The NBA playoffs tend to follow the chalk most years — the favorites win series after series. There are few surprises.
This year feels like it should be different — the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs feels primed for upsets. While each conference has a clear betting favorite to advance, both also have powerhouse teams coming out of the play-in and being a threat to reach the Finals (as the Heat did a season ago). Still, through the first few games home court and the favorites have held.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2024 NBA playoffs, with full matchups and schedules, which will be updated as the scores keep rolling in — check back for all the results.
When do the NBA Playoffs begin?
The play-in — the NBA’s version of the Wild Card round — ends on Friday night, April 19, with two games (Chicago at Miami, Sacramento at New Orleans).
The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 20, with four games. The two teams that win Friday night will have to turn around and fly to Boston (East) or Oklahoma City (West) and start the playoffs less than 48 hours later.
When do the NBA Finals begin?
The NBA Finals tip off June 6, with the first game at the arena of the team with the better regular-season record (Boston has the best record overall in the league and would have home court against anyone in the Finals).
The remainder of the NBA Finals games are: Game 2 June 9, Game 3 June 12, Game 4 June 14, Game 5 June 17, Game 6 June 20 and Game 7 June 23 (games 5-7 are if necessary).
NBA Eastern Conference, Western Conference playoff bracket
NYK and IND advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals where they will meet on Monday at 7:30pm/et on TNT!
— NBA (@NBA) May 3, 2024
The #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel continue on Friday on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/bChCzFqLHa
NBA Playoffs Schedule 2024
All times are Eastern (* = if necessary).
Eastern Conference Schedule
#1 Boston at No. 8 Seed
Game 1: Boston 114, Miami 94 (Celtics lead 1-0)
Game 2: Miami 111, Boston 101 (series tied 1-1)
Game 3: Boston 104, Miami 84 (Celtics lead 2-1)
Game 4: Boston 102, Miami 88 (Celtics lead 3-1)
Game 5: Boston 118, Miami 84 (Celtics win series 4-1)
#2 New York at #7 Philadelphia
Game 1: New York 111, Philadelphia 104 (Knicks lead 1-0)
Game 2: New York 104, Philadelphia 101 (Knicks lead 2-0)
Game 3: Philadelphia 125, New York 115 (Knicks lead 2-1)
Game 4: New York 97, Philadelphia 92 (Knicks lead 3-1)
Game 5: Philadelphia 112, New York 106 (OT) (Knicks lead 3-2)
Game 6: New York 118, Philadelphia 115 (Knicks win series 4-2)
#3 Milwaukee at #6 Indiana
Game 1: Milwaukee 109, Indiana 94 (Bucks lead 1-0)
Game 2: Indiana 125, Milwaukee 108 (series tied 1-1)
Game 3: Indiana 121, Milwaukee 118 (OT) (Pacers lead 2-1)
Game 4: Indiana 123, Milwaukee 113 (Pacers lead 3-1)
Game 5: Milwaukee 115, Indiana 92 (Pacers lead 3-2)
Game 6: Indiana 120, Milwaukee 98 (Pacers win series 4-2)
#4 Cleveland at #5 Orlando
Game 1: Cleveland 97, Orlando 83 (Cavaliers lead 1-0)
Game 2: Cleveland 96, Orlando 86 (Cavaliers lead 2-0)
Game 3: Orlando 121, Cleveland 83 (Cavaliers lead 2-1)
Game 4: Orlando 112, Cleveland 89 (series tied 2-2)
Game 5: Cleveland 104, Orlando 103 (Cavaliers lead 3-2)
Game 6: Orlando 103, Cleveland 96 (series tied 3-3)
Game 7: Magic at Cavaliers, May 5 (1 ET, ABC)
Western Conference Schedule
#1 Oklahoma City at No. 8 Seed
Game 1: Oklahoma City 94, New Orleans 92 (Thunder lead 1-0)
Game 2: Oklahoma City 124, New Orleans 92 (Thunder lead 2-0)
Game 3: Oklahoma City 106, New Orleans 85 (Thunder lead 3-0)
Game 4: Oklahoma City 97, New Orleans 89 (Thunder sweep series 4-0)
#2 Denver at #7 L.A. Lakers
Game 1: Denver 114, Los Angeles 103 (Nuggets lead 1-0)
Game 2: Denver 101, Los Angeles 99 (Nuggets lead 2-0)
Game 3: Denver 112, Los Angeles 105 (Nuggets lead 3-0)
Game 4: Los Angeles 119, Denver 108 (Nuggets lead 3-1)
Game 5: Denver 108, Los Angeles 106 (Nuggets win series 4-1)
#3 Minnesota at #6 Phoenix
Game 1: Minnesota 120, Phoenix 95 (Timberwolves lead 1-0)
Game 2: Minnesota 105, Phoenix 93 (Timberwolves lead 2-0)
Game 3: Minnesota 126, Phoenix 109 (Timberwolves lead 3-0)
Game 4: Minnesota 122, Phoenix 116 (Timberwolves win series 4-0)
#4 LA Clippers at #5 Dallas
Game 1: Los Angeles 109, Dallas 97 (Clippers lead 1-0)
Game 2: Dallas 96, Los Angeles 93 (series tied 1-1)
Game 3: Dallas 101, Los Angeles 90 (Mavericks lead 2-1)
Game 4: Los Angeles 116, Dallas 111 (series tied 2-2)
Game 5: Dallas 123, Los Angeles 93 (Mavericks lead 3-2)
Game 6: Dallas 114, Los Angeles 101 (Mavericks win series 4-2)
