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After a week of six play-in games, the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs opens this weekend with four games on Saturday (April 19) and four on Sunday that could begin answering a wide range of questions:

◾ Can any team challenge the top-ranked Eastern conference Cleveland Cavilers who have the NBA’s top offensive rating, scoring 121.0 points per 100 possessions?

◾ Will any team in the Western conference get past the Oklahoma City Thunder who were the only team to finish in the top three in defensive rating (first) and offensive (third).

◾ Will the Los Angeles Lakers‘ blockbuster mega-trade acquiring Luka Doncic help the team get another title?

Or is an upset in order? In each of the past two NBA playoffs, at least two lower seeds have won a first-round series, including four in 2023.

Here’s a look at the 2025 NBA playoff bracket

How to watch the 2025 NBA playoffs this weekend

Saturday, April 19

Bucks vs. Pacers

The 5th seeded Milwaukee Bucks will travel to Indianapolis to take on the 4th seeded Indiana Pacers for Game 1 in a best of 7 games series, beginning at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Nuggets vs. Clippers

The Denver Nuggets (4th seed) host the Los Angeles Clippers (5th) for Game 1 on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Knicks vs. Pistons

The Detroit Pistons (6th) will travel to New York to face the New York Knicks (3rd) for Game 1. Tip off is at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Lakers vs. Timberwolves

The Los Angeles Lakers (3rd) will host the Minnesota Timberwolves (6th) for Game 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Sunday, April 20

Thunder vs. 8th seed

The 8th seed Memphis Grizzlies or the 10th seed Dallas Mavericks will travel to Oklahoma City to face the No. 1 seed Thunder at 1 p.m. ET on ABC.

Celtics vs. Magic

The 7th seed Orlando Magic will take on the No. 2 seed Celtics for Game 1 in Boston at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Cavaliers vs. Heat

The Miami Heat will travel to Cleveland to face the No. 1 seed Cavaliers at 7 p.m. ET on TNT.

Rockets vs. Warriors

The 7th seed Golden State Warriors will travel to Houston to take on the No. 2 seed Rockets at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

2025 NBA playoffs first round schedule

Thunder (1) vs. (8) Grizzlies full schedule:

• Game 1: Grizzlies at Thunder | Sunday, April 20, 1 p.m. | ABC
• Game 2: Grizzlies at Thunder | Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. | TNT
• Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies | Thursday, April 24, TBD | 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 *

Rockets (2) vs. Warriors (7) full schedule :

• Game 1: Warriors at Rockets | Sunday, April 20, 9:30 p.m. | TNT
• Game 2: Warriors at Rockets | Wednesday, April 23, 9:30 p.m. | TNT
• 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*

Lakers (3) vs. Timberwolves (6) full schedule:

• Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers | Saturday, April 19, 8:30 p.m. | ABC
• Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers | Tuesday, April 22, 10 p.m. | TNT
• 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*

Nuggets (4) vs. Clippers (5) full schedule:

• Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, April 19, 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
• Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets | Monday, April 21, 10 p.m. | TNT
• 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*

Cavaliers (1) vs. Heat full schedule:

• Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers| Sunday, April 20, 7 p.m. | TNT
• Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers| Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV
• 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 *

Celtics (2) vs. Magic (7) full schedule:

• Game 1: Orlando Magic at Celtics | Sunday, April 20, 3:30 p.m. | ABC
• Game 2: Orlando Magic at Celtics | Wednesday, April 23, 7 p.m. | TNT
• 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*

Knicks (3) vs. Pistons (6) full schedule:

• Game 1: Pistons at Knicks | Saturday, April 19, 6 p.m. | ESPN
• Game 2: Pistons at Knicks | Monday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. | TNT
• 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*

Pacers (4) vs. Bucks (5) full schedule :

• Game 1: Bucks at Pacers | Saturday, April 19, 1 p.m. | ESPN
• Game 2: Bucks at Pacers | Tuesday, April 22, 7 p.m. | ESPN
• 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 *

Contributing: Elizabeth Flores, USA TODAY