Burns, who had a 1-23 record, was put on administrative leave with pay on March 27, a couple of days before the Golden Flashes began spring practices.
Premier League team news: predicted lineups for the weekend action
Arsenal take on Brentford at Saturday teatime while leaders Liverpool host West Ham on Sunday afternoon
Saturday 12.30pm TNT Sports 1 Venue Etihad Stadium
Continue reading...Avalanche Call Up Prospects for Last Two Games of the Season
Denver, Colo. - The Colorado Avalanche announced this morning that they have recalled forward Jere Innala, defenseman Wyatt Aamodt, and defenseman Jack Ahcan from the Colorado Eagles (AHL).
Head Coach Jared Bednar mentioned after Thursday's loss to the Vancouver Canucks that some of his players are a little banged up and may not make the California trip (Los Angeles and Anaheim) with the rest of the team.
I think you get to this point in the year, all these guys are dealing with something. The guys that didn't get a break for the Four Nations... This has been a tough stretch of games since then.- Jared Bednar during pregame availability on injuries late in the regular season
If they do play, Wyatt Aamodt will make his NHL debut. As an undrafted free agent, Aamodt signed with Colorado in 2022 and has played in 181 games for the Eagles since, scoring 12 goals and 36 assists in those appearances.
Jere Innala has played in 15 games for the Avalanche this season. In 42 games with the Eagles this season, he has totaled 16 goals and 11 assists. An undrafted free agent, he signed with Colorado in June of 2024.
Also an undrafted free agent, Jack Ahcan signed with Colorado in 2023. He made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins in the 2020-21 season, playing 3 games. In 6 games with the Bruins in 2021-22, he tallied his first NHL goal. In 137 games played with the Eagles, the defenseman has collected 11 goals and 68 assists.
Ja Morant says it's not a grenade 3-point celebration: 'I'm taking my words, and I'm throwing them out there'
Ja Morant was warned about celebrating 3-pointers with a finger gun pointed at the opponent's bench, and when he did the finger-gun celebration again the league came down on him with a $75,000 fine.
So Morant switched to this celebration, which looks like he is pulling the pin on a grenade and throwing it into the crowd.
JA MORANT THREW ANOTHER GRENADE INTO THE CROWD pic.twitter.com/vtmMGlKt01
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 11, 2025
Before the Grizzlies fell to the Timberwolves on Thursday night, Morant said he was sticking with this celebration.
"That's my celebration now until somebody else has a problem with it, and I'll find another one," Morant said, via the Associated Press.
After the game, he said that celebration is not what everyone thinks it is (hat tip Clutch Points).
"Listen, it's not what you think it is. I'm taking my words, and I'm throwing them out there. I'm speaking Ja. I'm being Ja. I'm going to take my words, I'm going to throw them out there, and then I'm going to block out the noise. And that's what I'm doing. So when you see me do that, that's what I'm doing. I'm saying what I got to say to the world, and I'm blocking out the noise in the midst of what's coming back my way. And that's how it's going to be."
Or, the way it's going to be until the league warns him about this celebration. But he can always find another one.
Alex de Minaur records first ‘double bagel’ with whitewash of Grigor Dimitrov
- The Australian reaches last four of Monte Carlo Masters
- He will play either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Lorenzo Musetti
Alex de Minaur has humbled Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov 6-0 6-0 to feast on the first “double bagel” of his professional career while powering into the Monte Carlo Masters semi-final.
The Australian was in merciless mood against the out-of-sorts veteran, taking only 44 minutes to hand the world No 18 one of his most embarrassing defeats on the Monte Carlo Country Club’s main arena, Court Rainier III, on Friday.
Continue reading...Here's where the Red Sox rank in CNBC's 2025 MLB valuations
Here's where the Red Sox rank in CNBC's 2025 MLB valuations originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Which team is the highest-valued MLB franchise in 2025?
CNBC unveiled the full list of this year’s MLB franchise valuations, sorting team worth, 2024 revenue and more. While some teams are in expected spots, others are more surprising.
The Boston Red Sox rank third on CNBC’s list with a $4.7 billion valuation. The team has won four World Series since John Henry and Tom Werner purchased the team in 2002 but has missed the playoffs in five of the last six seasons. The Red Sox brought in $514 million in revenue last season, sixth in MLB.
The New York Yankees are No. 1 on CNBC’s list. Owned by the Steinbrenner family, New York tops the ranking with a value of $8 billion, a lead of over $2 billion from the next highest team.
