NBA: Summer Series | 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google | Second Round (Conference Semifinals) Television Schedule & Commentators

The logo used for the 2025 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, will begin on Saturday, September 27, on the ESPN family of networks, including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, and ESPN+. (📸 Photo courtesy of Ticketmaster Blog)

| ● Sunday, October 5, 2025

Highlights for the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Second Round Television Schedule & Commentators include:

• The Conference Semifinals begin on Monday, October 13, with an ESPN doubleheader — Knicks vs. Celtics (Game 1) at 7:00 PM ET and Clippers vs. Timberwolves (Game 1) at 9:30 PM ET.

• The other two Conference Semifinal series — Pacers vs. Cavaliers and Lakers vs. Thunder — will open on Tuesday, October 14.

• The two East Semifinal series, New York vs. Boston and Indiana vs. Cleveland, are rematches from last year's Eastern Conference Semifinals.

• The ESPN family of networks will have exclusive coverage during the Conference Semifinal series.

• Jayson Tatum and the defending NBA Summer Series champion Boston Celtics (No. 2 seed) resume their mission to repeat as champions against Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks (No. 3 seed).

• Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers (No. 7 seed) have a score to settle in this semifinal matchup against Naz Reid and the Minnesota Timberwolves (No. 6 seed). The Timberwolves essentially knocked the Clippers out of the top 6 in the West and relegated them to a play-in tournament berth instead.

Only eight teams remain in the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google. Following the Lakers' victory over the Rockets on Sunday afternoon (October 12), the matchups for the Conference Semifinal round are now finalized.

In the Eastern Conference, Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers (No. 1 seed) will face Myles Turner and the Indiana Pacers (No. 4 seed) in one semifinal series. Meanwhile, Derrick White and the defending champion Boston Celtics (No. 2 seed) will take on Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks (No. 3 seed) in another Eastern Conference semifinal matchup.

In the Western Conference, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder will compete against LeBron James and the No. 5 seed Los Angeles Lakers in one of the Conference Semifinals. In the other Western Conference Semifinal, a unique clash of lower seeds will see James Harden and the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Clippers tangle with Anthony Edwards and the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Cavaliers are in the Conference Semifinals for the third consecutive year (lost in this round in 2023 & '24). The Pacers make their second straight appearance in the second round. For the fourth year in a row, the Celtics qualify for the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Knicks participate in their third straight Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Thunder return to the second round for the second straight season. The Lakers are in the Conference Semifinal round for the first time since 2023. Following a three-year absence, the Clippers advance to the Second Round for the first time since 2021. The Timberwolves make their second visit to Round 2 in two years.

On Monday, October 13, ESPN will have a doubleheader of game action as the Conference Semifinals begin. First up, Deuce McBride and the New York Knicks (No. 3 seed) challenge Jayson Tatum and the defending NBA: Summer Series champion Boston Celtics (No. 2 seed) in Game 1 of their second round series at 7:00 PM (ET) on ESPN, featuring Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), two-time WNBA champion Renee Montgomery (analyst), NBA veteran CJ McCollum (analyst), & Allie LaForce (reporter) on the call. Later at 9:30 PM (ET), Norman Powell and the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Clippers head to Minneapolis for Game #1 of their second round matchup with Anthony Edwards and the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves, as Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Hall of Famer Grant Hill (analyst), & Larissa Lomax (reporter) provide commentary.

ESPN surrounds Monday's doubleheader with studio programming. NBA Countdown presented by Target signs on the air at 6:00 PM (ET), previewing the Monday double dip. Veteran host Ernie Johnson Jr. helms the studio presentation alongside a cast of legendary NBA personalities, including Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal, and two-time NBA champion Kenny "The Jet" Smith. Insider Stephanie Ready provides news and updates from around the Association. After the Clippers vs. Timberwolves game at 12:00 AM (ET), Johnson Jr., Barkley, O'Neal, Smith, and Ready return to wrap up the day's playoff action.

