The first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs is underway and expects plenty of drama after a memorable regular season.
THE Boston Celtics clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference in March and have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs as they look to return to the Finals for the first time since 2022 and hang a championship banner NBA for the first time since 2008. Among the series in the East, the No. 2 seed will be one to watch New York Knickswho will face the reigning MVP Joel Embiid and the No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers.
In the West, the reigning champion Denver Nuggets are seed 2, behind seed Oklahoma City Thunderwho is making the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets tied for the first round, facing LeBron James and the the Los Angeles Lakers.
After the play-in tournament, the 16-team NBA playoffs began with four games on April 20 and four more on April 21. Eight teams from each conference reach the first round and compete in a best-of-seven series to advance. All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-7 and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the best regular season record in each series will have home-field advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the best record hosting games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary).
We’ll have full coverage of the NBA Playoffs throughout the 2024 NBA Finals, which begin June 6 on ABC and the ESPN app.
MORE: Previewing the 16 playoff teams |
Offseason guides for every team
EAST CONFERENCE
Game 1: Celtics 114, Heat 94
Game 2: Heat 111, Celtics 101
Game 3: Saturday, April 27 in Miami, 6 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Monday April 29 in Miami
Game 5: Wednesday, May 1 in Boston, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday May 3 in Miami
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday May 5 in Boston
2:22
Heat Makes It Rain With Playoff-Record 23 3s In Game 2 Win
The Heat torched the Celtics from beyond the arc, hitting 23 treys in a road victory to even the series.
Game 1: Knicks 111, 76ers 104
Game 2: Knicks 104, 76ers 101
Game 3: 76ers 125, Knicks 114
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 in Philadelphia, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5: Tuesday April 30 in New York
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, May 2 in Philadelphia
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday May 4 in New York (TNT)
2:33
76ers dominate Knicks in Game 3 as Embiid drops 50
Joel Embiid leads the 76ers to a 125-114 victory over the Knicks in Game 3 to cut the series deficit to 2-1.
Game 1: Bucks 109, Pacers 94
Game 2: Pacers 125, Bucks 108
Game 3: Friday at Indiana, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 in Indiana, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5: Tuesday April 30 in Milwaukee
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday May 2 in Indiana
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 in Milwaukee (TNT)
0:20
Haliburton rocks the Pacers bench after Trey
Tyrese Haliburton connects from distance and adds to the Pacers’ lead to the delight of his teammates on the bench.
Game 1: Horsemen 97, Magic 83
Game 2: Horsemen 96, Magic, 86
Game 3: Magic 121, Riders 83
Game 4: Saturday, April 27 in Orlando, 1 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5: Tuesday April 30 in Cleveland
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday May 3 in Orlando
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday May 5 in Cleveland
2:03
Suggs, Banchero lead Magic’s 38-point outburst against Cavs in Game 3
Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs combine for 55 points to lead the Magic to a 121-83 victory in Game 3.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Game 1: Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
Game 2: Thunder 124, Pelicans 92
Game 3: Saturday, April 27 in New Orleans, 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Monday April 29 in New Orleans
Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 1 in Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday May 3 in New Orleans
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 5 in Oklahoma City
1:27
Thunder routs Pelicans in Game 2 behind SGA’s 33-point effort
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 33 points to propel the Thunder to a huge win over the Pelicans and a 2-0 series lead.
Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
Game 3: Nuggets 112, Lakers 105
Game 4: Saturday, April 27 in Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): Monday April 29 in Denver
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday May 2 in Los Angeles
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 in Denver (TNT)
2h10
Nuggets take 3-0 lead after 11th straight win over Lakers
Nikola Jokic drops 24 points as the Nuggets extend their series lead to 3-0 against the Lakers.
Game 1: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
Game 2: Timberwolves 105, Suns 93
Game 3: Friday at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 in Phoenix, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday April 30 in Minnesota
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday May 2 in Phoenix
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday May 4 in Minnesota
1:00 p.m.
The Timberwolves open the game with an 11-0 run in the 4th quarter
The Timberwolves score 11 straight points in the fourth quarter to take control of Game 2 against the Suns.
Game 1: Clippers 109, Mavericks 97
Game 2: Mavericks 96, Clippers 93
Game 3: Friday at Dallas, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 in Dallas, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5: Wednesday, May 1 in Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday May 3 in Dallas
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday May 5 in Los Angeles
0:27
The penny behind Kyrie’s back finds Washington for a 3
Kyrie Irving bounces a pass behind his back to PJ Washington, who knocks down a trey from the corner.