And how much did the Steinbrenner family pay for the Yankees when they took over in 1973? Just $8.8 million. The team collected $705 million in revenue last season alone.
Coming second after the Yankees is the Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning league champions. Guggenheim Baseball Management took over in 2012, paying $2 billion for the franchise. The big market is now worth $5.8 billion and continues to soar following the acquisition of Shohei Ohtani, among other major stars.
Rounding out the top five are the Chicago Cubs ($4.45 billion) and San Francisco Giants ($3.8 billion).
Flipping over to the bottom five, it’s a group of mostly small-market franchises – except for one surprise. Every team is valued at least above $1 billion, which is also the case in the NHL.
In 26th is the Cincinnati Reds, worth $1.5 billion. The Reds are followed by the Pittsburgh Pirates ($1.47 billion), Kansas City Royals ($1.45 billion) and Tampa Bay Rays ($1.4 billion).
Last is the Miami Marlins, who are valued at $1.2 billion. Despite being in a sizable market, Bruce Sherman, an American businessman, bought the team in 2017 for the same exact price – $1.2 billion – but has not seen a change in value.
Miami brought in just $296 million in revenue last season, going 62-100 on the field. Only the Athletics ($275 million), now temporarily based in Sacramento ahead of a planned Las Vegas move, ranked lower in revenue.
Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Nikola Jokic, Dyson Daniels among the fantasy MVPs
While some fantasy managers compete in leagues that run through the end of the NBA's regular season, most were completed by the end of Sunday's games. Congratulations to those who won their leagues and the money (and bragging rights) that comes with it. Those who did not will reflect on what went wrong and how they can avoid a similar fate next season.
With the fantasy season effectively over, now is a good time for the Rotoworld fantasy basketball staff to have a few roundtable discussions.
The Rotoworld basketball staff picks their fantasy duds for the 2024-25 season.
The final installment focuses on the most valuable players in fantasy basketball. For some, it's the player who led the way in the rankings, while others prefer to pick a player who proved far more valuable than expected during the preseason. Nick Shlain, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew made their choices, which are (mostly) unlikely to align with the winner of this season's official Most Valuable Player award.
Who is your Most Valuable Player in fantasy basketball this season?
Nick Shlain: The top three players that separated themselves from the pack this season were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama. With Wembanyama going down with injury at the All-Star break, that left SGA and Jokic. While I’ve been partial to Jokic in the past and believe his skillset is more valuable in fantasy in a vacuum, injuries cost him some games in the second half. Entering play Friday, Jokic played 68 games to Gilgeous-Alexander’s 76. In my opinion, that’s significant enough to tip the scales for SGA, who had an incredible season that will likely result in his first MVP award.
Noah Rubin: You could look at this award a few different ways. Sure, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were technically the "most valuable" players in fantasy basketball. However, relative to ADP, few players were as valuable as "The Great Barrier Thief." Dyson Daniels was also my pick for the most improved player in fantasy basketball, and I had to limit myself from giving him more awards. He's on pace to play in 77 games, which is a huge win in today's NBA. Of course, the massive lead in steals and the improvements across the board have made Daniels a fantasy superstar. He won't win this award again since there is no way he goes this late in drafts again. The season-long numbers are already fantastic, but he's also made improvements throughout the year, as he has averaged more points, rebounds and assists per game over the past two months than he has for the season while also improving his field goal percentage. The No. 8 overall pick in 2022, Daniels has soared in his first season in Atlanta and helped many fantasy managers bring home rings.
Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Zach Edey, Stephon Castle among the top fantasy rookies
The Rotoworld fantasy basketball staff makes its picks for the top fantasy rookies.
Raphielle Johnson: While most of the players at the top of the rankings were expected to be there before the season began, I think the more valuable fantasy assets are those who exceed preseason expectations by a significant margin. Dyson Daniels certainly qualifies, but I'll take Josh Hart here. He's set the Knicks franchise record for triple-doubles in a season, and the versatile wing has provided top-30 per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Between the positional eligibility, production and availability, Hart has been one of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball this season. And unlike Daniels, whose Yahoo! ADP will likely skyrocket in the fall, Hart may still be able to provide elite value relative to where he's drafted. Unless the Knicks were to move one of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges during the offseason, Hart will again be fifth in the offensive pecking order next season. That could keep his ADP within "reason," setting up Hart to remain a high-value option in fantasy leagues.
