ESPN
Apr 24, 2024, 02:00 AM ET
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
Boston Celtics (1) lead Miami Heat (8), 1-0
Game 1: Celtics 114, Heat 94
Game 2: Wednesday 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
Tatum's triple-double leads Celtics to Game 1 win over Heat
Jayson Tatum finishes with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Celtics defeat the Heat 114-94 in Game 1.
Heat goal: Correct 3-point 'discrepancy' in Game 2
Jayson Tatum sparks Celtics to win over Heat, downplays fall
Sources: Heat's Butler (knee) expected to miss several weeks
Holiday lands Celtics contract extension ahead of playoffs
Celtics set NBA record with 0 FT in reg. season loss to Bucks
New York Knicks (2) lead Philadelphia 76ers (7), 2-0
Game 1: Knicks 111, 76ers 104
Game 2: Knicks 104, 76ers 101
Game 3: Thursday 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)
Maxey denied game-winning layup by Hartenstein
Tyrese Maxey drives into the lane for a potential game-winner, but Isaiah Hartenstein comes up with a crucial block to keep the Knicks ahead.
Maxey fouled twice during chaotic Game 2 sequence, L2M report says
Embiid: 76ers 'are going to win this' despite 2-0 hole vs. Knicks
No plans to shut down Embiid after latest injury scare
Hart, supporting cast rescues Knicks in Game 1 win
Knicks' Brunson using season-ending turnover as inspiration
Milwaukee Bucks (3) tied with Indiana Pacers (6), 1-1
Game 1: Bucks 109, Pacers 94
Game 2: Pacers 125, Bucks 108
Game 3: Friday at Indiana, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 at Indiana, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
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)
Haliburton has the Pacers bench hyped after trey
Tyrese Haliburton connects from distance and adds to the Pacers' lead to the delight of his teammates on the bench.
Tyrese Haliburton: Brother called racial slur by fan in Milwaukee
Dame's 35-point first half carries Bucks to Game 1 win
Bucks rule out Giannis Antetokounmpo for Pacers opener
Bucks look to put emotions aside vs. familiar foe
Game balls, Dame Time taunts and the budding Bucks-Pacers beef
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) lead Orlando Magic (5), 2-0
Game 1: Cavaliers 97, Magic 83
Game 2: Cavaliers 96, Magic, 86
Game 3: Thursday 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
Donovan Mitchell's 23 points helps Cavs take 2-0 series lead
Donovan Mitchell drops 23 points in the Cavaliers' Game 2 win over the Magic on Monday night.
Magic's Jalen Suggs returns to Game 2 after injuring knee
Mitchell sets Cavaliers' tone with 30 points in Game 1
Inside the beef between Dan Gilbert and Mat Ishbia
How a 5-20 slump turned the Magic into one of the NBA's best surprises
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) lead New Orleans Pelicans (8), 1-0
Game 1: Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
Game 2: Wednesday 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
CJ McCollum's potential game-winner rattles out
CJ McCollum's potential game-winning buzzer-beater rattles out as the Thunder take Game 1.
Injured Zion: Playoff return 'definitely realistic'
Thunder overcome inexperience to edge Pelicans
Thunder clinch 1-seed, keep 'eyes on the prize'
Daigneault wins NBCA Coach of the Year honors
Inside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's improbable rise
Denver Nuggets (2) lead Los Angeles Lakers (7), 2-0
Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
Game 3: Thursday 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)
Jamal Murray hits Game 2 winner for the Nuggets
Jamal Murray hits a step-back jumper over Anthony Davis as time expires to give the Nuggets a 2-0 series lead over the Lakers.
Police eye Jokic's brother for reported fan punch
Lakers' LeBron James sounds off on officiating and replay center
Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt targeting Game 3 return
'Great one:' Jokic's impact draws LeBron's praise
MPJ: Nuggets 'had my back' after brother's sentencing
Minnesota Timberwolves (3) lead Phoenix Suns (6), 2-0
Game 1: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
Game 2: Timberwolves 105, Suns 93
Game 3: Friday 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
Timberwolves break game open with 11-0 run in 4th quarter
The Timberwolves score 11 straight points in the fourth quarter to take control in Game 2 vs. the Suns.
Suns' big 3 look to bounce back at home after frustrating Game 2
Suns' Grayson Allen aggravates ankle injury vs. Timberwolves
MacMahon: Why do so many players have beef with Rudy Gobert?
Beal on playoffs: 'This is the most exciting part of the year'
What's next for the sale of the Timberwolves
LA Clippers (4) tied with Dallas Mavericks (5), 1-1
Game 1: Clippers 109, Mavericks 97
Game 2: Mavericks 96, Clippers 93
Game 3: Friday at Dallas, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 at Dallas, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5: 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
Kyrie's behind-the-back dime finds Washington for a 3
Kyrie Irving bounces a pass behind his back to P.J. Washington, who knocks down a trey from the corner.
Clippers' Kawhi Leonard nets 15 in first game since March 31
Luka Doncic's defensive effort keys Mavs' Game 2 win
Kawhi Leonard OK'd to play for Clippers' Game 2 tilt vs. Mavs
Pelton: What history can tell us about the future of the Mavericks-Clippers series
The moment that transformed Westbrook and the Clippers' title chase
