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 Minnesota Timberwolves became the first team to reach the second round, sweeping the Phoenix Suns and the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder swept the New Orleans Pelicans. Defending champion Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games and are set to face the Timberwolves in the second round.
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), 3-1
Game 1: Celtics 114, Heat 94
Game 2: Heat 111, Celtics 101
Game 3: Celtics 104, Heat 84
Game 4: Celtics 102, Heat 88
Game 5: Wednesday, May 1 at Boston, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 3 at Miami
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 5 at Boston
Stephen A. Smith says a Celtics title run is in jeopardy because of Kristaps Porzingis' calf injury.
New York Knicks (2) lead Philadelphia 76ers (7), 3-2
Game 1: Knicks 111, 76ers 104
Game 2: Knicks 104, 76ers 101
Game 3: 76ers 125, Knicks 114
Game 4: Knicks 97, 76ers 92
Game 5: 76ers 112, Knicks 106 (OT)
Game 6 : Thursday, May 2 at Philadelphia (TNT)
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 at New York (TNT)
Tyrese Maxey drops 46 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, to help the Philadelphia 76ers beat the New York Knicks in Game 5.
'Amazing' Maxey's clutch late 3s lift Sixers over Knicks to force Game 6
Herring: How Brunson's ruthless old-man game is driving the Knicks
Spears: Kyle Lowry lives his dream playing in his hometown of Philly
Indiana Pacers (6) lead Milwaukee Bucks (3), 3-2
Game 1: Bucks 109, Pacers 94
Game 2: Pacers 125, Bucks 108
Game 3: Pacers 121, Bucks 118 (OT)
Game 4: Pacers 126, Bucks 113
Game 5: Bucks 115, Pacers 92
Game 6: Thursday, May 2 at Indiana (TNT)
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 at Milwaukee (TNT)
Bobby Portis, Khris Middleton and Patrick Beverley all put up double-doubles as the Bucks win by double digits over the Pacers.
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) lead Orlando Magic (5), 3-2
Game 1: Cavaliers 97, Magic 83
Game 2: Cavaliers 96, Magic, 86
Game 3: Magic 121, Cavaliers 83
Game 4: Magic 112, Cavaliers 89
Game 5: Cavaliers 104, Magic 103
Game 6: Friday, May 3 at Orlando
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 5 at Cleveland
The Magic blitz the Cavaliers in the second half of Game 4 to tie the series 2-2.
Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen (rib) ruled out for Game 5 vs. Magic
Donovan Mitchell, Cavs go cold as Magic even series in Game 4
Andrews: How the Cavs' defense locked down the Magic in Games 1 and 2
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) defeat the New Orleans Pelicans (8), 4-0
Game 1: Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
Game 2: Thunder 124, Pelicans 92
Game 3: Thunder 106, Pelicans 85
Game 4: Thunder 97, Pelicans 89
Jalen Williams pulls up from just inside the half-court logo and drains the 3-pointer for the Thunder.
Pelicans VP praises Zion Williamson, calls injury 'disheartening'
Oklahoma City Thunder secure sweep over New Orleans Pelicans
Denver Nuggets (2) defeat the Los Angeles Lakers (7), 4-1
Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
Game 3: Nuggets 112, Lakers 105
Game 4: Lakers 119, Nuggets 108
Game 5: Nuggets 108, Lakers 106
Jamal Murray drives and hits the pull-up fallaway with 3.6 seconds remaining on the clock to lift the Nuggets over the Lakers and win the series 4-1.
McMenamin: The future of LeBron James, Darvin Ham after Lakers' exit
LeBron James declines to say if Game 5 could be last with Lakers
Jamal Murray hits 2nd game winner as Nuggets sink Lakers in Game 5
Minnesota Timberwolves (3) defeat the Phoenix Suns (6), 4-0
Game 1: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
Game 2: Timberwolves 105, Suns 93
Game 3: Timberwolves 126, Suns 109
Game 4: Timberwolves 122, Suns 116
Anthony Edwards drops 40 points, including seven 3s, to help the Timberwolves secure a sweep against the Suns.
Dallas Mavericks (5) tied with LA Clippers (4), 2-2
Game 1: Clippers 109, Mavericks 97
Game 2: Mavericks 96, Clippers 93
Game 3: Mavericks 101, Clippers 90
Game 4: Clippers 116, Mavericks 111
Game 5: Wednesday, May 1 at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 6: Friday, May 3 at Dallas
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 5 at Los Angeles
Paul George paces the Clippers with a huge first half, dropping 26 points vs. the Mavericks.