Zak Hanshew: It feels cheap to name Nikola Jokic as the fantasy MVP, but there's no denying his greatness. Jokic was drafted as a top-three pick and delivered in a way no one expected. He set personal bests in points, assists and steals, delivered stat lines that have never been seen and passed Wilt Chamberlain for most triple-doubles in a single season by a center. Joker is on pace to become only the third player to average a triple-double for a season and the first center to accomplish that feat. If we're getting down to the nitty-gritty, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be slightly ahead of him in per-game fantasy ranking, but SGA wasn't a week-winner nearly as much as Jokic. Jokic has him handily in rebounds and assists, sits only slightly behind him in scoring and surprisingly holds the edge in steals. No other player in the Association put up numbers quite as gaudy as Joker, who posted 20-assist and 20-rebound games with regularity and just last week notched a 60-point triple-double. If you drafted Jokic, there's a good chance he single-handedly led you to victory multiple times throughout the 2024-25 campaign, and no other player can boast that level of impact.
Former Railers Netminder Makes NHL Debut With Islanders
It was not a fun night for the New York Islanders Thursday, as they were routed by the rival New York Rangers 9-2.
For one player, however, the night would be unforgettable if not brief.
Former Worcester Railers goaltender Tristan Lennox made his NHL debut for the Islanders, after head coach Patrick Roy inserted the 22-year-old netminder in the third period with the Islanders down 6-1.
Lennox relieved Marcus Hogberg but faced just one shot, a Brett Berard five-hole on an odd-man rush to increase the Rangers’ lead to 7-2.
Roy then elected to put Hogberg back in the game after that, but it mattered little as the Isles were all but eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention with the lopsided loss.
Lennox was emergency recalled on Thursday after a lower-body injury to starting goaltender Ilya Sorokin. The Islanders’ third-round pick (93rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft has appeared in four games with Bridgeport of the American Hockey League this season, posting a 0-3-0 record with a 4.44 goals-against average and an .832 save percentage.
An injury in 2023-24 with the Railers has limited Lennox’s action in net this season. He went 5-6-2 last season with the Railers, recording a .909 SP and 2.94 GAA over 13 games.
The native of Ottawa became the 766th former ECHL player to make his NHL debut and the 14th this season.
The 6-foot-4, 196-pound goaltender is the fourth Railer player to go on to play in the NHL after appearing in a game for Worcester. He joins Jakub Skarek, who made his NHL debut for the Islanders on Feb. 2, 2025, Arnaud Durandeau, who made his NHL debut for the Islanders on Feb. 20, 2023, and Ken Appleby, who appeared in one game for the Isles on Jan. 15, 2024.
When will Roman Anthony be called up? Breslow details Red Sox' plan
When will Roman Anthony be called up? Breslow details Red Sox' plan originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Kristian Campbell has already made his presence felt in the majors since debuting with the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day. Now, it seems like only a matter of time before the rest of the organization’s “Big Three” prospects join him at Fenway Park.
Outfielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Marcelo Mayer — the No. 1 and No. 3 prospects in the system, respectively — are knocking on the door of the big leagues. Both appeared MLB-ready in spring training, but roster logjams at their respective positions kept them from breaking camp with the team.
The Red Sox outfield consists of Ceddanne Rafaela in center, Jarren Duran in left, and Wilyer Abreu in right. Rob Refsnyder serves as the fourth outfielder, and Masataka Yoshida (currently injured) remains an option despite spending last season as a designated hitter.
Mayer is blocked by veteran shortstop Trevor Story. A position switch seems unlikely, with Campbell and David Hamilton at second base and Alex Bregman locked in at third.
So, when could we see Anthony and Mayer get the call to The Show? Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow recently addressed the topic.
“There are certain players, and we’re hopeful and optimistic that we have a handful of those, who create their own timeline,” Breslow said, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. “But then, the bulk of guys who get to the big leagues do so because an opportunity arises on the big league club. I think that this will likely be some balance of both these things.”
Anthony and Mayer are off to uncharacteristically slow starts at Triple-A Worcester. Anthony is hitting just .177 (6-for-34) with two home runs, 14 strikeouts, and 10 walks. Mayer is batting .243 (9-for-37) with two homers, 11 strikeouts, and two walks.
Before promoting Anthony, Breslow and the Red Sox want to see how the 20-year-old fares in specific situations and matchups.
