The first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs begins this Saturday 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 will begin with four games on Saturday and four more on Sunday. Eight teams from each conference will 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: Play-in tournament coverage | Previewing all 16 playoff teams | Offseason guides for every team

EASTERN CONFERENCE

 

Boston Celtics (1) vs. Miami Heat (8)

Game 1: Sunday at Boston, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
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

‘Inspiring’ Bam, Heat handle Bulls, ready for ‘dogfight’ with Celtics
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

Pelton’s regular-season grades: Celtics get an A

New York Knicks (2) lead Philadelphia 76ers (7), 1-0

Game 1: Knicks 111, 76ers 104
Game 2: Monday at New York, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
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)

Josh Hart does it all as Knicks win nail-biter Game 1

Josh Hart takes over in the clutch as the Knicks outlast the 76ers to take Game 1.

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
Josh Hart braids ‘NY’ logo ahead of NBA playoffs
How OG Anunoby turbocharged the Knicks’ offense

Milwaukee Bucks (3) vs. Indiana Pacers (6)

Game 1: Sunday at Milwaukee, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: Tuesday at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
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 (if necessary): Tuesday, April 30 at Milwaukee
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, May 2 at Indiana
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 at Milwaukee (TNT)

Bucks’ Lillard practices fully, Giannis remains out of live drills
Sources: Bucks preparing to be without Giannis to start playoffs
Bucks look to put emotions aside vs. familiar foe
Pacers avoid play-in on season’s final day
Game balls, Dame Time taunts and the budding Bucks-Pacers beef

Cleveland Cavaliers (4) lead Orlando Magic (5), 1-0

Game 1: Cleveland 97, Orlando 83
Game 2: Monday at Cleveland, 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
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 sparks Cavs with 30-point performance in Game 1

Donovan Mitchell tallies 30 points as the Cavaliers take Game 1 at home vs. the Magic.

Mitchell sets Cavaliers’ tone with 30 points in Game 1
Magic win on season’s final day to set up first-round series with Cavs
Cavs’ LeVert maintains resilience after cancer surgery in 2021
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) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (8)

Game 1: Sunday at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
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

Ingram leads Zion-less Pelicans past Kings; OKC next
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), 1-0

Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
Game 2: Monday at Denver, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
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)

Joker’s near triple-double powers Nuggets past Lakers in Game 1

Nikola Jokic’s 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists prove too much for the Lakers as the Nuggets take Game 1.

Ham on D-Lo struggles: ‘I’m not going to bail out on my player’
‘Great one:’ Jokic’s impact draws LeBron’s praise
LeBron: Lakers’ series vs. Nuggets not about past
MPJ: Nuggets ‘had my back’ after brother’s sentencing
Why Nuggets are a matchup nightmare for Lakers
How Jokic became the best passer in the NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves (3) lead Phoenix Suns (6), 1-0

Game 1: Minnesota 120, Phoenix 95
Game 2: Tuesday at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
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

Anthony Edwards takes over with 33 as T-Wolves take Game 1

Anthony Edwards fuels the Timberwolves with 33 points as they take Game 1 from the Suns.

Edwards drops 33, lets Suns know in decisive Game 1 win
Beal on playoffs: ‘This is the most exciting part of the year’
Suns’ final day win over Wolves sets up playoff rematch
For the Timberwolves, winning finally feels real
What’s next for the sale of the Timberwolves
What to make of a topsy-turvy season for the Suns

LA Clippers (4) vs. Dallas Mavericks (5)

Game 1: Sunday at Los Angeles, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: Tuesday at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
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 (if necessary): 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

Lue, Clippers still don’t know Leonard’s status for Round 1
Clippers fined $25K for violating NBA injury reporting rules
The moment that transformed Westbrook and the Clippers’ title chase
How Paul George became the archetype for an NBA generation
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