The 2025 NBA Playoffs delivered on every level — buzzer-beaters, breakout stars, rivalries renewed, and a Finals matchup that became an instant classic. This postseason wasn’t just a tournament; it was a defining chapter in the league’s evolving identity. As new powers rose and aging dynasties clung to relevancy, fans witnessed the most unpredictable and entertaining playoffs in over a decade. The 2025 edition reminded everyone that in the NBA, reputations are made in the spring.

A Regular Season Without a Superteam

The 2024–25 NBA regular season set the tone for what became a wild playoff ride. For the first time in years, there was no clear superteam. Parity ruled, with several contenders in both conferences finishing within just a few games of each other.

In the East, the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks led the way, while the Cleveland Cavaliers surged into the top three thanks to the emergence of Evan Mobley as a two-way force. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks quietly built a top-four seed behind Jalen Brunson’s career year.

In the West, the defending champion Denver Nuggets looked poised for another run behind Nikola Jokić, but the Oklahoma City Thunder made the biggest jump. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had officially arrived as a superstar, and Chet Holmgren’s health gave OKC a defensive edge few teams could match. The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers also loomed, packed with firepower and veteran experience.

With such a wide-open field, expectations for a chaotic postseason were high — and the playoffs exceeded them.

First Round: Upsets and Statement Wins

The first round set the tone for what would be a volatile postseason. In the East, the 6th-seeded Miami Heat once again proved their playoff mettle, upsetting the Cavaliers in six games. Jimmy Butler’s leadership and playoff poise carried the Heat, while 2025 NBA Playoffs shut down the paint.

The Celtics took care of business against the Hawks, sweeping them with little resistance. Tatum and Brown looked locked in, and Kristaps Porzingis brought much-needed floor spacing and rim protection.

In the West, the Thunder made a loud statement by dispatching the veteran-laden Clippers in five games. Gilgeous-Alexander outplayed Paul George and James Harden, while Holmgren proved he belonged in the spotlight. Meanwhile, the Suns narrowly escaped the Warriors in a seven-game thriller, with Kevin Durant hitting the go-ahead bucket in Game 7 to silence the Chase Center crowd.

Denver breezed past the Lakers in five games, but LeBron James — at 40 — continued to amaze, putting up a triple-double in what may have been his final playoff appearance.

Second Round: Rivalries and Resilience

By the second round, intensity skyrocketed. Boston met Miami in a rematch of their 2023 and 2022 playoff clashes. This time, Boston had the upper hand. After dropping Game 1, the Celtics won four straight behind dominant performances from Tatum and Derrick White, whose defense on Tyler Herro changed the series.

Milwaukee clashed with New York in the most physical series of the round. Jalen Brunson dropped 38 in Game 5, but Giannis Antetokounmpo proved too much, leading Milwaukee to a six-game win. Damian Lillard finally found his rhythm, hitting key shots down the stretch to put games out of reach.

Out West, the Thunder faced the top-seeded Nuggets in a showdown of present versus future. Each game was competitive, but OKC’s speed and defense began wearing Denver down. In Game 6, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 41 and dished 11 assists as the Thunder shocked the world and eliminated the defending champs. The win marked the official end of the Nuggets’ short-lived dynasty.

The Suns, meanwhile, fell to the surging Minnesota Timberwolves in seven games. Anthony Edwards had his playoff breakout moment, averaging 34 points and showing a killer instinct in crunch time. Karl-Anthony Towns’ defense and rebounding were also critical, and Minnesota reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time in two decades.

Conference Finals: Boston vs. Milwaukee, OKC vs. Minnesota

The Eastern Conference Finals featured two of the most consistent teams over the last five years. Boston and Milwaukee had met numerous times in the postseason, but this year felt different. The Celtics had finally matured. Their ball movement, three-point shooting, and ability to lock down in the clutch made the difference. Giannis had a monster series, but Boston’s team play proved too much. In Game 6, Jaylen Brown hit a dagger three in the final minute, sealing the series and sending Boston back to the NBA Finals.

In the West, the youngest Conference Finals matchup in recent memory pitted the upstart Thunder against the Timberwolves. The series was fast, physical, and wildly entertaining. Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander traded haymakers each night, but OKC’s balance and coaching gave them the edge. Josh Giddey’s passing and Holmgren’s shot-blocking became deciding factors, and OKC closed out the series in six games. At just 25 years old, SGA became the youngest player since Kawhi Leonard to lead his team to the Finals as the No. 1 option.

2025 NBA Finals: Experience vs. Energy

The Finals matchup between the Celtics and Thunder was symbolic — Boston, the seasoned and tested group trying to capitalize on years of close calls; Oklahoma City, the new blood looking to start its own dynasty.

Game 1 went to Boston, who used their playoff experience to take control late. Tatum and Brown combined for 61 points. OKC bounced back in Game 2, with Gilgeous-Alexander posting a triple-double and Holmgren blocking five shots.

In Boston for Games 3 and 4, the Celtics tightened the screws. Their defense limited OKC to under 100 points both games, and role players like Sam Hauser and Al Horford stepped up big. Boston took a commanding 3–1 lead.

But OKC wouldn’t go quietly. In Game 5, Edwards dropped 46 points — the highest single-game total in the Finals — and OKC held on in a nail-biter. Game 6 saw the Celtics reclaim momentum with Porzingis hitting four threes in the second half and Tatum delivering a dagger midrange jumper with 20 seconds left.

Boston won the series 4–2, capturing their 18th NBA championship — breaking the tie with the Lakers — and silencing doubts about Tatum’s ability to lead on the biggest stage.

A Playoffs to Remember

The 2025 NBA Playoffs were a defining moment for the league. Jayson Tatum solidified his status as a top-three player in the world and finally got the ring his résumé needed. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander emerged as a certified superstar capable of leading a team to the Finals. And the Celtics organization, after years of building and tweaking, finally broke through in a postseason filled with landmines.

The Thunder’s rise foreshadowed a power shift out West. Denver, Phoenix, and Golden State now face uncertain futures. Meanwhile, the East remains a battle of titans — with the Celtics, Bucks, and Heat leading the way, and young squads like the Cavaliers and Magic gaining ground.

The 2025 postseason will be remembered not just for who won, but how it was won — with grit, greatness, and the sense that a new NBA era is here.