NBA Playoffs Begin After Historic Regular Season

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The 2025 NBA playoffs are set to begin Saturday with a highly anticipated lineup following a thrilling conclusion to the regular season. After securing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics look to defend their title against a challenging field.

The playoffs open with four games on April 20 and feature an intense best-of-seven format where the higher-seeded teams enjoy home-court advantage throughout each series. The playoffs are structured in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, meaning that the team with the better regular-season record will host Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, if necessary.

“This postseason is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet,” said NBA analyst Brian Windhorst. “With so many teams having strong finishes and playoff contenders, fans are in for a treat.”

The Celtics, who wrapped up the regular season in dominant fashion, have been led by Jayson Tatum, the reigning Finals MVP. They will start their series against the Orlando Magic, who secured the No. 8 seed. The opening game is scheduled for April 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

In other matchups, the Milwaukee Bucks will face the Indiana Pacers, while the Miami Heat are set to battle the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Los Angeles Lakers will confront the Minnesota Timberwolves, and both the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies will be highlights in the Western Conference.

The first series to take place in the West will see the Grizzlies, who claimed the top seed, take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, a matchup that is expected to draw significant attention given Memphis’s recent performance and their MVP candidate Ja Morant.

“We have worked tirelessly to get to this point,” Morant said. “The goal is the championship, and we are ready to prove ourselves in the playoffs.”

The playoffs extend until June 5, when the NBA Finals will kick-off, promising a spectacle of high-stakes basketball. Both fans and analysts are expecting surprises, with many teams showing potential to clinch the championship.

“Every team has a chance to create their own destiny in the playoffs,” said ESPN analyst Tim MacMahon. “We’ve seen teams rise to the occasion and surprise everyone, and with the talent on display this year, anything is possible.”

Further information on game times and locations for the series will be available on ESPN and the NBA App.