The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs tips has begun, and fans can expect an action-filled postseason.

Eight teams from each conference reach the first round and face off in a best-of-seven series to advance. All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-seven, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home-court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary).

After a historic season of dominance, the Cleveland Cavaliers have claimed the No. 1 seed in the East. The defending champions Boston Celtics wrapped up the No. 2 seed, led by Jayson Tatum and reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. The New York Knicks clinched the No. 3 spot, with the No. 4 Indiana Pacers and No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks behind them. The Detroit Pistons, one of the biggest storylines this season, return to the playoffs as the No. 6 seed. The No. 7 Orlando Magic advanced via the play-in tournament, as did the Miami Heat after becoming the first team clinch the No. 8 seed after finishing 10th in the regular season.

In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder landed the No. 1 seed for a second straight season behind MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and and became the first team to advance to the second round after sweeping the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies. Finishing at No. 2 were the Houston Rockets, one of the season's most improved teams. LeBron James and Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a No. 3 seed, while three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets clinched the No. 4 seed. The LA Clippers finished at No. 5, followed by the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves.

We'll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2025 NBA Finals, which tip off June 5 on ABC and the ESPN App.

Each series picked through the Finals | Offseason guides

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers lead (8) Miami Heat, 3-0

Game 1, April 20: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100
Game 2, April 23: Cavaliers 121, Heat 112
Game 3, April 26: Cavaliers 124, Heat 87
Game 4, April 28: Cleveland at Miami (TBD)
Game 5, April 30 (if necessary): Miami at Cleveland (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Cleveland at Miami (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Miami at Cleveland (TBD)

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Mobley and Allen maul the rim on back-to-back plays

Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen throw down powerful dunks in succession.

More:

• Cleveland Cavaliers hand Miami Heat worst-ever playoff loss

• Evan Mobley named Defensive Player of the Year

• Cavs' Kenny Atkinson named Coach of the Year by peers

• 'Battle-tested' Heat advance as first ever 10-seed to make playoffs

• MacMahon: How Darius Garland's 'pivotal' season is fueling the Cavaliers

(2) Boston Celtics lead (7) Orlando Magic, 2-1

Game 1, April 20: Celtics 103, Magic 86
Game 2, April 23: Celtics 109, Magic 100
Game 3, April 25: Magic 95, Celtics 93
Game 4, April 27: Boston at Orlando (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Orlando at Boston (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Boston at Orlando (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Orlando at Boston (TBD)

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Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner shine in Magic's Game 3 victory

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner combine for 61 points in the Magic's 95-93 Game 3 win over the Celtics.

More:

• After Game 3 loss, Celtics again question Magic's physical play

• Celtics' Payton Pritchard named NBA's Sixth Man of the Year

• Gharib: Mazzula-isms! The best and most bizarre quotes from the Celtics coach

• Herring: Boston's historic 3-point performance continues -- for better or worse

• Spears: Banchero talks about the playoff race, Duke basketball, and more

(3) New York Knicks lead (6) Detroit Pistons, 2-1

Game 1, April 19: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
Game 2, April 21: Pistons 100, Knicks 94
Game 3, April 24: Knicks 118, Pistons 116
Game 4, April 27: New York at Detroit (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5, April 29: Detroit at New York (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): New York at Detroit (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): Detroit at New York (TBD)

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KAT bounces back with 31-point showing in Game 3 win

Karl-Anthony Towns bounces back from a poor second half in Game 2 with 31 huge points in the Knicks' Game 3 win over the Pistons.

More:

• Pistons, Knicks miffed by officiating in bizarre ending

• Pistons snap playoff losing streak with Game 2 win; first since '08

• Collier: 'Bad Boys' and Detroit energy: How the Pistons turned at around

• Wright: How the Amen and Ausar Thompson are visualizing their NBA goals

• Herring: Josh Hart and his do-it-all plays could be Knicks' key

• Woodyard: Cade Cunningham is eyeing more success for the Detroit Pistons

(4) Indiana Pacers lead (5) Milwaukee Bucks, 2-1

Game 1, April 19: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Game 2, April 22: Pacers 123, Bucks 115
Game 3, April 25: Bucks 117, Pacers 101
Game 4, April 27: Indiana at Milwaukee (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 29 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Indiana at Milwaukee (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Milwaukee at Indiana (TBD)

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Mathurin T'd up after having choice words for Giannis

Bennedict Mathurin receives a technical foul for jawing at Giannis Antetokounmpo during his free throws.

