NBA playoff full bracket: Sixteen teams prepare for first round action

The upcoming 2025 NBA Playoffs will start within the following weeks. The officially released playoff bracket follows a passionate Play-In Tournament and demanding regular season. The sixteen participating teams will start their championship competition during the first round scheduled for April 19. Allen fans throughout the league have eagerly set their sights on witnessing teams battle for championship supremacy during this thrilling playoffs season.

2025 NBA Playoffs : First-Round Matchups and key datesFrom April 15 to 18, the NBA Play-In Tournament decided the last two playoff spots in each conference. The Miami Heat earned the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference after a strong 109-90 win over the Chicago Bulls, led by Tyler Herro's 38-point game. They’ll be facing the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round. The Atlanta Hawks, on the other hand, locked in the seventh seed and are ready to take on the second-seeded Boston Celtics .

🏆 PLAYOFF PICTURE 🏆

▪️ Winner of MIA/ATL with play #1 CLE
▪️ Winner of DAL/MEM will play #1 OKC#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google begin April 19th! pic.twitter.com/TNjKsldzXW

— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2025

In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors grabbed the seventh seed after a close win over the Memphis Grizzlies, finishing 121-116. Jimmy Butler shone with 38 points, demonstrating his playoff talent. The Warriors are set to take on the second-seeded Houston Rockets next. The eighth seed will be finalized based on the result of the last Play-In game.

The first-round matchups are as follows:

Eastern Conference:

• (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (8) Miami Heat
• (2) Boston Celtics vs (7) Atlanta Hawks
• (3) New York Knicks vs (6) Detroit Pistons
• (4) Indiana Pacers vs (5) Milwaukee Bucks

Western Conference:

• (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (8) TBD
• (2) Houston Rockets vs (7) Golden State Warriors
• (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
• (4) Denver Nuggets vs (5) Los Angeles Clippers

Playoff matchups set after strong finishes from top teams across both conferencesFor the first time since 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers are entering the playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, a notable feat achieved without LeBron James. On the other hand, the Oklahoma City Thunder have made history by securing their best regular-season record ever, earning them the top seed in the Western Conference.

The New York Knicks, with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns at the helm, are set to take on the Detroit Pistons, who are entering the playoffs for the first time since 2019. During the regular season, the Pistons dominated the Knicks, winning the series 3–1, which promised an exciting showdown.

The Golden State Warriors' decision to bring Jimmy Butler on board has really paid off, especially with their recent win in the Play-In. Now, they're looking to use their playoff experience to take on the young Houston Rockets.

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The NBA Playoffs in 2025 will bring together familiar league veterans with emerging talents who have secured their playoff spots through the bracket matchups. The upcoming first round will deliver exciting matches alongside remarkable athletic achievements to spectators. A basketball championship chase will begin on April 19th bringing devoted fans to watch television game after game.