It took the final day of the regular season to figure it out exactly, but the playoff matchups are finally set. And as is the case every year, this one’s going to be good. There’s a lot going on beginning Saturday when it all starts, so here’s a look into who’s playing who and when.
Many story-lines as well. The West is stacked and the East is as bad as it has ever been. Can a team like Chicago prevail in the East? Can Golden State overcome a key injury to Bogut and finally get over the hump? Time to get excited!
EASTERN CONFERENCE – FIRST ROUND
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks
Game 1 – Sat. April 19, Atlanta at Indiana, 7 p.m., ESPN Game 2 – Tue. April 22, Atlanta at Indiana, 7 p.m., TNT Game 3 – Thu. April 24, Indiana at Atlanta, 7 p.m., NBA TV Game 4 – Sat. April 26, Indiana at Atlanta, 2 p.m., TNT Game 5 * Mon. April 28, Atlanta at Indiana, 8 p.m., NBA TV Game 6 * Thu. May 1, Indiana at Atlanta, TBD, TBD Game 7 * Sat. May 3, Atlanta at Indiana, TBD, TNT
(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Charlotte Bobcats
Game 1 – Sun. April 20, Charlotte at Miami, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R Game 2 – Wed. April 23, Charlotte at Miami, 7 p.m., TNT Game 3 – Sat. April 26, Miami at Charlotte, 7 p.m., ESPN Game 4 – Mon. April 28, Miami at Charlotte, 7 p.m., TNT Game 5 * Wed. April 30, Charlotte at Miami, TBD, TBD Game 6 * Fri. May 2, Miami at Charlotte, TBD, TBD Game 7 * Sun. May 4, Charlotte at Miami, TBD, TBD
(3) Toronto Raptors vs. (6) Brooklyn Nets
Game 1 – Sat. April 19, Brooklyn at Toronto, 12:30 p.m., ESPN Game 2 – Tue. April 22, Brooklyn at Toronto, 8 p.m., NBA TV Game 3 – Fri. April 25, Toronto at Brooklyn, 7 p.m., ESPN2 Game 4 – Sun. April 27, Toronto at Brooklyn, 7 p.m., TNT Game 5 * Wed. April 30, Brooklyn at Toronto, TBD, TBD Game 6 * Fri. May 2, Toronto at Brooklyn, TBD, TBD Game 7 * Sun. May 4, Brooklyn at Toronto, TBD, TBD
(4) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) Washington Wizards
Game 1 – Sun. April 20, Washington at Chicago, 7 p.m., TNT Game 2 – Tue. April 22, Washington at Chicago, 9:30 p.m., TNT Game 3 – Fri. April 25, Chicago at Washington, 8 p.m., ESPN Game 4 – Sun. April 27, Chicago at Washington, 1 p.m., ABC Game 5 * Tue. April 29, Washington at Chicago, TBD, TBD Game 6 * Thu. May 1, Chicago at Washington, TBD, TBD Game 7 * Sat. May 3, Washington at Chicago, TBD, TNT
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WESTERN CONFERENCE – FIRST ROUND
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Dallas Mavericks
Game 1 – Sun. April 20, Dallas at San Antonio, 1 p.m., TNT Game 2 – Wed. April 23, Dallas at San Antonio, 8 p.m., NBA TV Game 3 – Sat. April 26, San Antonio at Dallas, 4:30 p.m., TNT Game 4 – Mon. April 28, San Antonio at Dallas, 9:30 p.m., TNT Game 5 * Wed. April 30, Dallas at San Antonio, TBD, TBD Game 6 * Fri. May 2, San Antonio at Dallas, TBD, TBD Game 7 * Sun. May 4, Dallas at San Antonio, TBD, TBD
(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (7) Memphis Grizzlies
Game 1 – Sat. April 19, Memphis at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m., ESPN Game 2 – Mon. April 21, Memphis at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m., TNT Game 3 – Thu. April 24, Oklahoma City at Memphis, 8 p.m., TNT Game 4 – Sat. April 26, Oklahoma City at Memphis, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/R Game 5 * Tue. April 29, Memphis at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD Game 6 * Thu. May 1, Oklahoma City at Memphis, TBD, TBD Game 7 * Sat. May 3, Memphis at Oklahoma City, TBD, TNT
(3) L.A. Clippers vs. (6) Golden State Warriors
Game 1 – Sat. April 19, Golden State at L.A. Clippers, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R Game 2 – Mon. April 21, Golden State at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m., TNT Game 3 – Thu. April 24, L.A. Clippers at Golden State, 10:30 p.m., TNT Game 4 – Sun. April 27, L.A. Clippers at Golden State, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R Game 5 * Tue. April 29, Golden State at L.A. Clippers, TBD, TBD Game 6 * Thu. May 1, L.A. Clippers at Golden State, TBD, TBD Game 7 * Sat. May 3, Golden State at L.A. Clippers, TBD, TNT
(4) Houston Rockets vs. (5) Portland Trail Blazers
Game 1 – Sun. April 20, Portland at Houston, 9:30 p.m., TNT Game 2 – Wed. April 23, Portland at Houston, 9:30 p.m., TNT Game 3 – Fri. April 25, Houston at Portland, 10:30 p.m., ESPN Game 4 – Sun. April 27, Houston at Portland, 9:30 p.m., TNT Game 5 * Wed. April 30, Portland at Houston, TBD, TBD Game 6 * Fri. May 2, Houston at Portland, TBD, TBD Game 7 * Sun. May 4, Portland at Houston, TBD, TBD
H/T: NBA.com