The NBA Playoffs begin Saturday April 19. Several teams have a legitimate chance at the title, meaning that every game will be extremely important. Thankfully there’s a way to watch all the games.
The first round gives NBA fans at least two games a night, with the stakes high between the 16 best teams.
DirecTV Stream (free trial) is perfect for streaming the 2025 NBA playoffs. It offers ESPN, TNT, ABC and NBA TV on its service. They also have a free trial offering, meaning you can watch the NBA playoffs for free on DirecTV Stream.
There’s other viable options as well, such as fuboTV (free trial), Sling and Max.
| Streaming Service | Free Trial | Promo | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| DirecTV Stream | Yes | N/A | $86.99 |
| fuboTV | Yes | Up to $30 off first month | $84.99 |
| Sling | No | Half off first month | $45.99 |
| Max | No | Bundle with Disney | $9.99 |
The Disney+, Hulu and Max bundle includes a subscription to all three streaming services, starting at $16.99 a month.
What channel are the 2025 NBA Playoffs on?
The 2025 NBA playoffs will air on ESPN, TNT, ABC and NBA TV.
Channel Finder: DirecTV, Verizon Fios, Cox, Xfinity, Spectrum, Optimum
2025 NBA Playoffs First Round Schedule
** Signifies that the game will only be played if necessary
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat
The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers have never faced each other in the postseason. Cleveland won two of the three regular season matchups against Miami. The Heat are normally a tough out in the playoffs, but with Jimmy Butler not around that will be tougher to sustain.
Game 1: Sunday, April 20 | 7 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
Game 2: Wednesday, April 23 | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBA TV (STREAM)
Game 3: Saturday, April 26 | 1 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
Game 4: Monday, April 28
**Game 5: Wednesday, April 30
** Game 6: Friday, May 2
** Game 7: Sunday, May 4
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic
The last time these two teams met in the playoffs was the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard no longer play, but Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner should make for a fun series.
Game 1: Sunday, April 20 | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC (STREAM)
Game 2: Wednesday, April 23 | 7 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
Game 3: Friday, April 25 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN (STREAM)
Game 4: Sunday, April 27 | 7 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
** Game 5: Tuesday, April 29
** Game 6: Thursday, May 1
** Game 7: Saturday, May 3
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
The last time the Knicks and Pistons met in the playoffs was 1992. Patrick Ewing led New York to a 3-2 series win over Detroit. This series will be headlined by point guards Jalen Brunson (26 points per game) and Cade Cunningham (26.1 points per game). Detroit won three of its four matchups against New York this season.
Game 1: Saturday, April 19 | 6 p.m. ET | ESPN (STREAM)
Game 2: Monday, April 21 | 7:30 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
Game 3: Thursday, April 24 | Time TBD | TNT (STREAM)
Game 4: Sunday, April 27 | 1 p.m. ET | ABC (STREAM)
** Game 5: Tuesday, April 29
** Game 6: Thursday, May 1
** Game 7: Saturday, May 3
(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
A rematch from last year’s playoffs, where Indiana took down Milwaukee in six games. The Bucks didn’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo in last year’s playoffs. He’s healthy heading into this year’s matchup against the Pacers, but Damian Lillard’s status is up in the air. Lillard hasn’t played since March 18 due to a blood clot in his calf, and there’s no exact timetable for his return to the court.
Game 1: Saturday, April 19 | 1 p.m. ET | ESPN (STREAM)
Game 2: Tuesday, April 22 | 7 p.m. ET | NBA TV (STREAM)
Game 3: Friday, April 25 | 8 p.m. ET | NBA TV (STREAM)
Game 4: Sunday, April 27 | 9:30 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
** Game 5: Tuesday, April 29
** Game 6: Friday, May 2
** Game 7: Sunday, May 4
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies
It’s been 11 years since the Thunder and Mavericks played one another in the playoffs. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were led that Oklahoma City team to a 4-3 series win over the Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Mike Conley led Memphis team. The Thunder swept Memphis in four games during the regular season.