“Developmentally, (getting him) a little more comfortable playing in the outfield,” Breslow said. “And then also getting him exposed to left-on-left, making sure he can handle that. He has done significant damage vs. right, and we trust that long-term it’s not going to be an issue, but in the short-term, giving him a chance to get exposed to left-handed pitching is the thing that’s front of mind right now.”
All signs point toward Anthony playing left field when he reaches the majors, with Duran moving back to center and Abreu sticking in right. In that scenario, Rafaela would embrace a utility role given his ability to play center field, second base, and shortstop.
Barring an injury to Story — who hasn’t been able to stay on the field since signing with the club in 2022 — Mayer’s path to Boston is less clear. But if the 22-year-old starts hitting like he did in spring training (.333/.455/.528 in 20 games), Breslow should find a spot for him on the roster.
In the meantime, the Red Sox (7-7) hope to bounce back after dropping three out of four games against the Toronto Blue Jays. They’ll begin a three-game set against the lowly White Sox in Chicago on Friday.
Perk states Warriors would ‘pop' Lakers in first-round playoff series
Perk states Warriors would ‘pop' Lakers in first-round playoff series originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Kendrick Perkins believes the Warriors would beat the Los Angeles Lakers if they met in a first-round NBA playoff series.
The ESPN analyst expressed his confidence in Golden State capturing the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and beating the presumptive No. 3-seeded Lakers in a best-of-seven playoff battle.
“I believe [Golden State] will capture the six seed,” Perkins said Friday on ESPN’s “First Take.” “…And by the way, they want to get to the six seed because I like them against the Lakers if the Lakers are the third seed. I like the Warriors; I like that matchup.
“Especially when you look at how the Lakers play defense, pack in the paint and give up a lot of 3-point shots. That’s kind of been the recipe [Lakers coach] JJ Redick has designed for this Lakers defense. I like the Warriors to get that six seed and if they face the Lakers in the first round, the Warriors are going to pop the Lakers.”
While the Warriors have a lot of postseason positioning to sort out over the final two games of the regular season, a playoff series against the Lakers is a real possibility.
Given how Golden State’s offense performed in a recent win over Los Angeles, there is reason for optimism. The Lakers lack the size and length of teams like the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, and their lineup has been stretched thin recently.
However, the potent scoring combo of LeBron James and Luka Dončić gives the Lakers a chance no matter who they face in the playoffs.
The Warriors will need better performances from their supporting cast, especially when Steph Curry isn’t on the floor. Otherwise, another early postseason exit is the most likely outcome.
What to know for Round 1 of the NBA playoffs: Bracket, schedule and more
What to know for Round 1 of the NBA playoffs: Bracket, schedule and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The 2025 NBA playoffs are ready to tip off.
The last two playoff berths were awarded on Friday night as the play-in tournament wrapped up.
The 10th-place Miami Heat first made play-in history with a wild overtime win against the eighth-place Atlanta Hawks. Tyler Herro and Co. clinched the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot with the road victory, becoming the first 10th-place team to advance to the playoffs since the play-in was introduced in 2021. The Heat previously crushed the Bulls in Chicago in the 9-10 game.
But the Western Conference’s 10th-place team, the Dallas Mavericks, failed to match Miami’s feat. The eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies cruised past Dallas to grab the No. 8 playoff seed out West.
With the 16-team bracket locked in, here’s a look at the first-round matchups, schedule, and more to know:
When do the NBA playoffs start?
The playoffs begin Saturday, April 19.
How do the NBA playoffs work?
First-round matchups in each conference are No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5. All postseason series are best of seven where the higher seed has home-court advantage in Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.
Do the NBA playoffs reseed teams?
The playoffs follow a bracket format and don’t reseed teams after the first round. That means, for instance, the winner of a 1-8 matchup will meet the winner of a 4-5 matchup in Round 2, regardless of the other first-round results.
What teams are in the NBA playoffs?
The six automatic playoff berths in the East were claimed by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. The Orlando Magic and the Heat then joined the field via the play-in.
Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves secured top-six spots before the Golden State Warriors and the Grizzlies advanced through the play-in.
What are the NBA playoff matchups?
Here’s a look at the bracket:
Eastern Conference
1. Cavaliers
8. Heat
4.Pacers
5. Bucks
3. Knicks
6. Pistons
2. Celtics
7. Magic
Western Conference
1. Thunder
8. Grizzlies
4. Nuggets
5. Clippers
3. Lakers
6. Timberwolves
2. Rockets
7. Warriors
What’s the schedule for the first round of the NBA playoffs?
