How to Watch the NBA Playoffs on DISH
Between the late-season coaching changes, historic team and individual performances, and one of the most shocking trades in league history, this was an incredibly dramatic season for the NBA. Now the real drama gets underway, as the 2025 NBA Playoffs begin Saturday, April 19.
The 16 teams still contending all have reason to be optimistic, none more so than the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers. Although OKC guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to win his first MVP award, his team’s comparative inexperience could leave the door open for former MVPs like Steph Curry (Golden State), Nikola Jokic (Denver), and LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) to make a run with their teams. In the East, it’s a similar situation, with the young Cavaliers likely having to face recent champions like the Milwaukee Bucks and/ or defending champ Boston Celtics on the road to the NBA Finals.
Here’s a look at the full First Round schedule, along with betting odds and players to watch. To watch the most First Round games with DISH, subscribe to America's Top 120 to watch games on TNT (channel 138), ESPN (channel 140), ABC (check your local guide), TBS (channel 139), and NBA TV (channel 156 - free preview from April 19 to May 4).
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland vs. (8) Miami
• Game 1: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100
• Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers (Wed. April 23, 7:30 ET, NBA TV)
• Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat (Sat. April 26, 1 ET, TNT)
• Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat (Mon. April 28, TBD)
• Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
• Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
* if necessary
Series Odds (via DraftKings): CLE -1800, MIA +900
Player to Watch: Two years ago, the Miami Heat won the second Play-In game to claim the No. 8 seed, traveled to Milwaukee and beat the top-seeded Bucks, and rode the momentum all the way to the NBA Finals. If Miami is going to repeat that script, they’ll need a hero: specifically, Tyler Herro. The 25-year-old guard poured in 30 points in his team’s Play-In win over the Hawks, helping them become the first No. 10 seed to advance to the playoffs. Miami has a ton of momentum, a savvy coach, and an experienced roster. Their series against Cleveland could be a lot closer than most people expect.
(2) Boston vs. (7) Orlando
• Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86
• Game 2: Magic at Celtics (Wed. April 23, 7 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Celtics at Magic (Fri. April 25, 7 ET, ESPN)
• Game 4: Celtics at Magic (Sun. April 27, 7 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Magic at Celtics (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Celtics at Magic (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Magic at Celtics (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
Series Odds (via DraftKings): BOS -5000, ORL +1600
Player to Watch: As you can see by the odds above, no one is giving Orlando a chance in this series. That makes load management one of the biggest challenges facing the Celtics, and it will be interesting to see how the team deals with Jaylen Brown given his injured right knee. If Boston makes easy work of Orlando in the first two games of the series, they may opt to rest him.
(3) New York vs. (6) Detroit
• Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
• Game 2: Pistons 100, Knicks 94
• Game 3: Knicks at Pistons (Thu. April 24, TBD, TNT)
• Game 4: Knicks at Pistons (Sun. April 27, 1 ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Pistons at Knicks (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Knicks at Pistons (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
Series Odds (via DraftKings): NY -400, DET +310
Player to Watch: After spending what’s felt like an eternity rebuilding, the Pistons finally found a real one in Cade Cunningham. The 23-year-old took a massive step forward in his fourth season, averaging 26 points per game to go with 9 rebounds and 6 assists. It’s a tough break for fans of both these long-suffering fanbases that one of their teams will be eliminated in the first round, but if Detroit can pull off the upset, it will likely come down to the play of Cunningham.
(4) Indiana vs. (5) Milwaukee
• Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
• Game 2: Pacers 123, Bucks 115
• Game 3: Pacers at Bucks (Fri. April 25, 8 ET, ESPNU/NBA TV)
• Game 4: Pacers at Bucks (Sun. April 27, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Bucks at Pacers (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Pacers at Bucks (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Bucks at Pacers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
Series Odds (via DraftKings): IND -165, MIL +135
Player to Watch: Obviously, the health of Damian Lillard is a major question mark for the Bucks (Milwaukee announced that he’ll miss the opener, but could return for the playoffs as he’s no longer taking blood-thinning medication, per ESPN). That puts the pressure squarely on the broad shoulders of Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s been up to the challenge, as he led his team on an eight-game winning streak heading into the playoffs. If the Bucks want to avoid their second-straight elimination at the hands of Indiana and their third-straight first round exit, they’ll need Giannis to continue to play like a giant.
