2025 NBA Playoffs: Matchups, schedule and how the play-in tournament works

The NBA’s regular season is in the books. After a dramatic finish on Sunday, the top-six playoff spots in each conference have been secured, and the play-in tournament matchups are set.

Here are all of the matchups, along with the schedule. The play-in tournament begins on Tuesday, with the 2025 NBA Playoffs starting on Saturday.

Playoff matchups

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-in team TBD

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-in team TBD

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

(4) Indiana Pacers vs (5) Milwaukee Bucks

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Play-in matchups

(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks

(9) Chicago Bulls vs. (10) Miami Heat

Playoff matchups

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-in team TBD

(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-in team TBD

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

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

Play-in matchups

(7) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies

(9) Sacramento Kings vs. (10) Dallas Mavericks

Tuesday

(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

(7) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies (10 p.m. ET, TNT)

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The winners advance to the playoffs as the No. 7 seeds; the losers will play again on Friday.

Wednesday

(9) Chicago Bulls vs. (10) Miami Heat (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

(9) Sacramento Kings vs. (10) Dallas Mavericks (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)

The winners will play again Friday for a shot at the No. 8 seeds; the losers will be eliminated.

Friday

East 7/8 loser vs. East 9/10 winner (Time TBD, TNT) 

West 7/8 loser vs. West 9/10 winner (Time TBD, ESPN)

[How the play-in tournament works]

The 2025 NBA Playoffs begin Saturday.

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