The first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs begins this Saturday 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 will begin with four games on Saturday and four more on Sunday. Eight teams from each conference will 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: Play-in tournament coverage | Previewing all 20 postseason teams | What eliminated teams need to do this summer?
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Boston Celtics (1) vs. Miami Heat (8)
Game 1: Sunday at Boston, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: Wednesday April 24 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
'Inspiring' Bam, Heat handle Bulls, ready for 'dogfight' with Celtics
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) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7)
Game 1: at New York (6 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 2: at New York, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Thursday April 25 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)
Milwaukee Bucks (3) vs. Indiana Pacers (6)
Game 1: Sunday at Milwaukee, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: Tuesday at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 3: Friday April 26 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)
Bucks' Lillard practices fully, Giannis remains out of live drills
Sources: Bucks preparing to be without Giannis to start playoffs
Game balls, Dame Time taunts and the budding Bucks-Pacers beef
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Orlando Magic (5)
Game 1: Saturday at Cleveland, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Monday at Cleveland, 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 3: Thursday April 25 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
Magic win on season's final day to set up first-round series with Cavs
Cavs' LeVert maintains resilience after cancer surgery in 2021
How a 5-20 slump turned the Magic into one of the NBA's best surprises
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (8)
Game 1: Sunday at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: Wednesday April 24 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
Denver Nuggets (2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7)
Game 1: Saturday at Denver, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: Monday at Denver, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Thursday April 25 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)
Minnesota Timberwolves (3) vs. Phoenix Suns (6)
Game 1: Saturday at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Tuesday at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Friday April 26 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
LA Clippers (4) vs. Dallas Mavericks (5)
Game 1: Sunday at Los Angeles, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: Tuesday at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Friday April 26 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