The first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs are underway and expect plenty of drama after a memorable regular season.
The Boston Celtics clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference in March and have homecourt advantage through the entire postseason as they look to return to the Finals for the first time since 2022 and hang an NBA championship banner for the first time since 2008. Among the series in the East to watch will be the No. 2 seed New York Knicks, who will clash against reigning MVP Joel Embiid and the No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers.
In the West, the defending champion Denver Nuggets are the 2-seed, behind the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets drew a high-profile matchup for the first round, taking on LeBron James and 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 face off in a best-of-7 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 better regular-season record in each series will have homecourt advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary).
We'll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2024 NBA Finals, which tip off on June 6 on ABC and the ESPN app.
MORE: Previewing all 16 playoff teams |
Offseason guides for every team
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Boston Celtics (1) lead Miami Heat (8), 1-0
Game 1: Celtics 114, Heat 94
Game 2: Wednesday at Boston, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Saturday, April 27 at Miami, 6 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Monday, April 29 at Miami
Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 1 at Boston
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 3 at Miami
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 5 at Boston
Jayson Tatum finishes with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Celtics defeat the Heat 114-94 in Game 1.
Jayson Tatum sparks Celtics to win over Heat, downplays fall
Sources: Heat's Butler (knee) expected to miss several weeks
Celtics set NBA record with 0 FT in reg. season loss to Bucks
New York Knicks (2) lead Philadelphia 76ers (7), 1-0
Game 1: Knicks 111, 76ers 104
Game 2: Knicks 104, 76ers 101
Game 3: Thursday at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, April 30 at New York
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, May 2 at Philadelphia
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 at New York (TNT)
Tyrese Maxey drives into the lane for a potential game-winner, but Isaiah Hartenstein comes up with a crucial block to keep the Knicks ahead.
Milwaukee Bucks (3) lead Indiana Pacers (6), 1-0
Game 1: Bucks 109, Pacers 94
Game 2: Tuesday at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 3: Friday at Indiana, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 at Indiana, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, April 30 at Milwaukee
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, May 2 at Indiana
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 at Milwaukee (TNT)
Damian Lillard drops 35 points to help lead the Bucks to a 109-94 Game 1 win over the Pacers.
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) lead Orlando Magic (5), 1-0
Game 1: Cavaliers 97, Magic 83
Game 2: Cavaliers 96, Magic, 86
Game 3: Thursday at Orlando, 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 4: Saturday April 27 at Orlando, 1 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, April 30 at Cleveland
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 3 at Orlando
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 5 at Cleveland
Donovan Mitchell drops 23 points in the Cavaliers' Game 2 win over the Magic on Monday night.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) lead New Orleans Pelicans (8), 1-0
Game 1: Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
Game 2: Wednesday at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Saturday, April 27 at New Orleans, 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Monday, April 29 at New Orleans
Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 1 at Oklahoma City
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 3 at New Orleans
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 5 at Oklahoma City
CJ McCollum's potential game-winning buzzer-beater rattles out as the Thunder take Game 1.
Denver Nuggets (2) lead Los Angeles Lakers (7), 1-0
Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
Game 3: Thursday at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Saturday, April 27 at Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): Monday, April 29 at Denver
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, May 2 at Los Angeles
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 at Denver (TNT)
Jamal Murray hits a step-back jumper over Anthony Davis as time expires to give the Nuggets a 2-0 series lead over the Lakers.
Minnesota Timberwolves (3) lead Phoenix Suns (6), 1-0
Game 1: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
Game 2: Tuesday at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Friday at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 at Phoenix, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, April 30 at Minnesota
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, May 2 at Phoenix
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 at Minnesota
Anthony Edwards fuels the Timberwolves with 33 points as they take Game 1 from the Suns.
LA Clippers (4) lead Dallas Mavericks (5), 1-0
Game 1: Clippers 109, Mavericks 97
Game 2: Tuesday at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Friday at Dallas, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 at Dallas, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 1 at Los Angeles
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 3 at Dallas
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 5 at Los Angeles
James Harden drops 28 points, including six 3-pointers, as the Clippers beat the Mavericks by double digits.