The 2025 NBA Playoffs took off on April 16th, with the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament. Just three days after the play-in, all 16 seeds were set for the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
For 4 teams, to even make the playoffs they needed to win 1-2 play-in games. From the Western Conference, the Play-in Tournament featured: the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings. Within the East, the Play-in Tournament included: the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat.
From the Play-in Tournament, only 2 teams from each conference found their way into the NBA Playoffs, claiming the 7th and 8th seed for their respective conferences. From the West, the Golden State Warriors (current 7th seed) and Memphis Grizzlies (eliminated 8th seed) made their way into the NBA Playoffs to face the 1st seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and 2nd seeded Houston Rockets. Within the East, the Miami Heat (eliminated 8th seed) and Orlando Magic (eliminated 7th seed) faced off against the respective 1st and 2nd seed.
The first series within the first round to end was between the respective 8th seeds and 1st seed from each conference. In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) swept the Memphis Grizzlies (48-34) in 4. From Game 1, the Thunder took control. Without surprise, in Game 3 of the series the Thunder were able to complete an almost 30 point comeback, winning 114-108.
Similarly in the East, the 1st seeded Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) took care of the Miami Heat (37-45), sweeping them in 4. Despite point guard Darius Garland being unable to play due to injury, they won every game with ease.
Staying in the East, the 2nd seeded Boston Celtics (61-21) defeated the Orlando Magic (41-41) 4-1. The Magic only took one game from the reigning NBA Champions during Game 3, winning it by only 2 with a final score of 95-93.
The Celtics will face the 3rd seeded New York Knicks (51-31) after their 4-2 series win over the 6th seeded Detroit Pistons (44-38). Winning Game 6 off of Knicks Point Guard Jalen Brunson’s near buzzer beating 3. While discussing how each team from the East needs to adjust before Game 5 for this series, Chris Herring from ESPN made the point, “The Pistons’ youth and poor decision-making have repeatedly hurt them, which is why they are down 3-1 instead.”
In the East there wasn’t much of a battle between the 4th and 5th seeds. The Indiana Pacers (50-32) took out the Milwaukee Bucks (48-34) 4-1. After the loss in Game 5 to end the series, Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo said, “Just got to look in the mirror and I just have to be better … As a team we work hard. We play the right way. Not being able to win games definitely hurts, but you gotta keep doing what you’re doing.”
However, in the West the series between the 4th seeded Denver Nuggets (50-32) and 5th seeded LA Clippers (50-32) battled in 7 close games. In the end the Nuggets came away with the series, winning Game 7 120-101.
Staying in the West, upsets happened between the 2nd and 7th seed, and also between the 3rd and 6th seed. The 6th seed Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33) beat the 3rd seed Los Angeles Lakers (50-32) in 5, only losing game 2 by 9.
Between the 7th seeded Golden State Warriors (48-34) and 2nd seed Houston Rockets (52-30) the Warriors managed to take the series after losing both Game 5 and 6, sending the series to 7 with the final game being played in Houston. The Warriors won Game 7 103-89, fueled by Buddy Hield’s 9 3-pointers.
The conference semifinals of the NBA Play-offs started on Sunday, May 4th. The conference semifinals will send two teams from each series to compete in the conference finals. The respective winner of each conference final will be up to compete for the NBA Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