Here are the schedule details for each first-round series ( * = if necessary):
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Heat
- Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers — Sunday, April 20, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers — Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat — Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat — Monday, April 28, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 5*: Heat at Cavaliers — Wednesday, April 30, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Cavaliers at Heat — Friday, May 2, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Heat at Cavaliers — Sunday, May 4, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Magic
- Game 1: Magic at Celtics — Sunday, April 20, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 2: Magic at Celtics — Wednesday, April 23, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Celtics at Magic — Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 4: Celtics at Magic — Sunday, April 27, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5*: Magic at Celtics — Tuesday, April 29, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Celtics at Magic — Thursday, May 1, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Magic at Celtics — Saturday, May 3, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Pistons
- Game 1: Pistons at Knicks — Saturday, April 19, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 2: Pistons at Knicks — Monday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Knicks at Pistons — Thursday, April 24, time TBD, TNT
- Game 4: Knicks at Pistons — Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 5*: Pistons at Knicks — Tuesday, April 29, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Knicks at Pistons — Thursday, May 1, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Pistons at Knicks — Saturday, May 3, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 5 Bucks
- Game 1: Bucks at Pacers — Saturday, April 19, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 2: Bucks at Pacers — Tuesday, April 22, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV
- Game 3: Pacers at Bucks — Friday, April 25, 8 p.m. ET, NBA TV/ESPNU
- Game 4: Pacers at Bucks — Sunday, April 27, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5*: Bucks at Pacers — Tuesday, April 29, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Pacers at Bucks — Friday, May 2, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Bucks at Pacers — Sunday, May 4, time TBD, TV channel TBD
Western Conference
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 Grizzlies
- Game 1: Grizzlies at Thunder — Sunday, April 20, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 2: Grizzlies at Thunder — Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies — Thursday, April 24, time TBD, TNT
- Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies — Saturday, April 26, 3:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5*: Grizzlies at Thunder — Monday, April 28, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Thunder at Grizzlies — Thursday, May 1, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Grizzlies at Thunder — Saturday, May 3, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 2 Rockets vs. No. 7 Warriors
- Game 1: Warriors at Rockets — Sunday, April 20, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 2: Warriors at Rockets — Wednesday, April 23, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Rockets at Warriors — Saturday, April 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 4: Rockets at Warriors — Monday, April 28, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5*: Warriors at Rockets — Wednesday, April 30, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Rockets at Warriors — Friday, May 2, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Warriors at Rockets — Sunday, May 4, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 3 Lakers vs. No. 6 Timberwolves
- Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers — Saturday, April 19, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers — Tuesday, April 22, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves — Friday, April 25, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves — Sunday, April 27, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 5*: Timberwolves at Lakers — Wednesday, April 30, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Lakers at Timberwolves — Friday, May 2, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Timberwolves at Lakers — Sunday, May 4, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 4 Nuggets vs. No. 5 Clippers
- Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets — Saturday, April 19, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets — Monday, April 21, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers — Thursday, April 24, time TBD, NBA TV
- Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers — Saturday, April 26, 6 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5*: Clippers at Nuggets — Tuesday, April 29, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Nuggets at Clippers — Thursday, May 1, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Clippers at Nuggets — Saturday, May 3, time TBD, TV channel TBD
Where to watch and stream games in the 2025 NBA playoffs
First-round games will air nationally across ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV.
ESPN and ABC broadcasts can be streamed on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
TNT broadcasts can be streamed on TNTDrama.com, the TNT app and Max.
NBA TV broadcasts are available to stream on NBA.com and the NBA app.
What are the 2025 NBA playoff dates?
The second round is slated to get underway May 5-6, though those start dates could be moved up to May 3-4. The conference finals will start as early as May 18-19 and as late as May 20-21.
When are the 2025 NBA Finals?
The Finals are scheduled to start Thursday, June 5, with a potential Game 7 slated for Sunday, June 22.
Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on April 11.
What to know for Round 1 of the NBA playoffs: Bracket, schedule and more
What to know for Round 1 of the NBA playoffs: Bracket, schedule and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The 2025 NBA playoffs are ready to tip off.
The last two playoff berths were awarded on Friday night as the play-in tournament wrapped up.
The 10th-place Miami Heat first made play-in history with a wild overtime win against the eighth-place Atlanta Hawks. Tyler Herro and Co. clinched the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot with the road victory, becoming the first 10th-place team to advance to the playoffs since the play-in was introduced in 2021. The Heat previously crushed the Bulls in Chicago in the 9-10 game.
