The 2025 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2024–25 season. The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by the reigning MVP and scoring leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, finished the season with a league-best 68–14 record, giving them the first seed in the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference's best record was held by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished with a 64–18 record under their star Donovan Mitchell. The defending champion Boston Celtics, with their scoring duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 61–21. The Thunder, Cavaliers, and Celtics were widely seen as the championship contenders heading into the playoffs. The tournament began on April 19 after the conclusion of the play-ins.