The 2024 NBA Playoffs are here, and there, a clear favorite has emerged in both the East and the West. The Denver Nuggets are the reigning NBA champions seeking back-to-back titles behind superstar center Nikola Jokic. THE Boston Celtics posted the most wins in the NBA (64) and by far its highest net rating (+11.7). Can anyone stop what seems like an inevitable 2024 NBA Finals strong test?
Four games of the 2024 NBA Playoffs are already scheduled. The play-in tournament will determine the final four teams that will advance to the playoffs. The playoffs will begin on April 20 and run through the start of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 6.
The No. 2 seed Nuggets will have the toughest road in the Western Conference, starting with a first-round series against the winner of the play-in tournament game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers. Denver’s biggest challenger in the West has been a topic of debate all season. I favor the #1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder despite their youth and lack of size on the interior. The Thunder have a true superstar guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and two phenomenal young co-stars in Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
The Celtics will begin the playoffs with a first-round series against the winner of the Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers game play. Boston finished with 14 more wins than the No. 2 seed New York Knicks in the East. After reloading with new additions Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis this offseason, it will be considered a huge upset if the Celtics don’t reach the NBA Finals.
We track the schedule and results of every game of the 2024 NBA Playoffs in this article. Here’s what you need to know.
2024 NBA Playoffs table
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The Best-of-7 series will be played throughout the 2024 NBA Playoffs until a champion is crowned.
2024 NBA Playoffs Games
Western Conference
No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 seed play-in tournament winner
No. 2 seed Denver Nuggets vs. winner of No. 7 seed New Orleans Pelicans/Los Angeles Lakers
Seed #3 Minnesota Timberwolves against the No. 6 seed Phoenix Suns
No. 4 seed Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks
Eastern Conference
No. 1 seed Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 seed play-in tournament winner
No. 2 seed New York Knicks vs. No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers/Miami Heat winner
Seed #3 Milwaukee Bucks against the Indiana Pacers, seeded No. 6
Seed #4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 seed Orlando Magic
2024 NBA playoffs schedule: first round
Saturday April 20
Game 1: Knicks vs. East No. 7, time/TV TBD
Game 1: Cavaliers vs. Magic, Time/TV TBD
Game 1: Nuggets vs. West No. 7, time/TV TBD
Game 1: Timberwolves vs. Suns, time/TV TBD
Sunday April 21
Game 1: Celtics vs. East No. 8, time/TV TBD
Game 1: Bucks vs. Pacers, time/TV TBD
Game 1: Thunder vs. West No. 8, time/TV TBD
Game 1: Clippers vs. Mavericks, time/TV TBD
2024 NBA Finals Schedule and Start Date
The 2024 NBA Finals will begin on June 6, with ABC as the exclusive broadcaster.
Thursday June 6: Game 1
Sunday June 9: Game 2
Wednesday June 12: Game 3
Friday June 14: Game 4
Monday June 17: Game 5 (if necessary)
Thursday June 20: Game 6 (if necessary)
Sunday June 23: Game 7 (if necessary)
