The NBA Playoffs are set to begin on Saturday after a crazy final night of the regular season that set every single matchup. There are plenty of intriguing storylines to follow in the first round, from a Western Conference Finals rematch between the Warriors and Spurs to Joel Embiid and Hassan Whiteside getting to go at it for a series once Embiid is cleared to return.
With so few teams this season appearing legitimately dominant and the usual suspects in the Cavs and Warriors each at least appearing more vulnerable than in recent years, there’s some optimism that this year’s first round could produce some fireworks from top to bottom in both conferences.
We won’t know if that’s true for another week when we’ve moved through three games in most series, but for now we can hope and start planning ahead for what games and series we’re going to most lock in on. The NBA released the full TV schedule, with game times and TV networks for the first four games of each series, with tip times TBD for Games 5-7, if necessary. (All times listed are Eastern.)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Toronto Raptors vs. (8) Washington Wizards
Game 1: Sat. April 14 Washington at Toronto. 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Tue. April 17 Washington at Toronto, 7 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3: Fri. April 20 Toronto at Washington, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Game 4: Sun. April 22 Toronto at Washington, 6 p.m., TNT
*Game 5: Wed. April 25 Washington at Toronto, TBD
*Game 6: Fri. April 27 Toronto at Washington, TBD
*Game 7: Wed. April 25 Washington at Toronto, TBD
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Milwaukee Bucks
Game 1: Sun. April 15 Milwaukee at Boston, 1 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Tue, April 17 Milwaukee at Boston, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Fri. April 20 Boston at Milwaukee, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Sun. April 22 Boston at Milwaukee, 1 p.m., ABC
*Game 5: Tue. April 24 Milwaukee at Boston, TBD
*Game 6: Thu. April 26 Boston at Milwaukee, TBD
*Game 7: Sat. April 28 Milwaukee at Boston, TNT
(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) Miami Heat
Game 1: Sat. April 14 Miami at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Mon. April 16 Miami at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Thu. April 19 Philadelphia at Miami, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Sat. April 21 Philadelphia at Miami, 2:30 p.m., TNT
*Game 5: Tue. April 24 Miami at Philadelphia, TBD
*Game 6: Thu. April 26 Philadelphia at Miami, TBD
*Game 7: Sat. April 28 Miami at Philadelphia, TNT
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Indiana Pacers
Game 1: Sun. April 15 Indiana at Cleveland, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Game 2: Wed. April 18 Indiana at Cleveland, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Fri. April 20 Cleveland at Indiana, 7 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Sun. April 22 Cleveland at Indiana, 8:30 p.m., TNT
*Game 5: Wed. April 25 Indiana at Cleveland, TBD
*Game 6: Fri. April 27 Cleveland at Indiana, TBD
*Game 7: Sun. April 29 Indiana at Cleveland, TBD
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Houston Rockets vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: Sun. April 15 Minnesota at Houston, 9 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Wed. April 18 Minnesota at Houston, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Sat. April 21 Houston at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Mon. April 23 Houston at Minnesota, 8 p.m.,TNT
*Game 5: Wed. April 25 Minnesota at Houston, TBD
*Game 6: Fri. April 27 Houston at Minnesota, TBD
*Game 7: Sun. April 29 Minnesota at Houston, TBD
(2) Golden State Warriors vs. (7) San Antonio Spurs
Game 1: Sat. April 14 San Antonio at Golden State, 3 p.m., ABC
Game 2: Mon. April 16 San Antonio at Golden State, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Thu. April 19 Golden State at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Sun. April 22 Golden State at San Antonio, 3:30 p.m., ABC
*Game 5: Tue. April 24 San Antonio at Golden State, TBD
*Game 6: Thu. April 26 Golden State at San Antonio, TBD
*Game 7: Sat. April 28 San Antonio at Golden State, TNT
(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (6) New Orleans Pelicans
Game 1: Sat. April 14 New Orleans at Portland, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Tue. April 17 New Orleans at Portland, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Thu. April 19 Portland at New Orleans, 9 p.m., NBA TV
Game 4: Sat. April 21 Portland at New Orleans, 5 p.m., TNT
*Game 5: Tue. April 24 New Orleans at Portland, TBD
*Game 6: Thu. April 26 Portland at New Orleans, TBD
*Game 7: Sat. April 28 New Orleans at Portland,TNT
(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Utah Jazz
Game 1: Sun. April 15 Utah at Oklahoma City, 6:30 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Wed. April 18 Utah at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3: Sat. April 21 Oklahoma City at Utah, 10 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Mon. April 23 Oklahoma City at Utah, 10:30 p.m. TNT
*Game 5: Wed. April 25 Utah at Oklahoma City, TBD
*Game 6: Fri. April 27 Oklahoma City at Utah, TBD
*Game 7: Sun. April 29 Utah at Oklahoma City, TBD