Customize ESPN

2024 NBA playoffs: Which lower-seeded teams have the best chance in the first round?

Four lower-seeded NBA playoff teams were victorious in last year's first round. Which teams can follow suit this season?

2hKevin Pelton
Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

The favorites, the underdogs and the Lakers: All you need to know ahead of the NBA playoffs

The postseason is here. Let's take a closer look at the 20 teams still in the hunt for the NBA title.

51mNBA Insiders

TOP HEADLINES

NBA Play-In - West - 8th Seed Game

Pelicans hold off Kings to advance to playoff matchup vs. Thunder

2h
2:25

What the Kings need to do this offseason

A late-season slide leads to a summer of questions, starting with the future of star sixth man Malik Monk.

9hBobby Marks

Trey Murphy III slams home the dagger for the Pels

10h
0:16

McCollum and Jones' back-to-back 3s pad Pelicans' lead

10h
0:56

Naji Marshall's back-to-back buckets pad Pels' lead

10h
0:50

Domantas Sabonis gets it done on both sides of the ball

10h
0:18

Larry Nance Jr. fired up after back-to-back slams

10h
0:41
    NBA Play-In - East - 8th Seed Game

    Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez fuel Heat past Bulls, set up Celtics rematch

    13h
    2:09

    Following another play-in loss, the Bulls seem stuck on the treadmill of mediocrity

    Chicago's season ended in the play-in again, yet no big changes were made this year and none seem imminent.

    13hJamal Collier

    Tyler Herro gets the home crowd going with a 3

    13h
    0:17

    Jaime Jaquez Jr. caps off a 7-0 run with a thunderous jam

    14h
    0:18

    Caleb Martin sends Coby White's shot into the first row

    14h
    0:19

    DeMar DeRozan double clutches for the layup

    14h
    0:16

    Kevin Love gets the friendly bounce for the trey

    15h
    0:19

      AROUND THE NBA

      Cole Anthony's passion for Pokémon brings balance to hoops-heavy life

      For Cole Anthony, ball is life -- but so is Pokémon. The Orlando Magic guard's quest to 'catch 'em all' provides a break from the grind of professional basketball.

      2hJerry Jiang
      Getty Images

      'This is so exhausting': The Knicks' season as told by Ben Stiller's social media

      Though he prefers to watch Knicks games alone, Ben Stiller connects with New York fans all across the world with his posts on X.

      2hAnthony Gharib

      AWARDS SEASON

      Lowe: Naming the 2023-24 All-NBA, All-Defense and All-Rookie teams

      Fifteen spots for All-NBA. Ten each for All-Defense and All-Rookie. Lowe names his teams -- and the players who just missed the cut.

      1dZach Lowe
      Christian Petersen/Getty Images

      It's awards season! Here's who should take home the hardware

      Who is this season's most valuable player? Most improved? Lowe reveals his final selections.

      2dZach Lowe

      LAKERS VS. NUGGETS

      GAME 1: 8:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY ON ABC

      Why the Denver Nuggets are still a matchup nightmare for the Los Angeles Lakers

      The Lakers beat New Orleans in Tuesday's play-in to earn the No. 7 seed in the West. Their prize? Another date with defending champion Denver.

      2dDave McMenamin and Kevin Pelton
      AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

      Could another title help LeBron pass MJ as the GOAT?

      1d
      2:04

      STEPHEN A. ON THE PLAYOFFS

      Stephen A.: KD can't lose in the first round

      1d
      2:17

      Why Stephen A. hates LeBron downplaying Nuggets rematch

      23h
      2:44

      BETTING THE PLAYOFFS

      How to bet each first-round series

      Our experts provide the bets to make for every first-round series of the NBA playoffs.

      19hFantasy Staff
      Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

      ANDSCAPE

      Andscape

      Bradley Beal diary: 'This is the most exciting part of the year'

      Phoenix Suns guard discusses team's late surge to playoffs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Blake Griffin's retirement and more

      22hMarc J. Spears
      Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

      Top Headlines

      Favorites

      Fantasy

      Customize ESPN

      Best of ESPN+

      Trending Now