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Best first-round NBA playoff matchups

The For The Hoops crew discuss the most exciting first-round NBA playoff series, including Lakers vs. Timberwolves and Rockets vs. Warriors.

The 2025 NBA playoffs are proving to be demanding, with nothing settled after the first few games of the first round.

Only the Oklahoma City Thunder are on the brink of a first-round sweep, as they lead the Memphis Grizzlies 3-0. Even that series is getting closer, as OKC’s margin of victory has dropped from a 51-point rout in Game 1 to a six-point squeaker in Game 3. However, three Eastern Conference series are led 2-0 by the higher seed, with games on Friday and Saturday potentially pivotal.

Big-name players are battling injuries that may prove critical. The Boston Celtics are sweating over Jayson Tatum‘s status going into Game 3 of their series against the Orlando Magic, while Jimmy Butler is doubtful after a hard landing saw him leave the Golden State Warriors‘ Game 2 loss to the Houston Rockets.

Here’s the complete NBA playoffs schedule, including results in the first round and broadcast information:

NBA playoff bracket: Schedule, results

All times Eastern. *-if necessary

Eastern Conference

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat

Cavaliers lead the series 2-0

Game 1: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100Game 2: Cavaliers 121, Heat 112Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat | Saturday, April 26, TBD | TNTGame 4: Cavaliers at Heat | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBDGame 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

Celtics lead the series 2-0

Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86Game 2: Celtics 109, Magic 100Game 3: Celtics at Magic | Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. | ESPNGame 4: Celtics at Magic | Sunday, April 27, 7 p.m. | TNTGame 5: Magic at Celtics | TBD*Game 6: Celtics at Magic | TBD*Game 7: Magic at Celtics | TBD*

Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum doubtful to play vs. Magic in Game 3

(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons

Knicks lead the series 2-1

Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112Game 2: Pistons 100, Knicks 94Game 3: Knicks 118, Pistons 116Game 4: Knicks at Pistons | Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m. | ABCGame 5: Pistons at Knicks | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBDGame 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 98Game 2: Pacers 123, Bucks 115Game 3: Pacers at Bucks | Friday, April 25, 8 p.m. | ESPNGame 4: Pacers at Bucks | Sunday, April 27, 9:30 p.m. | ESPNGame 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

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies

Thunder lead the series 3-0

Game 1: Thunder 131, Grizzles 80Game 2: Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99Game 3: Thunder 114, Grizzlies 108Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies | Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m. | TNTGame 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 85Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94Game 3: Rockets at Warriors | Saturday, April 26, 9:30 p.m. | ABCGame 4: Rockets at Warriors | Monday, April 28, 9:30 p.m. | TNTGame 5: Warriors at Rockets | TBDGame 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 95Game 2: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves | Friday, April 25, 9:30 p.m. | ESPNGame 4: Lakers at Timberwolves | Sunday, April 27, 3:30 p.m. | ABCGame 5: Timberwolves at Lakers | Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBDGame 6: Lakers at Timberwolves | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD*Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD*

NBA Playoffs: Lakers’ play vs. T-Wolves shows they’ve turned the corner. Or are erratic. Or are …

(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers

Clippers lead the series 2-1

Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102Game 3: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers | Saturday, April 26, 6 p.m. | TNTGame 5: Clippers at Nuggets | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBDGame 6: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD*Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD*Conference semifinals

The conference semifinals are scheduled to begin on May 5-6, but could possibly move up to May 3-4 depending on outcomes of the first round.

Conference finals

All times Eastern. *-if necessary

Eastern Conference Finals

(Series start could 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

(Series start could 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: ABCGame 2, June 8: ABCGame 3, June 11: ABCGame 4, June 13: ABCGame 5, June 16: ABC (if necessary)Game 6, June 19: ABC (if necessary)Game 7, June 22: ABC (if necessary)