But the Western Conference’s 10th-place team, the Dallas Mavericks, failed to match Miami’s feat. The eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies cruised past Dallas to grab the No. 8 playoff seed out West.
With the 16-team bracket locked in, here’s a look at the first-round matchups, schedule, and more to know:
When do the NBA playoffs start?
The playoffs begin Saturday, April 19.
How do the NBA playoffs work?
First-round matchups in each conference are No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5. All postseason series are best of seven where the higher seed has home-court advantage in Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.
Do the NBA playoffs reseed teams?
The playoffs follow a bracket format and don’t reseed teams after the first round. That means, for instance, the winner of a 1-8 matchup will meet the winner of a 4-5 matchup in Round 2, regardless of the other first-round results.
What teams are in the NBA playoffs?
The six automatic playoff berths in the East were claimed by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. The Orlando Magic and the Heat then joined the field via the play-in.
Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves secured top-six spots before the Golden State Warriors and the Grizzlies advanced through the play-in.
What are the NBA playoff matchups?
Here’s a look at the bracket:
Eastern Conference
1. Cavaliers
8. Heat
4.Pacers
5. Bucks
3. Knicks
6. Pistons
2. Celtics
7. Magic
Western Conference
1. Thunder
8. Grizzlies
4. Nuggets
5. Clippers
3. Lakers
6. Timberwolves
2. Rockets
7. Warriors
What’s the schedule for the first round of the NBA playoffs?
Here are the schedule details for each first-round series ( * = if necessary):
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Heat
- Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers — Sunday, April 20, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers — Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat — Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat — Monday, April 28, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 5*: Heat at Cavaliers — Wednesday, April 30, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Cavaliers at Heat — Friday, May 2, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Heat at Cavaliers — Sunday, May 4, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Magic
- Game 1: Magic at Celtics — Sunday, April 20, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 2: Magic at Celtics — Wednesday, April 23, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Celtics at Magic — Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 4: Celtics at Magic — Sunday, April 27, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5*: Magic at Celtics — Tuesday, April 29, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Celtics at Magic — Thursday, May 1, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Magic at Celtics — Saturday, May 3, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Pistons
- Game 1: Pistons at Knicks — Saturday, April 19, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 2: Pistons at Knicks — Monday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Knicks at Pistons — Thursday, April 24, time TBD, TNT
- Game 4: Knicks at Pistons — Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 5*: Pistons at Knicks — Tuesday, April 29, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Knicks at Pistons — Thursday, May 1, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Pistons at Knicks — Saturday, May 3, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 5 Bucks
- Game 1: Bucks at Pacers — Saturday, April 19, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 2: Bucks at Pacers — Tuesday, April 22, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV
- Game 3: Pacers at Bucks — Friday, April 25, 8 p.m. ET, NBA TV/ESPNU
- Game 4: Pacers at Bucks — Sunday, April 27, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5*: Bucks at Pacers — Tuesday, April 29, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Pacers at Bucks — Friday, May 2, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Bucks at Pacers — Sunday, May 4, time TBD, TV channel TBD
Western Conference
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 Grizzlies
- Game 1: Grizzlies at Thunder — Sunday, April 20, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 2: Grizzlies at Thunder — Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies — Thursday, April 24, time TBD, TNT
- Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies — Saturday, April 26, 3:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5*: Grizzlies at Thunder — Monday, April 28, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Thunder at Grizzlies — Thursday, May 1, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Grizzlies at Thunder — Saturday, May 3, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 2 Rockets vs. No. 7 Warriors
- Game 1: Warriors at Rockets — Sunday, April 20, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 2: Warriors at Rockets — Wednesday, April 23, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Rockets at Warriors — Saturday, April 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 4: Rockets at Warriors — Monday, April 28, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5*: Warriors at Rockets — Wednesday, April 30, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Rockets at Warriors — Friday, May 2, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Warriors at Rockets — Sunday, May 4, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 3 Lakers vs. No. 6 Timberwolves
- Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers — Saturday, April 19, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers — Tuesday, April 22, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves — Friday, April 25, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves — Sunday, April 27, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 5*: Timberwolves at Lakers — Wednesday, April 30, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Lakers at Timberwolves — Friday, May 2, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Timberwolves at Lakers — Sunday, May 4, time TBD, TV channel TBD
No. 4 Nuggets vs. No. 5 Clippers
- Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets — Saturday, April 19, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets — Monday, April 21, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers — Thursday, April 24, time TBD, NBA TV
- Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers — Saturday, April 26, 6 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5*: Clippers at Nuggets — Tuesday, April 29, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 6*: Nuggets at Clippers — Thursday, May 1, time TBD, TV channel TBD
- Game 7*: Clippers at Nuggets — Saturday, May 3, time TBD, TV channel TBD
Where to watch and stream games in the 2025 NBA playoffs
First-round games will air nationally across ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV.