ESPN will continue its coverage of the Conference Semifinals on Tuesday, October 14, as the other two series are set to begin. At 7:00 PM (ET), Bennedict Mathurin and the Indiana Pacers (No. 4 seed) face a division foe, Darius Garland and the Cleveland Cavaliers (No. 1 seed) to open up Conference Semifinal play, with play-by-play announcer Sedric Granger, analyst and 12x All-Star Chris Paul, analyst and three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker, and reporter Jared Greenberg. In the 9:30 PM (ET) nightcap, Luka Dončić and the No. 5 seed Los Angeles Lakers travel to Oklahoma City for a Western Conference Semifinal Game 1 duel against Jalen Williams and the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, called by Beth Mowins, four-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala, three-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart, and sideline reporter Miles Thornton.

ESPN surrounds Tuesday's doubleheader with studio programming. NBA Countdown presented by Target signs on the air at 6:00 PM (ET), previewing the Tuesday double dip. Veteran host Ernie Johnson Jr. helms the studio presentation alongside a cast of legendary NBA personalities, including Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal, and two-time NBA champion Kenny "The Jet" Smith. Insider Stephanie Ready provides news and updates from around the Association. After the Lakers vs. Thunder game at 12:00 AM (ET), Johnson Jr., Barkley, O'Neal, Smith, and Ready return to wrap up the day's playoff action.

Following Game 1 of the Lakers-Thunder series on Tuesday, live coverage of the Conference Semifinals continues through at least Monday, October 20. If additional games are needed beyond the four-game minimum, extra Conference Semifinal games will be scheduled between Tuesday, October 21, and Monday, October 27.

In late September, the 2025 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament took place to decide the last two playoff teams from each conference. For more information on that, please click the link provided in this sentence.

We recently completed the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. If you want to learn more about the Opening Round and the eight teams that advanced to the second round, please click the link provided in this sentence.

The following is the series-by-series breakdown and the daily television schedule for the Second Round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google. (Subject to Change)

• NBA: Summer Series | 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google | Conference Semifinals (Second Round) — Series-By-Series Breakdown (conference) (Subject to Change)

|| Eastern Conference:

| ❏ (E4) Indiana Pacers vs. (E1) Cleveland Cavaliers — Indiana wins series, 4-3 (Series begins on Tuesday, October 14):

- vs. -

. Game 1 - Tuesday, October 14 - Pacers at Cavaliers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sedric Granger, Chris Paul, Candace Parker, Jared Greenberg

. Game 2 - Thursday, October 16 - Pacers at Cavaliers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Mike Breen, King McClure, Andraya Carter, Susan Reutter

. Game 3 - Saturday, October 18 - Cavaliers at Pacers - ABC, 3:30 PM (ET) - Mike Breen, King McClure, Andraya Carter, Susan Reutter

. Game 4 - Monday, October 20 - Cavaliers at Pacers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sedric Granger, Chris Paul, Candace Parker, Jared Greenberg

. Game 5 - Wednesday, October 22 - Pacers at Cavaliers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sedric Granger, Chris Paul, Candace Parker, Jared Greenberg

. Game 6 - Friday, October 24 - Cavaliers at Pacers - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - Kate Scott, Diana Taurasi, Jorge Sedano

. Game 7 - Monday, October 27 - Pacers at Cavaliers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sedric Granger, Chris Paul, Candace Parker, Jared Greenberg

| ❏ (E3) New York Knicks vs. (E2) Boston Celtics — New York wins series, 4-2 (Series begins on Monday, October 13):

- vs. -

. Game 1 - Monday, October 13 - Knicks at Celtics - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Kevin Harlan, CJ McCollum, Renee Montgomery, Allie LaForce

. Game 2 - Wednesday, October 15 - Knicks at Celtics - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Kevin Harlan, CJ McCollum, Renee Montgomery, Allie LaForce

