Cleveland Cavaliers- ESPN

ESPN

May 9, 2024, 02:17 AM ET

The NBA playoffs' conference semifinals are underway. Expect plenty of drama after a thrilling start to the postseason.

The Boston Celtics, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and top overall seed, battle the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers. In the other East series, the No. 2 seed New York Knicks renew their old rivalry with the No. 6 seed Indiana Pacers.

In the West, the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder take on the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks. The other West clash pits the No. 2 seed and defending NBA Finals champion Denver Nuggets against the No. 3 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.

The four teams from each conference 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 home court 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: First-round news and scores | Offseason guides

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Boston Celtics (1) lead Cleveland Cavaliers (4), 1-0

Game 1: Celtics 120, Cavaliers 95
Game 2: Thursday, May 9 at Boston (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 3: Saturday, May 11 at Cleveland (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4: Monday, May 13 at Cleveland (7:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 15 at Boston (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 17 at Cleveland (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 19 at Boston

Jaylen Brown posterizes Isaac Okoro with two-handed jam

Jaylen Brown throws down a vicious slam over Isaac Okoro in the third quarter.

New York Knicks (2) lead Indiana Pacers (6), 2-0

Game 1: Knicks 121, Pacers 117
Game 2: Knicks 130, Pacers 121
Game 3: Friday, May 10 at Indiana (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, May 12 at Indiana (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, May 14 at New York (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 17 at Indiana (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 19 at New York

Knicks battle through injuries to beat Pacers, take 2-0 series lead

Despite Jalen Brunson getting shaken up early and OG Anunoby leaving with an injury, the Knicks surge in the second half to defeat the Pacers in Game 2.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) leads Dallas Mavericks (5), 1-0

Game 1: Thunder 117, Mavericks 95
Game 2: Thursday, May 9 at Oklahoma City (ESPN)
Game 3: Saturday, May 11 at Dallas (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4: Monday, May 13 at Dallas (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 15 at Oklahoma City (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Saturday, May 18 at Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, May 20 at Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

Chet Holmgren is fired up after a two-handed flush

Chet Holmgren gets the crowd going with a two-handed dunk.

Minnesota Timberwolves (3) lead Denver Nuggets (2), 2-0

Game 1: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 99
Game 2: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 80
Game 3: Friday, May 10 at Minnesota (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, May 12 at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, May 14 at Denver (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, May 16 at Minnesota (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 19 at Denver

The numbers behind Nikola Jokic's 3rd NBA MVP in last 4 seasons

Check out the numbers behind Nikola Jokic's NBA MVP season for the Denver Nuggets.