ESPN and ABC broadcasts can be streamed on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
TNT broadcasts can be streamed on TNTDrama.com, the TNT app and Max.
NBA TV broadcasts are available to stream on NBA.com and the NBA app.
What are the 2025 NBA playoff dates?
The second round is slated to get underway May 5-6, though those start dates could be moved up to May 3-4. The conference finals will start as early as May 18-19 and as late as May 20-21.
When are the 2025 NBA Finals?
The Finals are scheduled to start Thursday, June 5, with a potential Game 7 slated for Sunday, June 22.
Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on April 11.
Smith And Karlsson’s Penalty Killing Pose Additional Offensive Threats For Golden Knights
William Karlsson and Reilly Smith are the Vegas Golden Knights franchise leaders in shorthanded goals and points, and after being reunited at the deadline, they are showing just how dangerous and effective they can be on the penalty kill.
The 2024-25 campaign has been challenging for Karlsson. The 32-year-old has scored just nine goals and 27 points in 50 games, dealing with two long-term injuries throughout the season.
Although it's been a down year, a trade deadline acquisition has revived his play. Since Smith's re-arrival to Vegas, Karlsson has scored two goals and nine points in 12 games.
The Golden Knights are in safer hands defensively and can now count on Karlsson and Smith to chip in with depth scoring.
Surprisingly, some of their best offensive chances come on the penalty kill. Against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, Karlsson recorded his eighth goal of the season, set up Smith.
"how many times have you watched this goal back?"
— x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 9, 2025
7119 times 🍏🤠 pic.twitter.com/shL7aK7Kh3
Karlsson and Smith are one and two in the rankings for shorthanded goals and points, with Karlsson recording 14 goals and 25 points and Smith registering 12 goals and 21 points. As each game passes by, their chemistry continues to build.
"It helps a lot playing with Karl," said Smith following the 2-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. "It seems like every time I don't get the puck out he's behind me, and he does a good job so, just keep on working and keep on getting better. We have a few more games, and hopefully, we get our game in top shape when we get to the playoffs."
Following the 3-2 shootout loss to the Avalanche, HC Bruce Cassidy told the travelling media that he believed the Karlsson, Smith, and Victor Olofsson trio was the best line that night.
If Karlsson and Smith can win their matchups at 5-on-5 and allow Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl more favourable opponents, the Golden Knights will pose a serious threat to any opponent. Mixing in the inevitable danger they create while shorthanded, the Golden Knights will be a handful for any team.
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Dennis Jr. views Warriors as ‘most dangerous' team entering playoffs
Dennis Jr. views Warriors as ‘most dangerous' team entering playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
With so much uncertainty looming over the Western Conference playoff race, one thing is for sure: the Warriors are playing their best basketball at the right time.
After falling one game under .500 as the No. 10 seed in early February, the Warriors are 22-7 since their massive trade deadline acquisition Jimmy Butler suited up for them on Feb. 8 and have leaped the standings with a real possibility of locking up a top-six playoff seed.
While the red-hot Warriors have been rolling, teams above them in the standings, such as the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers, have been finding a groove, too, with two regular-season games remaining. Still, ESPN analyst David Dennis Jr. views Golden State as the most dangerous team in the West entering the playoffs.
“To me, it’s still the Golden State Warriors,” Dennis Jr. said Friday morning on “First Take.” “You have three guys on that roster — three veterans on that roster — who as well as they are playing right now, they are only going to get better come playoff time. We’ve seen what Steph Curry does in these playoff-level scenarios. Those three games in a row, against Memphis, against the Lakers, against the Nuggets, where he averaged 43 points.
“You add in the fact that Playoff Jimmy Butler is on the horizon. He allows that Warriors team to be a plus team when Stephen Curry is not playing. And that is a huge, huge marker for this team and their success. Then you add in the Draymond Green of it all, playing at the Defensive Player of the Year level he is right now.
“This Warriors team is equipped to win in the way that they have won, which is Draymond anchoring that defense, some depth and Stephen Curry going nuclear. I think they are still the most dangerous team that nobody wants to face in that Western Conference.”
