There are no shortage of storylines in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
The Denver Nuggets are seeking to become back-to-back champions, which would solidify their place as the league’s new superpower and Nikola Jokic’s spot as the defining player of this generation. The Boston Celtics are trying to finally break through for their first championship of the Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown era after revamping their lineup over the offseason with veteran additions Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Boston finished with a league-high 64 wins this season — 14 more than anyone else in the Eastern Conference.
It would be a major upset if it’s not Nuggets vs. Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals, but there are several challengers who won’t make life easy for the favorites in each conference.
The young Oklahoma City Thunder play five-out offense while also boasting a top-5 overall defense. The Minnesota Timberwolves feel like the biggest team in the league and leverage that size to become the league’s most intimidating defensive unit. The Dallas Mavericks are rolling with Luka Doncic reaching the peak of his powers, and the Los Angeles Clippers just want one healthy postseason run to see the ceiling of their veteran group.
We’ll be keeping track of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at this post, starting with the first round matchups, schedule and results. Let’s get to it.
NBA Playoffs 2024 bracket
NBA Playoffs 2024: Schedule and results
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Miami Heat: Dates and times for every game
• Game 1: Heat vs. Celtics; Sunday, April 21, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 2: Heat vs. Celtics; Wednesday, April 24, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3: Celtics vs. Heat; Saturday, April 27 6 p.m.ET, TNT
• Game 4: Celtics vs. Heat; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 5: Heat vs. Celtics; Wednesday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Celtics vs. Heat; Friday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Heat vs. Celtics; Sunday, May 5 (TBD, TBD)*
No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers: Schedule, times, and TV
• Game 1: 76ers vs. Knicks; Saturday, April 20, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2: 76ers vs. Knicks; Monday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3: Knicks vs. 76ers; Thursday, April 25, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 4: Knicks vs. 76ers; Sunday, April 28, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 5: 76ers vs. Knicks; Tuesday, April 30 TBD, TBD*
• Game 6: Knicks vs. 76ers; Thursday, May 2 TBD, TBD*
• Game 7: 76ers vs. Knicks; Saturday, May 4 TBD, TNT*
* = If necessary
No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers: Dates, TV, and more
• Game 1: Pacers vs. Bucks; Sunday, April 21, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 2: Pacers vs. Bucks; Tuesday, April 23, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV
• Game 3: Bucks vs. Pacers; Friday, April 26, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 4: Bucks vs. Pacers; Sunday, April 28, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 5: Pacers vs. Bucks; Tuesday, April 30, TBD, TBD*
• Game 6: Bucks vs. Pacers; Thursday, May 2, TBD, TBD*
• Game 7: Pacers vs. Bucks; Saturday, May 4, TBD, TNT*
* = If necessary
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic: How to watch
• Game 1: Magic vs. Cavaliers; Saturday, April 20, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2: Magic vs. Cavaliers; Monday, April 22, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV
• Game 3: Cavaliers vs. Magic; Thursday, April 25, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV
• Game 4: Cavaliers vs. Magic; Saturday, April 27, 1 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 5: Magic vs. Cavaliers; Tuesday, April 30, TBD, TBD*
• Game 6: Cavaliers vs. Magic; Friday, May 3 TBD, TBD*
• Game 7: Magic vs. Cavaliers; Sunday, May 5, TBD, TBD*
* = If necessary
Western Conference
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans: TV schedule and start times
• Game 1: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Sunday, April 21, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 2: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Wednesday, April 24, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3: Thunder vs. Pelicans; Saturday, April 27, 3:30 p.m. ET TNT
• Game 4: Thunder vs. Pelicans; Monday, April 29, TBD, TBD
• Game 5: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Wednesday, May 1, TBD, TBD*
• Game 6: Thunder vs. Pelicans; Friday, May 3, TBD, TBD*
• Game 7: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Sunday, May 5, TBD, TBD*
** = Winner of Play-In Game between Pelicans and Kings on Friday
* = If necessary
No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers: Full schedule and TV times
• Game 1: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Saturday, April 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 2: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Monday, April 22, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3: Nuggets vs. Lakers; Thursday, April 25, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 4: Nuggets vs. Lakers; Saturday, April 27 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 5: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Monday, April 29 TBD, TBD*
• Game 6: Nuggets vs. Lakers; Thursday, May 2 TBD, TBD*
• Game 7: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Saturday, May 4 TBD, TNT*
* = If necessary
No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns: TV times and dates for first round series
• Game 1: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Saturday, April 20, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Tuesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Suns; Friday, April 26, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Suns; Sunday, April 28, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 5: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Tuesday, April 30 TBD, TBD*
• Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Suns; Thursday, May 2 TBD, TBD*
• Game 7: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Saturday, May 4 TBD, TNT*
* = If necessary
No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks: Schedule, TV times, and more
• Game 1: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Sunday, April 21, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 2: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Tuesday, April 23, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3: Clippers vs. Mavericks; Friday, April 26, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 4: Clippers vs. Mavericks; Sunday, April 28, 3:30 ET, ABC
• Game 5: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Wednesday, May 1 TBD, TBD*
• Game 6: Clippers vs. Mavericks; Friday, May 3 TBD, TBD*
• Game 7: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Sunday, May 5 TBD, TBD*
* = If necessary