Watching your team in the playoffs is a thrilling experience, but it can get pricey. Tickets alone could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. And if you have to travel to the game, get a hotel nearby and pay for food, drinks and other expenses, you could be looking at an expensive day. But setting a budget, planning ahead or looking into short-term financing options could make this dream a reality.
How much are 2025 NBA playoff tickets?
Playoff tickets vary widely depending on who’s playing, what round it’s in and if it’s a make-or-break game. The cost also depends largely on where you sit. The cheapest seats are in the nosebleed section (hint: if you’re near the roof, you’re there!), and the most expensive are courtside. But there are a number of pricing tiers in between, with options for almost any budget.
Here are approximate prices you might expect to find for this year’s NBA playoffs. Keep in mind that you’ll pay significantly more to see home games from storied franchises such as the Celtics, Lakers and Knicks, to name a few.
| First round | $50 to $400 | $600 to $3,000+ | Prices vary by market and matchup. |
| Conference semi-finals | $150 to $600 | $1,500 to $5,000+ | Increased demand as stakes rise. |
| Conference finals | $170 to $1,100 | $2,000 to $19,000+ | High-profile games drive prices up. |
| NBA finals | $1,100 to $4,000 | $5,000 to $23,000+ | Premium prices for championship games. |
2025 NBA playoffs schedule
It’s been an exciting playoff season so far, with the Lakers and Houston both getting knocked out in the first round and the Knicks winning an upset over Boston in the conference semifinals. Now, Oklahoma City takes on Minnesota in the West, while the Knicks battle it out with Indiana in the East to see who goes to the finals.
| Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies | Oklahoma City 4-0 |
| Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors | Golden State 4-3 |
| Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | Minnesota 4-1 |
| Denver vs. Los Angeles Clippers | Denver 4-3 |
| Round One — East | Winner |
| Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat | Cleveland 4-0 |
| Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic | Boston 4-1 |
| New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons | New York 4-2 |
| Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks | Indiana 4-1 |
| Conference Semifinals — West | Winner |
| Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets | Oklahoma City 4-3 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors | Minnesota 4-1 |
| Conference Semifinals — East | Winner |
| Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers | Indiana 4-1 |
| Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks | New York 4-2 |
| Conference Finals — West | Upcoming games/wins |
| Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves @Oklahoma City | Game 1: Oklahoma City 114-88 |
| @Oklahoma City | Game 2: Thursday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET |
| @Minnesota | Game 3: Saturday, May 24, 8:30 p.m. ET |
| @Minnesota | Game 4: Monday, May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET |
| @Oklahoma City | Game 5 (if needed): Wednesday, May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET |
| @Minnesota | Game 6 (if needed): Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET |
| @Oklahoma City | Game 7 (if needed): Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET |
| Conference Finals — East | Upcoming games/wins |
| New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers @New York |
Game 1: Indiana 138-135 |
| @New York | Game 2: Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. ET |
| @Indiana | Game 3: Sunday, May 25, 8 p.m. ET |
| @Indiana | Game 4: Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET |
| @New York | Game 5 (if needed): Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET |
| @Indiana | Game 6 (if needed): Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET |
| @New York | Game 7: (if needed): Monday, June 2, 8 p.m. ET |
| Finals | |
| Teams TBA | Game 1: Thursday, June 5, 8 p.m. ET |
Historic NBA finals average ticket prices (secondary market)
It’s too early to tell what the average ticket price will be for the 2025 finals, but a lot depends on who’s playing. If New York makes it to the finals, for instance, expect to pay more than if Indiana moves up. Here’s a sampling of average prices for the past few years of the NBA Finals.
- 2024 NBA Finals average ticket price: $4,150 (Boston vs. Dallas)
- 2023 NBA Finals average ticket price: $2,349 (Denver vs. Miami)
- 2022 NBA Finals average ticket price: $3,657 (Boston vs. Golden State)
- 2021 NBA Finals average ticket price: $2,747 (Milwaukee vs. Phoenix)
- 2019 NBA Finals average ticket price: $3,899 (Toronto vs. Golden State)
There’s no average for 2020 because, due to Covid, basketball was cut short before the end of the regular season.
NBA playoff ticket financing options
If you don’t have the extra cash to pay for the game — and you don’t want to rack up credit card debt — consider these options to finance your trip.
- Buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps. Most ticketing sites let you use BNPL apps, like Affirm or PayPal, to buy tickets, and you typically won’t incur interest charges if you pay it off in four installments. Or you could use a travel app like Uplift to pay for plane tickets over time.
- Personal loans. A small personal loan could help you finance your gameday plans. But if you don’t qualify for a competitive rate or think you’ll have trouble making payments, it may not be worth it.
- Cash advance apps. You can typically borrow up to $500, sometimes $750, with a cash advance app, which could be enough to cover your expenses for a home playoff game or some of the extras you want. But watch out for fees, and don’t borrow more than you can afford.
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Additional costs to consider
Paying for tickets isn’t the only cost you’ll need to budget for if you plan to hit some playoff games this year. Here’s a look at some other expenses to keep in mind as you plan for the postseason.