. Game 3 - Friday, October 17 - Celtics at Knicks - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Doris Burke, Michelle Kuc

. Game 4 - Sunday, October 19 - Celtics at Knicks - ABC, 3:30 PM (ET) - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Doris Burke, Michelle Kuc

. Game 5 - Tuesday, October 21 - Knicks at Celtics - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Kevin Harlan, CJ McCollum, Renee Montgomery, Allie LaForce

. Game 6 - Thursday, October 23 - Celtics at Knicks - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - David Moskowitz, Jermaine Samuels Jr., Robbie Hummel, Lisa Salters

. * Game 7 (if nec.) - Sunday, October 26 - Knicks at Celtics - TBD

|| Western Conference:

| ❏ (W5) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (W1) Oklahoma City Thunder — Oklahoma City wins series, 4-3 (Series begins on Tuesday, October 14):

- vs. -

. Game 1 - Tuesday, October 14 - Lakers at Thunder - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Beth Mowins, Andre Iguodala, Breanna Stewart, Miles Thornton

. Game 2 - Thursday, October 16 - Lakers at Thunder - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - David Moskowitz, Jermaine Samuels Jr., Robbie Hummel, Lisa Salters

. Game 3 - Saturday, October 18 - Thunder at Lakers - ABC, 8:30 PM (ET) - David Moskowitz, Jermaine Samuels Jr., Robbie Hummel, Lisa Salters

. Game 4 - Monday, October 20 - Thunder at Lakers - ESPN, 10:30 PM (ET) - Beth Mowins, Andre Iguodala, Breanna Stewart, Miles Thornton

. Game 5 - Wednesday, October 22 - Lakers  at Thunder - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Beth Mowins, Andre Iguodala, Breanna Stewart, Miles Thornton

. Game 6 - Friday, October 24 - Thunder at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Doris Burke, Michelle Kuc

. Game 7 - Sunday, October 26 - Lakers at Thunder - ABC, 3:30 PM (ET) - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Doris Burke, Michelle Kuc

| ❏ (W7) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (W6) Minnesota Timberwolves — Minnesota wins series, 4-3 (Series begins on Monday, October 13):

- vs. -

. Game 1 - Monday, October 13 - Clippers at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Brian Anderson, Grant Hill, Larissa Lomax

. Game 2 - Wednesday, October 15 - Clippers at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Brian Anderson, Grant Hill, Larissa Lomax

. Game 3 - Friday, October 17 - Timberwolves at Clippers - ESPN, 10:30 PM (ET) - Kate Scott, Diana Taurasi, Jorge Sedano

. Game 4 - Sunday, October 19 - Timberwolves at Clippers - ESPN2, 8:00 PM (ET) - Brian Anderson, Grant Hill, Larissa Lomax

. Game 5 - Tuesday, October 21 - Clippers at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Brian Anderson, Grant Hill, Larissa Lomax

. Game 6 - Thursday, October 23 - Timberwolves at Clippers - ESPN, 10:30 PM (ET) - Mike Breen, King McClure, Andraya Carter, Susan Reutter

. Game 7 - Sunday, October 26 - Clippers at Timberwolves - ABC, 3:30 PM (ET) - Brian Anderson, Grant Hill, Larissa Lomax

• NBA: Summer Series | 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google | Conference Semifinals (Second Round) — Daily Television Schedule (All Times ET and Subject to Change):

| ■ Monday, October 13:

. Game 1 - Knicks at Celtics - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Kevin Harlan, CJ McCollum, Renee Montgomery, Allie LaForce

. Game 1 - Clippers at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Brian Anderson, Grant Hill, Larissa Lomax

| ■ Tuesday, October 14:

. Game 1 - Pacers at Cavaliers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sedric Granger, Chris Paul, Candace Parker, Jared Greenberg

