | Celtics |
| 7* | May 3 | TBD | Celtics | Magic |
New York Knicks (3) vs. Detroit Pistons (6)
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19 | 6 p.m. | Knicks | Pistons |
| 2 | April 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Knicks | Pistons |
| 3 | April 24 | TBD | Pistons | Knicks |
| 4 | April 27 | 1 p.m. | Pistons | Knicks |
| 5* | April 29 | TBD | Knicks | Pistons |
| 6* | May 1 | TBD | Pistons | Knicks |
| 7* | May 3 | TBD | Knicks | Pistons |
Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5)
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19 | 1 p.m. | Pacers | Bucks |
| 2 | April 22 | 7 p.m. | Pacers | Bucks |
| 3 | April 25 | 8 p.m. | Bucks | Pacers |
| 4 | April 27 | 9:30 p.m. | Bucks | Pacers |
| 5* | April 29 | TBD | Pacers | Bucks |
| 6* | May 2 | TBD | Bucks | Pacers |
| 7* | May 4 | TBD | Pacers | Bucks |
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. West's No. 8 Seed
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 20 | 1 p.m. | Thunder | No. 8 Seed |
| 2 | April 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Thunder | No. 8 Seed |
| 3 | April 24 | TBD | No. 8 Seed | Thunder |
| 4 | April 26 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 8 Seed | Thunder |
| 5* | April 28 | TBD | Thunder | No. 8 Seed |
| 6* | May 1 | TBD | No. 8 Seed | Thunder |
| 7* | May 3 | TBD | Thunder | No. 8 Seed |
Houston Rockets (2) vs. Golden State Warriors (7)
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 20 | 9:30 p.m. | Rockets | Warriors |
| 2 | April 23 | 9:30 p.m. | Rockets | Warriors |
| 3 | April 26 | 8:30 p.m. | Warriors | Rockets |
| 4 | April 28 | 10 p.m. | Warriors | Rockets |
| 5* | April 30 | TBD | Rockets | Warriors |
| 6* | May 2 | TBD | Warriors | Rockets |
| 7* | May 4 | TBD | Rockets | Warriors |
Los Angeles Lakers (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19 | 8:30 p.m. | Lakers | Timberwolves |
| 2 | April 22 | 10 p.m. | Lakers | Timberwolves |
| 3 | April 25 | 9:30 p.m. | Timberwolves | Lakers |
| 4 | April 27 | 3:30 p.m. | Timberwolves | Lakers |
| 5* | April 30 | TBD | Lakers | Timberwolves |
| 6* | May 2 | TBD | Timberwolves | Lakers |
| 7* | May 4 | TBD | Lakers | Timberwolves |
Denver Nuggets (4) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (5)
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19 | 3:30 p.m. | Nuggets | Clippers |
| 2 | April 21 | 10 p.m. | Nuggets | Clippers |
| 3 | April 24 | TBD | Clippers | Nuggets |
| 4 | April 26 | 6 p.m. | Clippers | Nuggets |
| 5* | April 29 | TBD | Nuggets | Clippers |
| 6* | May 1 | TBD | Clippers | Nuggets |
| 7* | May 3 | TBD | Nuggets | Clippers |
* If necessary
HEADLINES
- Fortune favors the foolish: Lottery luck saves Mavs from themselves
- T-Wolves cruise to Game 4 win over Warriors, take 3-1 lead
- Draymond salutes 'one of one' Edwards for sparking Wolves' rally
- 5 potential landing spots for Giannis with Bucks future uncertain
- Tatum carried off with apparent leg injury in Game 4 loss to Knicks