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 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 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
Game 1: Celtics 114, Heat 94
Game 2: Heat 111, Celtics 101
Game 3: Celtics 104, Heat 84
Game 4: Monday, April 29 at Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
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
Porzingis, Brown connect for rim-rattling slam
Kristaps Porzingis dishes out a nice dime to Jaylen Brown, who flushes it home for a two-handed slam against the Heat.
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: 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)
Jalen Brunson drops Knicks playoff-record 47 points in Game 4 win
The Knicks take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the 76ers behind Jalen Brunson’s 47-point game.
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: Tuesday, April 30 at Milwaukee
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, May 2 at Indiana
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 at Milwaukee (TNT)
Turner, Haliburton combine for 53 in win vs. injury-hit Bucks
Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton combine for 53 points and eight assists as the Pacers go up 3-1 in the series against the Bucks.
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: Tuesday, April 30 at Cleveland
Game 6: Friday, May 3 at Orlando
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 5 at Cleveland
Magic outscore Cavs 61-29 in 2nd half to even series
The Magic blitz the Cavaliers in the second half of Game 4 to tie the series 2-2.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Game 1: Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
Game 2: Thunder 124, Pelicans 92
Game 3: Thunder 106, Pelicans 85
Game 4: Monday, April 29 at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 1 at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 3 at New Orleans
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 5 at Oklahoma City
OKC cruises past Pels to open 3-0 series lead
The Thunder lead the series 3-0 after a 106-85 win against the Pelicans.
Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
Game 3: Nuggets 112, Lakers 105
Game 4: Lakers 119, Nuggets…
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