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) Memphis
• Game 1: Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80
• Game 2: Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99
• Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies (Thu. April 24, TBD, TNT)
• Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies (Sat. April 26, 3:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Grizzlies at Thunder (Mon. April 28, TBD)*
• Game 6: Thunder at Grizzlies (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Grizzlies at Thunder (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
Series Odds (via DraftKings): OKC -1800, MEM +900
Player to Watch: No secret here: For Memphis to shock the world and knock off the Thunder, Ja Morant will have to shine. Despite his ankle injury, Ja’s float game was strong as Memphis put Mavericks fans out of their misery in their Play-In victory. It took two injections into his ankle for Morant to play on Friday night, so Memphis will have to weigh rest as an option, but even if Morant was at full strength, they face a tall task against an OKC team that has beaten them nine straight times.
(2) Houston vs. (7) Golden State
• Game 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
• Game 2: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 23, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Rockets at Warriors (Sat. April 26, 8:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 4: Rockets at Warriors (Mon. April 28, 10 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
• Game 6: Rockets at Warriors (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
Series Odds (via DraftKings): GSW -190, HOU +155
Player to Watch: It’s wild that the Warriors – who needed a close win over Memphis in the Play-In game to even make the playoffs – are heavy betting favorites over the No. 2-seeded Houston Rockets. Some of that is due to Houston’s lack of experience, but the biggest factor is “Playoff Jimmy” Butler. The Warriors have looked revitalized since trading for Butler, and the former Heat star has long proven himself to be an elite playoff weapon. The Warriors are one of the most experienced teams in the playoffs, and if they can get past the stingy defense of Rockets, the sky’s the limit.
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota
• Game 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
• Game 2: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85
• Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves (Fri. April 25, 9:30 ET, ESPN)
• Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves (Sun. April 27, 3:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
• Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*
Series Odds (via DraftKings): LAL -195, MIN +160
Player to Watch: It’s still surreal to write about Luka Doncic when referencing the Lakers, but here we are. Doncic basically carried the Mavericks all the way to the NBA Finals last year, but he does have a tendency to run hot and cold. With LeBron James crossing the rubicon of age 40, there’s a lot of pressure to win right now, so it will be fascinating to see how Luka handles the spotlight of Hollywood.
(4) Denver vs. (5) LA Clippers
• Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
• Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
• Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers (Thu. April 24, TBD, NBA TV)
• Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers (Sat. April 26, 6 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
Series Odds (via DraftKings): DEN -110, LAC -110
Player to Watch: As you can see from the odds above, Vegas sees this series as a coin flip, so we’ll single out one player on each team. For Denver, that player is Jamal Murray, who has been very up-and-down over the past 12 months. With Nikola Jokic reaching a new level of greatness and anxious ownership cleaning house right before the playoffs, Murray needs to recapture the playoff greatness he’s shown in the past. That pressure is nothing next to the gorilla that resides on the back of James Harden, one of the most befuddling playoff performers of all time. Harden’s playoff misfortunes risk permanently marring his Hall of Fame career, but with a healthy Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have been flashing the potential that’s long been just out of reach. This is the most fascinating matchup of a stacked first round.
Who Has the Best Odds to Win the NBA Finals?
According to DraftKings, the Oklahoma City Thunder have the best odds of winning the NBA Championship, at +165. They’re followed by the Boston Celtics (+190), Cleveland Cavaliers (+700), and Lakers (+1400). The Warriors (+1600), Clippers (+2500), Knicks (+2800) and Nuggets (+4000) are next, with the remaining field all +6500 or higher longshots.
What Channel Has the NBA Finals on DISH?
The NBA Finals will begin on June 5, and ABC will have exclusive coverage. Check your guide for the channel number of your local ABC affiliate.