More:

• Hailburton on Bucks-Pacers feud: 'We don't like them'

• Winded' Lillard struggles in return as Bucks drop Game 2

• Pacers set tone with blowout win over Bucks in Game 1

• Collier: How a new focus changed Giannis' game and improved the Bucks' playoff outlook

• Collier: What Kyle Kuzma brings to Bucks: 'A better chance to win this year'

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder win series against (8) Memphis Grizzlies, 4-0

Game 1, April 20: Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80
Game 2, April 22: Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99
Game 3, April 24: Thunder 114, Grizzlies 108
Game 4, April 26: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115

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SGA sends OKC into the second round with a game-sealing jumper

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hits a sweet jumper to complete OKC's sweep over the Grizzlies.

More:

• Thunder complete sweep of Grizzlies, reach Western semifinals

• Ja Morant out for Game 4 with hip injury

• NBA Finals contenders' top weakness: Who can exploit them?

• Bontemps: SGA or Jokic? Results are in for final MVP straw poll

• Kram: NBA contenders don't fear the Thunder -- here are 22 reasons they should

(7) Golden State Warriors lead (2) Houston Rockets, 2-1

Game 1, April 20: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
Game 2, April 23: Rockets 109, Warriors 94
Game 3, April 26: Warriors 104, Rockets 93
Game 4, April 28: Houston at Golden State (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5, April 30: Golden State at Houston (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Houston at Golden State (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Golden State at Houston (TBD)

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Gary Payton II ices Game 3 win with emphatic reverse dunk

Gary Payton II throws down an emphatic fast-break flush for the Warriors.

More:

• Udoka: Warriors series getting chippy works in Rockets' favor

• Wright: How the Amen and Ausar Thompson are visualizing their NBA goals

• MacMahon: How Ime Udoka built the Houston Rockets' new identity

• Youngmisuk: Butler, Green have built a quick bond to stabilize the Warriors

(6) Minnesota Timberwolves lead (3) Los Angeles Lakers, 2-1

Game 1, April 19: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
Game 2, April 22: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85
Game 3, April 25: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 104
Game 4, April 27: Los Angeles at Minnesota (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5, April 30: Minnesota at Los Angeles (TBD)
Game 6, May 2 (if necessary): Los Angeles at Minnesota (TBD)
Game 7, May 4 (if necessary): Minnesota at Los Angeles (TBD)

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Ant Edwards amped up after hitting clutch jumper for Minnesota

Anthony Edwards ices Game 3 with a huge jumper late in the game for the Timberwolves.

More:

• Lakers' Luka Doncic sapped by stomach bug, struggles in Game 3

• Wolves' Edwards fined $50K for language, gesture toward fan

• McMahon: Inside the years-long turmoil that led to the Luka Doncic trade

• McMenamin: LeBron, Luka and the one player who could swing the playoffs for the Lakers

• MacMahon: The Timberwolves' chemistry with Edwards, Randle and Gobert is 'a work in progress'

(4) Denver Nuggets tied with (5) LA Clippers, 2-2

Game 1, April 19: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
Game 2, April 21: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
Game 3, April 24: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83
Game 4, April 26: Nuggets 101, Clippers 99
Game 5, April 29: LA at Denver (TBD)
Game 6, May 1 (if necessary): Denver at LA (TBD)
Game 7, May 3 (if necessary): LA at Denver (TBD)

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Aaron Gordon's putback slam with 0.1 seconds left wins it for Nuggets

Aaron Gordon stuns Clippers fans as he wins Game 4 on a wild putback slam.

More:

• Aaron Gordon saves Nuggets with buzzer-beating dunk in Game 4

• Westbrook's early exit adds to Nuggets' injury woes

• Spears: Clippers' Harden has an opportunity at more than a title

• Shelburne: The fishing ad that foreshadowed Kawhi's incredible resurgence

• MacMahon/Shelburne: Why the Nuggets suddenly fired their coach and GM