It’s time to fill out the rest of the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The final two playoff spots in each conference will be determined via the play-in tournament, which begins Tuesday and ends Friday. The Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks will look to advance from the East, while the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors are playoff contenders from West.
But even though the top two seeds in each conference don’t yet know their first playoff opponent, the other first-round matchups in the series are set.
Here’s what we know so far about the NBA playoff bracket and first-round schedule:
When do the NBA playoffs start?
The first playoff games are scheduled for Saturday, April 20.
What are the games in the first round of the NBA playoffs?
Here’s a look at each conference’s first-round series:
Eastern Conference
- No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 seed (Atlanta, Chicago, Miami or Philadelphia)
- No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic
- No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers
- No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 seed (Miami or Philadelphia)
Western Conference
- No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 seed (Golden State, LA Lakers, New Orleans or Sacramento)
- Los Angeles Clippers No. 4 vs. Dallas Mavericks No. 5
- No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns
- No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 seed (LA Lakers or New Orleans)
The 2024 NBA play-in tournament is set. Here’s an overview of matches, seeds, and how they work.
What is the schedule for the first round of the NBA playoffs?
Here is an updated overview of the first round schedule (* = if necessary):
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Celtics vs. No. 8 seed
- Game 1: To be determined with the Celtics; Sunday April 21 (TBD, TBD)
- Game 2: To be determined with the Celtics; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 3: Celtics TBD; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 4: Celtics TBD; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 5*: To be determined with the Celtics; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 6*: Celtics TBD; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 7*: To be determined with the Celtics; TBD (TBD, TBD)
No. 2 Knicks vs. No. 7 seed
- Game 1: To be determined with the Knicks; Saturday April 20 (TBD, TBD)
- Game 2: To be determined with the Knicks; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 3: Knicks TBD; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 4: Knicks TBD; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 5*: To be determined with the Knicks; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 6*: Knicks TBD; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 7*: To be determined with the Knicks; TBD (TBD, TBD)
No. 3 Bucks vs. No. 6 Pacers
- Game 1: Pacers at Bucks; Sunday April 21 (TBD, TBD)
- Game 2: Pacers at Bucks; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 3: Dollars with the Pacers; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 4: Dollars with the Pacers; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 5*: Pacers at Bucks; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 6*: Dollars with the Pacers; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 7*: Pacers at Bucks; TBD (TBD, TBD)
No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Magic
- Game 1: Magic among the Riders; Saturday April 20 (TBD, TBD)
- Game 2: Magic among the Riders; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 3: Knights in Magic; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 4: Knights in Magic; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 5*: Magic among the Riders; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 6*: Knights in Magic; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 7*: Magic among the Riders; TBD (TBD, TBD)
Western Conference
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 seed
- Game 1: TBD at Thunder; Sunday April 21 (TBD, TBD)
- Game 2: TBD at Thunder; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 3: Thunder to be determined; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 4: Thunder to be determined; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 5*: TBD at Thunder; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 6*: Thunder to be determined; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 7*: TBD at Thunder; TBD (TBD, TBD)
No. 2 Nuggets vs. No. 7 seed
- Game 1: To be determined at Nuggets; Saturday April 20 (TBD, TBD)
- Game 2: To be determined at Nuggets; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 3: Nuggets to be determined; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 4: Nuggets to be determined; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 5*: To be determined at Nuggets; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 6*: Nuggets to be determined; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 7*: To be determined at Nuggets; TBD (TBD, TBD)
No. 3 Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Suns
- Game 1: Suns at Timberwolves; Saturday April 20 (TBD, TBD)
- Game 2: Suns at Timberwolves; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 3: Timberwolves at the Suns; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 4: Timberwolves at the Suns; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 5*: Suns at Timberwolves; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 6*: Timberwolves at the Suns; TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 7*: Suns at Timberwolves; TBD (TBD, TBD)
No. 4 Clippers vs. No. 5 Mavericks
- Game 1: Mavericks at Clippers; Sunday April 21 (TBD, TBD)
- Game 2: Mavericks at Clippers, TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 3: Clippers at Mavericks, TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 4: Clippers at Mavericks, TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 5*: Mavericks at Clippers, TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 6*: Clippers at Mavericks, TBD (TBD, TBD)
- Game 7*: Mavericks at Clippers, TBD (TBD, TBD)
Where to watch NBA playoff games
NBA playoff games will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, TNT, NBA TV and ABC.
Are the NBA playoffs reseeded?
Unlike the NFL playoffs, teams are not reseeded after the first round. So, the winner of match 1-8 faces the winner of match 4-5 in the second round, while the winner of match 2-7 faces the winner of match 3-6.
When does the second round of the NBA playoffs start?
The second round is scheduled to begin on May 6 and 7, but it could be moved up to May 4 and 5 if the first round ends earlier.