Travel
Whether you’re driving, flying or taking public transportation to get to the game, you’ll need to factor gas, tickets or other travel expenses into your budget. Domestic flights in the US, for example, are around $400, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But the actual cost depends on where you’re flying to and from, the days you’re traveling and other variables.
If you’re planning on flying to see a game, book your tickets as early as possible to save on airfare.
Accommodations
If you’re traveling to an away game, you’ll need a place to stay. Hotel rooms average around $158 a night, according to J.D. Power, but you can expect to pay more when big events are going on in the area. Or consider splitting the cost of a home rental from Airbnb or VRBO if you’re going with friends.
Parking
Parking at NBA arenas typically costs anywhere between $10 and $40, although you could see those prices jacked up during the playoffs. You can likely find cheaper parking further away from the venue, or use public transportation to avoid parking altogether.
Concessions
You could pay close to $20 for a beer at an NBA playoff game, or as much as $10 for a hot dog. If you’re on a tight budget, you might want to make sure you eat before you go.
Merchandise
Just like food and drinks, team apparel and souvenirs are inflated at games. But if you really want to buy something at the game to get the full experience, go for it. Or, you could consider using a cash advance app to fund your extra spending money, without it being due until your next payday.
Otherwise, you can get pretty much all the same stuff online afterward — at more reasonable prices — if you don’t want to blow your budget on an overpriced team jersey.
Smart tips to cut NBA playoff costs
Here are a few ways to limit your spending while still enjoying a playoff game or two.
- Get your tickets early. Last-minute tickets could cost more, and you’ll have fewer seating options.
- Attend mid-week games. Travel and hotel costs are typically less expensive on weekdays.
- Drive instead of flying. Road tripping with friends to see your team might be more fun than flying, and you can split the cost of gas, food and other travel expenses.
- Use travel rewards. If you’ve stacked up travel points on your credit card, you could put those toward flights, hotels or rental cars to avoid some out-of-pocket costs.
- Avoid concessions and merch. Eating before or after the game and passing on the souvenirs can save you a ton.
3 NBA playoff fan budget scenarios
There are playoff plans for any budget. Here’s a look at low, mid and high budget scenarios for experiencing the game to give you an idea of what you may need to plan for or finance.
Case study 1: Ballin’ on a budget
Maybe you’re a budget fan. You’re just looking to be in the building, feel the energy and cheer your team on without breaking the bank. You stick to local games, skip the hotel and grab the cheapest ticket you can find.
Breakdown:
- Upper-level playoff ticket (early round): $75
- Public transit or rideshare: $25
- Eat before or after the game: $0
- No merch: $0
- No hotel: $0
- No parking: $0
Total cost: ~$100
Case study 2: Midrange fan
So, you’re a midrange fan. You want a solid view of the action and a memorable experience, but you don’t want to splurge too much. You’re open to traveling, sharing costs with a friend, staying overnight and maybe grabbing a souvenir or drink while you’re there.
Breakdown:
- Mid-level seat: $300
- Round-trip flight: $400
- Split a hotel for one night: $80
- Transit, rideshare or parking: $40
- Concessions: $40
- Modest merch: $60
Total cost: ~$920 per person
Case study 3: Luxury fan
You’re the kind of fan who’s willing to go all out. NBA finals front row seats, luxury travel, top-tier hotel and you’re grabbing merch and premium food like it’s part of the show. You want bragging rights.
Breakdown:
- Courtside NBA finals ticket: $12,000
- First-class flight: $1,200
- Luxury hotel (2 nights): $900
- Concessions and drinks: $150
- Full merch package: $300
- Premium parking: $100
Total cost: ~$14,650
Ways to budget and plan for your playoff experience
Planning ahead and setting a budget you can stick to are two ways to help you control costs while still enjoying the game.
- Book early. Flight and hotel prices get more expensive as you get closer to the date. Making reservations as early as possible can help ensure you score better rates.
- Create a playoff budget. Setting a budget is a good way to avoid overspending. Be sure to factor in the cost of playoff tickets, travel, accommodations, public transportation, food, parking or other expenses. Consider using a budgeting app to help keep you on track.
- Save up. Open a high-yield savings account dedicated to saving money for the playoffs. You can also use the same account to save for other fun things you have planned, such as summer music festivals.
Bottom line
Going to the NBA playoffs can get expensive — tickets alone can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Plus, you’ll need to factor in other costs such as travel, transportation, parking or other expenses. But if you plan ahead, stick to a budget and find creative ways to manage the costs, you can still have a great game day experience without going broke.
Frequently asked questions
What are the refund policies if a game is canceled or rescheduled?
If a playoff game is canceled because it’s not needed, you’ll be refunded for what you paid for the ticket. If it’s rescheduled, you’ll receive a new ticket for that game. Or, if you can’t make it, your money is refunded.
How can I verify the authenticity of resale tickets?
If you buy your resale tickets through reputable sites — like Ticketmaster, StubHub or SeatGeek — your tickets are guaranteed to be authentic. But if they’re not, you’ll get a full refund.
Can I get NBA playoff tickets for cheap?
Maybe. If you wait until gameday — and there are still seats available — you might be able to get a steal on tickets because the arena is trying to sell out.
