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) tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers (4), 1-1
Game 1: Celtics 120, Cavaliers 95
Game 2: Cavaliers 118, Celtics 94
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: 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
Donovan Mitchell racks up 29 points to power the Cavaliers past the Celtics and even the series at 1-1.
Cavs ride Mitchell's 29 to Game 2 win over Celtics to tie series
Sources: Celtics assistant Charles Lee to become Hornets coach
Derrick White continues heater as Celtics burn Cavs in Game 1
Herring: One strength (and a flaw) for the Celtics, other playoff teams
New York Knicks (2) lead the Indiana Pacers (6), 2-1
Game 1: Knicks 121, Pacers 117
Game 2: Knicks 130, Pacers 121
Game 3: Pacers 111, Knicks 106
Game 4: Sunday, May 12 at Indiana (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5: 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
Tyrese Haliburton's 35-point effort helps the Pacers outlast the Knicks in a thrilling Game 3 win.
Source: Pacers file complaint to NBA over 78 calls, non-calls
Herring: How Jalen Brunson's ruthless old-man game is driving the Knicks
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) tied with the Dallas Mavericks (5), 1-1
Game 1: Thunder 117, Mavericks 95
Game 2: Mavericks 119, Thunder 110
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: 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)
Luka Doncic and P.J. Washington combine for 58 points as the Mavericks hand the Thunder their first playoff loss of the year.
Luka Doncic bounces back to help Mavs even series with Thunder
MacMahon: Two under-the-radar trades turned the Mavs into a real threat
Pelton: Why OKC's championship window is wide open for years to come
Minnesota Timberwolves (3) lead the 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
Check out the numbers behind Nikola Jokic's NBA MVP season for the Denver Nuggets.