2025 NBA playoffs
The 2025 NBA playoffs began on April 19 after the conclusion of a play-in tournament. Eight teams from each conference participated in the postseason bracket. The top six teams in each conference qualified directly based on winning percentage. Teams ranked seventh through tenth entered a play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff spots per conference. The seventh-place team and eighth-place team played a double-chance game where the winner advanced as the seven-seed. The loser then faced the winner of an elimination game between the ninth and tenth place teams for the eight-seed spot. This format, adopted by the NBA Board of Governors starting in 2021, added drama to the end of the regular season. All rounds followed a best-of-seven series structure ending when one team won four games. Home-court advantage went to the higher-seeded team throughout the conference playoffs. The Finals awarded home-court advantage to the team with the better regular-season record.
Oklahoma City Thunder finished with the league-best 68, 14 record to secure the first seed in the Western Conference. Cleveland Cavaliers claimed the Eastern Conference's top spot with a 64, 18 record. Boston Celtics held the second seed in the East at 61, 21. Indiana Pacers entered as the fourth seed with a 50, 32 record. Milwaukee Bucks took the fifth seed at 48, 34. Detroit Pistons secured the sixth seed with 44 wins. Orlando Magic finished seventh at 41, 41 after winning their play-in game. Miami Heat became the first 10-seed to advance from the play-in tournament with a 37, 45 record. In the West, Houston Rockets were the second seed at 52, 30. Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets tied for third and fourth seeds respectively at 50, 32. Los Angeles Clippers also finished at 50, 32 but lost tiebreakers. Minnesota Timberwolves took the sixth seed with 49 wins. Golden State Warriors entered as the seventh seed at 48, 34. Memphis Grizzlies were the eighth seed with 48 wins.
The Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games including a historic 51-point victory in Game 1. This marked the largest point differential ever recorded in a playoff opener. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored just 15 points in that blowout yet led his team to dominance. Desmond Bane finished with a minus-51 plus-minus rating making him the first player since 2000 to post such a negative figure. Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Miami Heat by a combined margin of 122 points setting a new series record. Donovan Mitchell averaged 30 points per game during the sweep while Darius Garland contributed 27 points in the series opener. The Pistons ended their 15-game losing streak with a win over the Knicks before falling in six games. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson led New York through the series despite a controversial final possession. Indiana Pacers defeated Milwaukee Bucks in five games after Tyrese Haliburton hit a game-winning layup with 1.1 seconds remaining. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points but could not prevent the loss. Golden State Warriors eliminated Houston Rockets in seven games becoming only the seventh instance where a seven-seed beat a two-seed.
Indiana Pacers upset the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Tyrese Haliburton recorded a double-double in Game 1 with 22 points and 13 assists. The Pacers took a commanding 41-point halftime lead in Game 4 before sealing the series. Boston Celtics fell to the New York Knicks in six games after Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles tendon rupture. The Knicks became the first team since 1998 to eliminate a defending champion at home. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated Denver Nuggets in seven games featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 38-point performance. Nikola Jokić posted three triple-doubles during the series yet his team lost in Game 7. Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated Golden State Warriors in five games after Stephen Curry missed time due to injury. Jimmy Butler played through a pelvic contusion while Stephen Curry averaged 31 points in the series opener. All four Game 1s of the semifinals were won by road teams marking a historic first for the league. The Pacers led by 41 points at halftime against Cleveland tying a playoff record set decades earlier.
The Indiana Pacers advanced to their second straight Conference Finals after defeating the New York Knicks in six games. Aaron Nesmith made six three-pointers in the fourth quarter of Game 1 becoming the first player ever to achieve that feat. Tyrese Haliburton recorded 30 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds with zero turnovers in Game 4 setting a new standard for efficiency. The Pacers won eight players scoring at least 200 points combined throughout the playoffs. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games to reach the Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points in Game 1 while Jalen Williams added 26 points. The Thunder held opponents under 100 points in multiple games showcasing defensive dominance. This was the first Western Conference Finals since 1996 without a team from California or Texas. Both conferences saw champions clinch on home court for the first time since 2015. The Pacers became the first four-seed or lower to reach consecutive Conference Finals since 2013.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the fourth player to win the league scoring title alongside regular season and Finals MVP awards in one year. He was the first since Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000 to achieve this triple crown. Donovan Mitchell broke Michael Jordan’s playoff record with his eighth straight 30-point game in a series opener against Indiana. Tyrese Haliburton recorded 30 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds without turnovers in a single playoff game setting a new benchmark. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota Timberwolves with 43 points in a crucial Game 5 victory over the Lakers. Nikola Jokić posted three triple-doubles during the Western Conference Semifinals yet lost in Game 7. The Pacers' postseason run included five 15-point comebacks making it one of the most surprising in NBA history. The Thunder won the Maurice Podoloff Trophy for best regular-season record marking their first franchise award. Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team since 2016 to reach the Eastern Conference Finals without LeBron
James on their roster.
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Common questions
When did the 2025 NBA playoffs begin?
The 2025 NBA playoffs began on April 19 after the conclusion of a play-in tournament. Eight teams from each conference participated in the postseason bracket.
Which team finished with the best record in the 2025 NBA playoffs?
Oklahoma City Thunder finished with the league-best 68, 14 record to secure the first seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder won the Maurice Podoloff Trophy for best regular-season record marking their first franchise award.
Who won the 2025 NBA Finals series?
Indiana Pacers advanced to their second straight Conference Finals after defeating the New York Knicks in six games and then defeated Oklahoma City Thunder in five games to reach the Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the fourth player to win the league scoring title alongside regular season and Finals MVP awards in one year.
What historic playoff opener occurred during the 2025 NBA playoffs?
The Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games including a historic 51-point victory in Game 1. This marked the largest point differential ever recorded in a playoff opener.
How many teams qualified directly for the 2025 NBA playoffs without playing the play-in tournament?
The top six teams in each conference qualified directly based on winning percentage. Teams ranked seventh through tenth entered a play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff spots per conference.