2025 NBA Playoff Schedule, Odds, and Matchups/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The 2025 NBA Playoffs tip off Saturday with eight opening-round matchups spread across the weekend. Miami and Memphis secured the final spots via play-in wins. Oklahoma City and Boston top the odds to win the championship.
NBA Playoff Breakdown — Quick Look
- Playoffs start Saturday with four nationally televised games
- Miami, Memphis secure last playoff berths via play-in wins
- Oklahoma City, Boston top title favorites per BetMGM
- Game 1 matchups set across ABC, ESPN, TNT/truTV
- Golden State favored despite lower seeding vs Houston
- Award finalists to be revealed Sunday on TNT
- Draft tiebreaker, early entry deadline coming next week
- Milwaukee, Clippers enter playoffs unbeaten in April
Deep Look: 2025 NBA Playoff Guide — Matchups, TV Schedule, and Title Odds
Deep Looks
The chase for the NBA Championship begins.
The 2025 NBA Playoffs officially begin this weekend, with a slate of eight Game 1 matchups launching the race for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. After an intense play-in tournament, Miami and Memphis claimed the final spots and will open their postseason campaigns on Sunday.
Saturday’s Schedule (All Times Eastern):
- 1 p.m. — Milwaukee at Indiana (ESPN)
- 3:30 p.m. — L.A. Clippers at Denver (ESPN)
- 6 p.m. — Detroit at New York (ESPN)
- 8:30 p.m. — Minnesota at L.A. Lakers (ABC)
- 1 p.m. — Memphis at Oklahoma City (ABC)
- 3:30 p.m. — Orlando at Boston (ABC)
- 7 p.m. — Miami at Cleveland (TNT/truTV)
- 9:30 p.m. — Golden State at Houston (TNT/truTV)
- 7:30 p.m. — Detroit at New York (TNT/truTV)
- 10 p.m. — L.A. Clippers at Denver (TNT/truTV)
Betting Odds Favorites (via BetMGM):
- Oklahoma City +185
- Boston +200
- Cleveland +550
- L.A. Lakers +1000
- Golden State +1400
- L.A. Clippers, Denver, New York +2500 to +3500
- Long shots: Miami (+75000), Orlando (+100000)
Despite being the No. 7 seed, Golden State is favored to win its series against No. 2 seed Houston — setting up one of the early intriguing underdog storylines of the postseason.
Miami, fresh off two road wins in the play-in tournament, became the first No. 10 seed to advance since the format’s introduction in 2021. Meanwhile, Memphis overcame injury woes and an inconsistent stretch to punch its ticket.
- Sunday, April 20: Award finalists announced (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
- Monday, April 21: Draft tiebreaker at 3 p.m. ET
- April 26: Early entry deadline for the 2025 NBA Draft
- May 3-6: Potential Round 2 start dates
Stat of the Day:
Only two teams remain unbeaten in April heading into the postseason — the Milwaukee Bucks (8-0) and the L.A. Clippers (7-0), both entering the playoffs as dangerous No. 5 seeds.
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