. Game 1 - Lakers at Thunder - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Beth Mowins, Andre Iguodala, Breanna Stewart, Miles Thornton

| ■ Wednesday, October 15:

. Game 2 - Knicks at Celtics - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Kevin Harlan, CJ McCollum, Renee Montgomery, Allie LaForce

. Game 2 - Clippers at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Brian Anderson, Grant Hill, Larissa Lomax

| ■ Thursday, October 16:

. Game 2 - Pacers at Cavaliers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Mike Breen, King McClure, Andraya Carter, Susan Reutter

. Game 2 - Lakers at Thunder - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - David Moskowitz, Jermaine Samuels Jr., Robbie Hummel, Lisa Salters

| ■ Friday, October 17:

. Game 3 - Celtics at Knicks - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Doris Burke, Michelle Kuc

. Game 3 - Timberwolves at Clippers - ESPN, 10:30 PM (ET) - Kate Scott, Diana Taurasi, Jorge Sedano

| ■ Saturday, October 18:

. Game 3 - Cavaliers at Pacers - ABC, 3:30 PM (ET) - Mike Breen, King McClure, Andraya Carter, Susan Reutter

. Game 3 - Thunder at Lakers - ABC, 8:30 PM (ET) - David Moskowitz, Jermaine Samuels Jr., Robbie Hummel, Lisa Salters

| ■ Sunday, October 19:

. Game 4 - Celtics at Knicks - ABC, 3:30 PM (ET) - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Doris Burke, Michelle Kuc

. Game 4 - Timberwolves at Clippers - ESPN2, 8:00 PM (ET) - Brian Anderson, Grant Hill, Larissa Lomax

| ■ Monday, October 20:

. Game 4 - Cavaliers at Pacers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sedric Granger, Chris Paul, Candace Parker, Jared Greenberg

. Game 4 - Thunder at Lakers - ESPN, 10:30 PM (ET) - Beth Mowins, Andre Iguodala, Breanna Stewart, Miles Thornton

| ■ Tuesday, October 21:

. Game 5 - Knicks at Celtics - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Kevin Harlan, CJ McCollum, Renee Montgomery, Allie LaForce

. Game 5 - Clippers at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Brian Anderson, Grant Hill, Larissa Lomax

| ■ Wednesday, October 22:

. Game 5 - Pacers at Cavaliers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sedric Granger, Chris Paul, Candace Parker, Jared Greenberg

. Game 5 - Lakers at Thunder - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Beth Mowins, Andre Iguodala, Breanna Stewart, Miles Thornton

| ■ Thursday, October 23:

. Game 6 - Celtics at Knicks - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - David Moskowitz, Jermaine Samuels Jr., Robbie Hummel, Lisa Salters

. Game 6 - Timberwolves at Clippers - ESPN, 10:30 PM (ET) - Mike Breen, King McClure, Andraya Carter, Susan Reutter

| ■ Friday, October 24:

. Game 6 - Cavaliers at Pacers - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - Kate Scott, Diana Taurasi, Jorge Sedano

. Game 6 - Thunder at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Doris Burke, Michelle Kuc

| ■ Sunday, October 26:

. Game 7 - Lakers at Thunder - ABC, 3:30 PM (ET) - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Doris Burke, Michelle Kuc

. Game 7 - Clippers at Timberwolves - ESPN2, 8:00 PM (ET) - Brian Anderson, Grant Hill, Larissa Lomax

| ■ Monday, October 27:

. Game 7 - Pacers at Cavaliers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sedric Granger, Chris Paul, Candace Parker, Jared Greenberg

|| Sources 🛈: SportsLogos.Net, NBA: Summer Series Weekly Media Press Releases Center, 2025 NBA Summer Series on ABC and ESPN Schedule, 2025 NBA: Summer Series Official Game Schedule, NBA: Summer Series | Playoff Information (Qualifications, Brackets, Index), & 2025 NBA Summer Series Postseason Scoreboard ||

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