NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
It’s time to hit the floor! The Playoffs are set to begin in just a matter of hours.
**5 HEADLINES FOR TODAY’S ISSUE** 🏀 April 19, 2025
**Wolves-Lakers:** Luka, LeBron, and the Lakers welcome Ant and the Wolves for Game 1.
**Bucks-Pacers:** A rematch of last year’s first round in this escalating rivalry.
**Clippers-Nuggets:** The fiery Clippers go head-to-head with Jokic and the Nuggets in Denver.
**Pistons-Knicks:** Detroit’s first playoff appearance since 2019 kicks off at The Garden.
**Play-In Finals:** The Heat make history as the first 10-seed to progress, while the Grizzlies never trailed.
**FIRST … ⏰ The Play-In wraps up and the Playoffs commence…**
The **2025 NBA Playoffs, sponsored by Google**, start today with four Game 1 matchups. The excitement begins with an ESPN tripleheader featuring the Bucks at Pacers (1 ET), Clippers at Nuggets (3:30 ET), and Pistons at Knicks (6 ET), culminating with the Wolves visiting the Lakers (8:30 ET) in primetime on ABC.
**Chasing History:** The all-access docu-series returns to document this year’s quest for the championship. Prepare with the East and West previews.
**Pass The Rock:** Don’t miss the latest episode focusing on Luka Dončić’s ascent, along with a special behind-the-scenes look at the Lakers’ newest superstar.
**First Round Predictions:** Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith headline a group of 10 media members sharing their forecasts for the opening round.
**Today’s Highlights:** USA Today discusses how Giannis has discovered something new in every playoff journey… The Athletic delves into Donovan Mitchell’s selflessness driving the Cavs… and The AP maps out a ‘wide-open race’ for the title.
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1. **WOLVES MEET FAMILIAR RIVAL IN LUKA’S LAKERS PLAYOFF DEBUT**
Tonight’s thrilling four-game lineup concludes on ABC (8:30 ET), marking yet another chapter as the original Lakers from Minneapolis face the current franchise, the Wolves, in the NBA Playoffs for only the third time.
When was their last encounter? The 2004 Western Conference Finals.
How long ago was that?
That’s just part of the story. Edwards (27.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.5 apg) has become only the sixth player to average at least 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists over their first 27 playoff games – a club that includes Luka, LeBron, Michael Jordan, Tracy McGrady, and Oscar Robertson.
Luka and Ant clashed in the 2024 Western Conference Finals, where Dončić led Dallas past Minnesota in five games. This rematch has Luka in a new jersey, while Ant welcomes various new teammates after a roster shake-up in the off-season.
The Wolves and Lakers split their regular season matchups, but Los Angeles claimed one key game following the Luka trade – a 111-102 victory on February 27, where Luka contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds in just his sixth game with the Lakers.
For more insights on this matchup, check out Shaun Powell’s series preview.
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2. **BUCKS AND PACERS RENEW RIVALRY IN FIRST ROUND REMATCH**
The day kicks off in Indiana, where an old rivalry reignites as the Bucks take on the Pacers in a rematch of last year’s first-round battle (1 ET, ESPN).
These teams have been closely contested over the years. Indiana won last year’s playoff series in six games and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, but Milwaukee holds a slight edge in the regular season at 7-6 since 2022-23.
Just look at how the stars have dazzled in this rivalry!
Both squads are entering this series on a high, with the Pacers boasting the fourth-best record in the NBA since January 1 at 34-14, while the Bucks ride an eight-game winning streak into the playoffs.
Milwaukee won the regular-season series 3-1, with three of those four games decided by single digits.
Which stars will step up in this Central Division clash?
For a deeper dive into this matchup, check out Steve Aschburner’s series preview.
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3. **FIERY CLIPPERS TAKE ON NUGGETS IN MILE HIGH SHOWDOWN**
It took all 82 games (and an extra five minutes for L.A.), but both the Nuggets and Clippers secured their playoff spots during Sunday’s season finale.
With identical 50-32 records and a split in their season series at 2-2, Denver’s superior conference record afforded them the fourth seed and home-court advantage in this matchup set to kick off today (3:30 ET, ESPN).
Here are some leading performers from their matchups this season:
Kawhi Leonard’s name is notably absent from that list, having missed all four games against Denver this year, yet he’s returned in time and has been exceptional down the stretch.
Will Zubac and the Clippers manage to contain the three-time Kia MVP throughout a seven-game series? Or will Jokic maintain his remarkable form from the entire season?
For further information on this matchup, check out John Schuhmann’s series preview.
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4. **PISTONS BEGIN THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF STINT SINCE 2019 AGAINST KNICKS IN NYC**
The New York Knicks had dominated the Detroit Pistons, winning 16 straight prior to their dec. 7 matchup.
However, in a season of significant turnaround in Detroit, the Pistons flipped the script, winning that game and three subsequent encounters, thus claiming the season series and setting up a thrilling First-Round confrontation that opens today (6 ET) at MSG.
This season, the Pistons achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the second team in NBA history to triple their win total—improving from 14 victories to 44, largely thanks to All-Star Cade Cunningham’s breakout performance.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are ready for action in the Big Apple. Since December 15, they have established themselves as the third-best team in the Eastern Conference, propelled by one of the most formidable starting lineups in the league.
This Saturday marks the first playoff showdown between the Knicks and Pistons since 1992, when New York won the series 3-2 behind the stellar performance of Naismith Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing, who averaged 23.4 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks per game.
For more details on this matchup, see Shaun Powell’s series preview.
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5. **8 SEEDS LOCKED IN: HEAT MAKE HISTORY, GRIZZLIES ADVANCE**
In 2023, the Heat made history as the first team to reach the NBA Finals after securing their playoff position via the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament.
In 2025, they again etched their names in the record books, becoming the first 10th-seed to reach the playoffs through the Play-In, edging past the Hawks in overtime on Friday night in Atlanta.
Heat 123, Hawks 114 (OT): Tyler Herro poured in 30 points, Bam Adebayo filled the stat sheet (17 pts, 11 reb, 5 ast, 5 blk, 2 stl), and Davion Mitchell exploded in overtime to lead the Heat past the Hawks and clinch the 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. | Recap
After suffering a thrilling defeat in a 7-vs-8 matchup against the Golden State Warriors, the Grizzlies made sure that Friday’s contest against Dallas for the final playoff spot wouldn’t be a nail-biter.
Grizzlies 120, Mavs 106: Powered by Jaren Jackson Jr.’s 24 points and matching contributions of 22 points and 9 assists by Desmond Bane and Ja Morant, Memphis led throughout the game, even with Anthony Davis’s 40-point output, to secure the 8 seed in the West. | Recap
