NBA Playoffs 2025: TV Schedule, First Round Matchup, How to Watch Today’s Game
The Boston Celtics will begin their title defense on Sunday in search of the franchise’s 19th NBA Championship. They will take part in the NBA playoffs as the second seed in the East and face the 7th Orlando Magic in the first round. The Cleveland Cavaliers are the top seed in the East and have their first round match against the winner of tonight’s No. 8 play-in game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA’s top 68 games this season, the West’s top seed likely to be Shy Gilgauss Alexander’s MVP campaign, winning the league with 32.7 points. If SGA does not earn MVP honors, Nikola Jokic will win his fourth MVP in the last five years. The Denver Nuggets Center became the third player in NBA history, averaging triple doubles for the season, scoring (29.6 points per game) and rebounding (12.7 points per game) and second in assists (10.2 per game).
The most interesting development in the league this season was the shocking trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers and combined with LeBron James. Luka, LeBron and the Lakers are third-place seeded in the West, opening the playoffs on Saturday at prime time with Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
There’s everything you need to know to watch or stream the NBA playoffs.
Luka Doncic and LeBron James are positioning the Los Angeles Lakers as third-place seeded in the West for the 2025 NBA playoffs.
What is your NBA playoff schedule today?
The final two play-in games will take place tonight, setting up 16 fields for the playoffs. Here’s the schedule for today’s game and the schedule for the next few days (All Times et):
Friday, April 18th
- East No. 8 Seed Play-in Game: Heat in Hawks, TNT, TRUTV, MAX at 7pm
- West No. 8 Seed Play-in Game: Mavericks from Grizzlies, 9:30pm on ESPN
Saturday, April 19th
- Game 1: Pacers’ Bucks, ESPN’s 1pm
- Game 1: The Nuggets’ Clippers, ESPN at 3:30pm
- Game 1: Knicks’ piston, 6pm on ESPN
- Game 1: Lakers Timberwolve, ABC at 8:30pm
Sunday, April 20th
- Game 1: Eastern Cavaliers, 1pm ABC
- Game 1: Celtics Magic, ABC at 3:30pm
- Game 1: West 8 at 7pm on TNT, TNT, TRUTV, MAX
- Game 1: Rockets Warrior, TNT, TRUTV, MAX at 9:30pm
Monday, April 21st
- Game 2: Knicks’ piston, TNT, TRUTV, MAX at 7:30pm
- Game 2: Nuggets’ Clippers, TNT, TRUTV, MAX at 10pm
What does the NBA playoff bracket look like?
The Cleveland Cavaliers bordered the Boston Celtics with a top spot in the east, while the Oklahoma City Thunder escaped with the top seed in the west. Here’s what the 2024 NBA Playoff matchup will look like, starting today:
Eastern Conference
- No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Heat/Hawks Winner
- No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic
- No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons
- No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference
- No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs Mavs/Grizzlies winner
- No. 2 Houston Rockets vs. No. 7 Golden State Warriors
- No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
- No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
How to watch the NBA Playoffs
The NBA playoffs will be displayed on ABC, ESPN, TNT/TRUTV and NBA TV. Cable subscription or Live TV Streaming Service.
Three of the five main services offer all four channels. Live TV’s Hulu does not have NBA TV. This shows only a handful of playoff games. Fubo does not have TNT. This shows the majority of the NBA playoffs, making Fubo a poor option for Hoops fans. You can also watch the playoff game TNT/TRUTV broadcasts on Max.
YouTube TV costs $83 per month and includes all four channels you need to watch all the NBA Playoff games. Connect the postal code above it Welcome page Check the local networks available in your area.
DirectV Stream’s $90/month selection plan includes ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. You can use it Channel Lookup Tool Check if ABC is available wherever you live. If you’re willing to skip a handful of games on NBA TV, you can get three other channels in the entertainment package per $80 base on DirectV Stream.
Hulu with live TV is $83 a month and includes ABC, ESPN and TNT. As part of the add-on package, it is the only service that does not offer NBA TV. Click on the “View your local channel” link above Welcome page Check which local channels are provided in the postal code.
Watching live sports on Max requires a standard 17-month plan. (or any of the 21-month premium plans that add 4K streaming) MAX indicates the NBA playoff TNT/TRUTV broadcast. However, you miss ESPN, ABC, and NBA TV games on Max alone.
With all the live TV streaming services listed above, you will need to cancel at any time and have a solid internet connection. Looking for details? Check us Live TV Streaming Services Guide.