How to Watch the NBA Playoffs 2025: Times, Channels, and Live Streams

NBA Playoffs 2025: It’s now time for the post-season action to start now that the NBA Play-In Tournament is complete and the whole playoff field is decided. The Western Conference playoff bracket features the following games: Denver Nuggets vs. LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors, and Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat, Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic, New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons, and Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks are the games in the Eastern Conference.

ESPN will begin the 2025 NBA Playoffs at 1 p.m. ET tomorrow. Are you prepared to observe? Here are some tips for viewing the playoffs.

How to Watch the NBA Playoffs:

Start date: Saturday, Apr. 19
TV channels: ESPN, ABC, TNT, NBA TV
Streaming: DirecTV, Max and more

When do the NBA playoffs start?

The 2025 NBA playoffs begin Saturday, Apr. 19.

NBA Playoffs Channel:

The NBA Playoffs will air across ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV.

How to Watch the NBA Playoffs Without Cable:

DirecTV MySports Pack

With ESPN’s suite of channels, TBS, TNT, USA, FS1, and an included subscription to ESPN+ for $69.99/month, DIRECTV’s MySports pack is a carefully picked live TV package designed for sports lovers.

With just one interface and one bill, the MySports pack ensures access to thousands of live broadcast events as well as all of ESPN+’s live-streaming and library content. Before committing, you can give it a five-day free trial.

Max Standard Plan

Through its Bleacher Report Sports add-on, which is free for ad-free Max users, Max, also known as “the one to watch,” offers a selection of live sports.

Max has popular series including The Pitt, The White Lotus, The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, Dune: Prophecy, and more, in addition to March Madness games on TBS, TNT, and TruTV.

supported by ads The Max is $10 each month. The Standard plan costs $17 per month and includes B/R Sports for free.

Who is Playing in the NBA Playoffs?

Western Conference

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

Eastern Conference

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

2025 NBA playoffs TV schedule:

All times Eastern.

Saturday, April 19
Game 1: Bucks at Pacers, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 1: Pistons at Knicks, 6 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

Sunday, April 20
Game 1: Grizzlies at Thunder, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 1: Magic at Celtics, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 1: Warriors at Rockets, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Monday, April 21
Game 2: Pistons at Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)

Tuesday, April 22
Game 2: Bucks at Pacers, 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 2: Grizzlies at Thunder, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)

Wednesday, April 23
Game 2: Magic at Celtics, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 2: Warriors at Rockets, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Thursday, April 24
Game 3: Knicks at Pistons, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers, 10 p.m. ET (NBA TV)

Friday, April 25
Game 3: Celtics at Magic, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 3: Pacers at Bucks, 8 p.m. ET (ESPNU/NBA TV)
Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, April 26
Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat, 1 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies, 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers, 6 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Rockets at Warriors, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

Sunday, April 27
Game 4: Knicks at Pistons, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 4: Celtics at Magic, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Pacers at Bucks, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Monday, April 28
Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat, TBD (TBD)
Game 5: Grizzlies at Thunder, TBD (TBD)*
Game 4: Rockets at Warriors, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)

Tuesday, April 29
Game 5: Magic at Celtics, TBD (TBD)*
Game 5: Pistons at Knicks, TBD (TBD)*
Game 5: Bucks at Pacers, TBD (TBD)*
Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets, TBD (TBD)*

Wednesday, April 30
Game 5: Warriors at Rockets, TBD (TBD)*
Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers, TBD (TBD)*
Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers, TBD (TBD)*

Thursday, May 1
Game 6: Celtics at Magic, TBD (TBD)*
Game 6: Knicks at Pistons, TBD (TBD)*
Game 6: Thunder at Grizzlies, TBD (TBD)*
Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers, TBD (TBD)*

Friday, May 2
Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat, TBD (TBD)*
Game 6: Pacers at Bucks, TBD (TBD)*
Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves, TBD (TBD)*
Game 6: Rockets at Warriors, TBD (TBD)*

Saturday, May 3
Game 7: Magic at Celtics, TBD (TBD)*
Game 7: Pistons at Knicks, TBD (TBD)*
Game 7: Grizzlies at Thunder, TBD (TBD)*
Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets, TBD (TBD)*

Sunday, May 4
Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers, TBD (TBD)*
Game 7: Bucks at Pacers, TBD (TBD)*
Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers, TBD (TBD)*
Game 7: Warriors at Rockets, TBD (TBD)*

* denotes if necessary.