NBA Playoffs Kick Off With Historic Blowouts and Intense Matchups

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The 2025 NBA playoffs have officially commenced, bringing excitement and high stakes for teams across the league. The playoffs kicked off on April 20 with several notable matchups, including the highly anticipated game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.

After a historic regular season, the Cavaliers secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, backed by standout performances throughout the year. They will face off against the eight-seeded Heat, who earned their spot after a dramatic campaign. Game 1 is set for 7 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, promising an electrifying atmosphere for fans.

“We’ve worked hard to get here, and now it’s all about executing in the playoffs,” said Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell, who returned from injury. His presence against Miami is crucial, especially as they look to improve their historical matchup, where they hold a 2-1 record against the Heat this season.

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder made an impressive entrance by demolishing their opponents in Game 1, achieving a stunning 51-point victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. This margin signifies the fifth-largest win in NBA postseason history and underlines the Thunder’s domination.

“We played to our identity,” said Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “Nothing more, nothing less than that. It’s vital for us to stay true to who we are.” Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the Thunder with 20 points, highlighted the importance of teamwork in their decisive victory.

The playoffs format includes a best-of-seven series, where teams do not get reseeded after each round, and the higher-seeded team enjoys home-court advantage. The current postseason structure maintains a 2-2-1-1-1 format, further enhancing the stakes for each team as they battle for advancement.

The Cavaliers are also looking to build momentum early against the Heat, who are without key player Kevin Love, while the Thunder will aim to maintain their strong performance heading into Game 2, scheduled for Tuesday. The singles out several individual matchups as pivotal, including the duel between Gilgeous-Alexander and Grizzlies star Ja Morant, who had a quiet outing in Game 1.

The playoffs feature a total of 16 teams, eight from each conference, competing for the championship title, culminating in the NBA Finals, which will begin on June 5. NBA fans can expect thrilling games ahead as these franchises vie for supremacy.