NBA playoffs 2025: First-round recap, news, schedule, scores, highlights

The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs is complete!

Eight teams from each conference reached the first round and faced 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).

The Cleveland Cavaliers claimed the No. 1 seed in the East and advanced to the second round after sweeping the No. 8 Miami Heat. The Cavs will now face the No. 4 Indiana Pacers, who eliminated the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks in five games. The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics continue their title defense after also only needing five games to oust the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic. The Celtics will face off against the No. 3 New York Knicks.

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, but they fell in seven games against the No. 7 Golden State Warriors. LeBron James and Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a No. 3 seed but were eliminated the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the No. 4 Denver Nuggets outlasted the No. 5 LA Clippers in a Game 7 rout.

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.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers win series over (8) Miami Heat, 4-0

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: Cavaliers 138, Heat 83

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Cavs put on a clinic in historic blowout to sweep the Heat

The Cavaliers secure their largest playoff win in history with a 138-83 series-sealing victory.

More:

• Cavaliers cap off historic sweep with 55-point win over Heat

• Evan Mobley named Defensive Player of the Year

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

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

(2) Boston Celtics win series over (7) Orlando Magic, 4-1

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: Celtics 107, Magic 98
Game 5, April 29: Celtics 120, Magic 89

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Jayson Tatum ensures Celtics close out the Magic

Jayson Tatum's 35 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists lead the Celtics to a series-clinching win over the Magic.

More:

• Celtics' Jrue Holiday wins NBA's sportsmanship award for 2nd time

• Jayson Tatum's 35-point night helps Celtics close out Magic

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

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

(3) New York Knicks win series over (6) Detroit Pistons, 4-2

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: Knicks 94, Pacers 93
Game 5, April 29: Pistons 106, Knicks 103
Game 6, May 1: Knicks 116, Pistons 113

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Jalen Brunson's clutch 3 in final seconds wins series for Knicks

Jalen Brunson knocks down a huge 3-pointer in the closing seconds to put the Knicks ahead in their series-clinching win over the Pistons.

More:

• Jalen Brunson's late 3-pointer dooms Pistons; Knicks advance

• Officials admit error on final shot in Knicks' Game 4 win over Pistons

• 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 win series over (5) Milwaukee Bucks, 4-1

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: Pacers 129, Bucks 103
Game 5, April 29: Pacers 119, Buckers 118 (OT)

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Haliburton wins it for Pacers in final seconds after Trent Jr. fumble

After Gary Trent Jr. fumbles a pass out of bounds, Tyrese Haliburton takes charge with a smooth lay-in in the final seconds to clinch the series.

More:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: Thoughts on loss, not Bucks future

• Giannis addresses confrontation with Haliburton's dad

• Haliburton, Pacers eliminate Bucks in overtime thriller

• Collier: What might come next for Giannis in Milwaukee?

• Bell: Timeline and what to expect after Damian Lillard's Achilles tear

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder win series over (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

• 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 win series over (2) Houston Rockets, 4-3

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: Warriors 109, Rockets 106
Game 5, April 30: Rockets 131, Rockets 116
Game 6, May 2: Rockets 115, Warriors 107
Game 7, May 4: Warriors 103, Rockets 89

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Fred VanVleet's 6th 3-pointer gives Rockets their largest lead

Fred VanVleet's sixth 3-pointer forces a Warriors timeout in the fourth quarter.

More:

• MacMahon: The Rockets are still waiting for their next superstar

• Youngmisuk: Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and the 'last ride' with Jimmy Butler

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

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

(6) Minnesota Timberwolves win series over (3) Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1

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: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 113
Game 5, April 30: Timberwolves 103, Lakers 96

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JWill on Luka's conditioning: 'He has the body of a 40-year-old'

Jay Williams and Mike Greenberg discuss Luka Doncic's conditioning and how long he will be able to play in the NBA at an elite level.

More:

• LeBron undecided on future after Lakers' first-round exit

• Lakers' early NBA playoffs exit a blow to betting public

• Wolves win third straight to eliminate Lakers in first round

• Lakers' Doncic covers cost to restore vandalized Kobe mural

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

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

(4) Denver Nuggets win series over (5) LA Clippers, 4-3

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: Nuggets 131, Clippers 115
Game 6, May 1: Clippers 111, Nuggets 105
Game 7, May 3: Nuggets 120, Clippers 101

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Westbrook blows a layup, Powell hits dagger 3

After Russell Westbrook blows a layup, the Clippers go downcourt and get a Norman Powell 3-pointer to go up nine late in the fourth.

More:

• Nuggets crush Clippers in Game 7, set up series vs. Thunder

• Clips spurred by Lue's pregame calls, stop Nuggets to force Game 7

• 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