Game 1: Sunday, April 20 | 1 p.m. ET | ABC (STREAM)
Game 2: Tuesday, April 22 | 7:30 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
Game 3: Thursday, April 24 | Time TBD | TNT (STREAM)
Game 4: Saturday, April 26 | 3:30 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
** Game 5: Monday, April 28
** Game 6: Thursday, May 1
** Game 7: Saturday, May 3
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
These two teams have some recent playoff history. Most notably the 2017-2018 Western Conference Finals, when Houston had a 3-2 lead over Golden State. Since The Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler, they’re 1-1 against the Rockets.
Game 1: Sunday, April 20 | 9:30 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
Game 2: Wednesday, April 23 | 9:30 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
Game 3: Saturday, April 26 | 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC (STREAM)
Game 4: Monday, April 28 | 10 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
** Game 5: Wednesday, April 30
** Game 6: Friday, May 2
** Game 7: Sunday, May 4
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s first playoff run as teammates comes against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the one Lakers vs. Timberwolves matchup where Doncic played this season, Los Angeles won 111-102. Rudy Gobert didn’t play in that game.
Game 1: Saturday, April 19 | 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC (STREAM)
Game 2: Tuesday, April 22 | 10 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
Game 3: Friday April 25 | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (STREAM)
Game 4: Sunday, April 27 | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC (STREAM)
** Game 5: Wednesday, April 30
** Game 6: Friday, May 2
** Game 7: Sunday, May 4
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
After leading 3-1 in the 2020 “bubble” playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers were in great position to eliminate the Denver Nuggets. Denver then answered with three consecutive wins to spoil the Clippers’ first postseason with Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is now fully healthy and the Clippers will be hard to stop as long as he stays that way.
Game 1: Saturday, April 19 | 3:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (STREAM)
Game 2: Monday, April 21 | 10 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
Game 3: Thursday, April 24 | Time TBD | NBA TV (STREAM)
Game 4: Saturday, April 26 | 6 p.m. ET | TNT (STREAM)
** Game 5: Tuesday, April 29
** Game 6: Thursday, May 1
** Game 7: Saturday, May 3
Here’s a recent NBA story from the Associated Press:
ATLANTA (AP) — Through the first half of Miami’s NBA Play-In Tournament elimination game at Atlanta, Heat backup guard Davion Mitchell did not look a contender to finish as one of the stars of the game.
Mitchell missed each of his four shots in the first half and had only one point. At the end of regulation, he still had only seven points.
Then something clicked for Mitchell. After the Heat entered overtime tied with Atlanta at 106, Mitchell made three of four shots — all 3-pointers — in the extra period to help lead Miami to a 123-114 win on Friday night. Mitchell finished with 16 points and helped Miami advance to the playoffs, where it will face Cleveland, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Heat became the first No. 10 seed in either conference to make the playoffs since the current play-in format was launched in the 2020-21 season. Miami also became the first play-in team to advance with two road wins.
Tyler Herro added two 3s in overtime to lead Miami with 30 points.
Herro’s scoring lead was expected. Mitchell’s starring role was a surprise. He warmed up for the extra period by making a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
“For him to struggle like that in the first half and have that kind of fourth quarter and overtime really speaks to his character,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said of Mitchell.
Mitchell said the support of Spoelstra and his teammates helped give him the confidence to keep shooting, especially in overtime.
“I feel I was forcing it in the first half, trying to do too much,” Mitchell said.
“I just kind of re-set in my mind … and let the game come to me. … I just believe in the work I’ve put in. Even if I’m missing shots, it’s OK.”
Mitchell averaged 7.9 points, but scored 15, making each of his two 3-pointers, in Miami’s 109-90 win at Chicago on Wednesday night in its first Play-In Tournament win.
Mitchell’s big game against the Hawks came in his return to his home state. Mitchell was born in Hinesville, Georgia, and began his college career at Auburn before transferring to Baylor. He helped Baylor win its first NCAA championship.
Mitchell began his NBA career in Sacramento and was acquired by Miami from Toronto in a five-team trade on Feb. 6 that sent Jimmy Butler to Golden State.