Since taking a week off to rest and recover from a pelvic contusion, Curry is averaging 27.4 points on 45.6-percent shooting from the field and 40.2 percent from 3-point range, with 5.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.8 steals in 32.4 minutes through eight games.
Last week, he dropped 52 points against the Grizzlies then backed up that performance with 37 and 36 points, respectively, in back-to-back games against the Lakers and Nuggets.
And he’s gotten plenty of support from his veteran counterparts.
Butler’s impact alone seemingly has made everyone around him better — particularly unlocking new doors and opportunities for Curry’s game in Year 16. Plus, his numbers only boost come playoff time. And Draymond Green has been doing Draymond Green things, strengthening his case for his second Defensive Player of the Year award.
Dennis Jr. believes those three, collectively, can lead the Warriors to the Western Conference finals.
“In terms of how far they can go in the playoffs,” Dennis Jr. said, “if they’re on the opposite bracket of the [Oklahoma City] Thunder and you’re looking at them as the sixth seed playing the Lakers first then playing an inexperienced [Houston] Rockets team that struggles down the stretch in those fourth quarters — yes, the Warriors, lock it in, are a Western Conference Finals team. And then when you play against OKC, anything is possible against that Thunder team.
“We’ve seen the Warriors beat [the Thunder] already this season without Jimmy Butler. The Warriors have a unique thing that nobody else in the playoffs has: they have three players that get better come playoff time. Nobody else in the NBA has that. They have Playoff Jimmy. They have MVP Steph. And they have defensive enforcer Draymond Green on that team. I trust them, on the opposite side of the bracket, to lock in if they’re the sixth seed to the Western Conference finals.”
That certainly is the goal for the Warriors, and the road to get there continues Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center.
NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On The Penguins' Trade Plans And Lightning Prospect
The Pittsburgh Penguins will miss the playoffs for the third-straight year but not because of a lack of effort by Sidney Crosby.
The 37-year-old Penguins captain remains among the league's elite centers, leading the club with 87 points in 77 games.
The Hockey News’ Kelsey Surmacz said the Penguins owe it to Crosby to try to right the ship after watching the Eastern Conference leaders, the Washington Capitals, accomplish that with Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals only had one top-10 draft pick in their retool, and they made big off-season trades to bring in Pierre-Luc Dubois, Jakob Chychrun and Logan Thompson.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has spent the past two seasons rebuilding the club, moving out veterans, such as Jake Guentzel and Marcus Pettersson, for draft picks and promising young players. However, Crosby's ongoing brilliance has Josh Yohe of The Athletic wondering if Dubas might accelerate the process to take advantage of his captain's efforts.
Crosby is under contract through 2026-27. Yohe believes it makes sense to spend for talent as long as their system keeps producing young players. He pointed out the Penguins have more than $23 million in cap space next season, suggesting that Dubas could clear more by shipping out some expensive contracts.
It's been rumored Dubas could try to move Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell during the off-season. Karlsson has two years left on his contract with the Penguins carrying $10 million of his $11.5 million average annual value, while Rakell has three more seasons left at a $5-million cap hit. Surmacz noted in mid-March that Rakell is Crosby’s new best winger after the Guentzel trade.
Dubas has made bold moves before. We can't dismiss the possibility that he might attempt to speed things up this summer.
NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Jets' Ehlers And Blue JacketsA foot injury sidelined Nikolaj Ehlers from the Winnipeg Jets' last two games.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Isaac Howard is a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as this season's top U.S. college player. The Lightning hoped to get Howard signed to his entry-level contract, but the 21-year-old left wing decided to return to Michigan State for his senior year.
The Lightning can continue negotiating with Howard, but he could become a UFA on Aug. 15, 2026. Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times suggests this could be posturing by Howard's representatives. If he plays a single game this season, it'll burn off one year of his entry-level contract, enabling him to get a more lucrative second contract a year sooner.
Howard seems keen to join the Lightning right away, but they lack cap space to add him to their roster this season. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman claimedNCAA sources said the two sides currently weren't on the same page.
Friedman and Encina suggested the possibility of the Lightning trading Howard's rights if they feel they won't get him signed before next summer.
This situation is similar to Rutger McGroarty's contract standoff with the Winnipeg Jets. They wound up trading McGroarty to the Penguins.
Howard and the Lightning could get this sorted out during the off-season. Nevertheless, this situation could be worth monitoring this summer.
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