The NBA’s post-season is here and is set to be a broadly open pursuit of the title in 2022.
The Phoenix Suns escaped with the best record of the regular season in the league – eight games away from the second better Memphis Grizzlies. Devin Booker, Chris Paul and the ruling champions of the Western Conference are on a mission to redeem themselves after the defeat of the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the finals last season.
Many West contenders stand in the way of the Suns, including Ja Morant and the Grizzlies, MVP favorites Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors, who are returning to the playoffs for the first time since reaching the 2019 finals.
In the East, defending champion Bucks is the third-ranked in a congested conference – top-ranked Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers were separated by just two games in the final standings of the regular season.
And the Brooklyn Nets, which needed the playoffs to win the top seven, have the power to shake up the playoffs.
Here is all the information you need for each first round match, including schedules, news and series-by-series analysis.
MORE: What to know about the 16 teams fighting for the title
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Game 1: Atlanta vs. Miami Sun, April 17 (13:00 ET, TNT) Match 2: Atlanta vs. Miami Tuesday, April 19 (required) Game 3: Miami vs. Atlanta Fri., April 22 (TBD, ESPN) Match 4: Miami vs. Atlanta Sun, April 24 (7 pm ET, TNT) Match 5 *: Atlanta vs. Miami | Tue, April 26 (required) Match 6 *: Miami v. Atlanta | Thursday, April 28 (required) Game 7 *: Atlanta vs. Miami Saturday, April 30 (TBD, TNT)
* if necessary
play
1:33
Kendrick Perkins discusses the reasons why he believes the Miami Heat are contenders for the title.
Game 1: Brooklyn vs. Boston Sun, April 17 (15:30 ET, ABC) Game 2: Brooklyn vs. Boston Wednesday, April 20 (7 pm ET, TNT) Match 3: Boston vs. Brooklyn | Saturday, April 23 (TBD, ESPN) Match 4: Boston vs. Brooklyn | Monday, April 25 (required) Game 5 *: Brooklyn vs. Boston Wednesday, April 27 (required) Match 6 *: Boston vs. Brooklyn Fri, April 29 (required) Game 7 *: Brooklyn v Boston Sun, May 1 (inclusive)
* if necessary
play
1:43
Jason Tatum fired 31 points to lead the Celtics to No. 2 in the East after a victory over the Grizzlies.
Game 1: Chicago vs. Milwaukee Sun, 17 April (18:30 ET, TNT) Match 2: Chicago vs. Milwaukee | Wednesday, April 20 (21:30 ET, TNT) Match 3: Milwaukee vs. Chicago | Fri., April 22 (20:30 ET, ABC) Match 4: Milwaukee vs Chicago | Sun, 24 April (13:00 ET, ABC) Match 5 *: Chicago vs Milwaukee | Wednesday, April 27 (required) Match 6 *: Milwaukee vs. Chicago Fri, April 29 (required) Match 7 *: Chicago vs. Milwaukee Sun, May 1 (inclusive)
* if necessary
play
0:21
Janice Adetokunmpo with the i-1 bucket
Game 1: Toronto vs. Philadelphia Saturday, April 16 (18:00 ET, ESPN) Match 2: Toronto vs. Philadelphia | Monday, April 18 (19:30 ET, TNT) Match 3: Philadelphia vs. Toronto | Wednesday, April 20 (20:00 ET, NBATV) Match 4: Philadelphia vs. Toronto | Saturday, April 23 (14:00 ET, TNT) Match 5 *: Toronto vs. Philadelphia | Monday, April 25 (required) Match 6 *: Philadelphia vs. Toronto Thursday, April 28 (required) Match 7 *: Toronto vs. Philadelphia Saturday, April 30 (TBD, TNT)
* if necessary
play
1:47
Joel Embiid has a double-double of 41 points in a 133-120 victory over the Pacers.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Game 1: New Orleans vs. Phoenix Sun, 17 April (21:00 ET, TNT) Match 2: New Orleans vs Phoenix | Tue, 19 April (22:00 ET, TNT) Match 3: Phoenix vs. New Orleans | Fri, April 22 (TBD, ESPN) Match 4: Phoenix vs. New Orleans | Sun, 24 April (21:30 ET, TNT) Match 5 *: New Orleans vs Phoenix | Tue, April 26 (required) Match 6 *: Phoenix vs. New Orleans Thursday, April 28 (required) Match 7 *: New Orleans vs. Phoenix Saturday, April 30 (TBD, TNT)
* if necessary
Game 1: Minnesota vs. Memphis Saturday, April 16 (15:30 ET, ESPN) Game 2: Minnesota vs. Memphis | Tue, April 19 (required) Match 3: Memphis vs. Minnesota Thursday, April 21 (19:30 ET, TNT) Game 4: Memphis vs. Minnesota | Saturday, April 23 (TBD, ESPN) Game 5 *: Minnesota vs. Memphis | Tuesday, April 26 (required) Match 6 *: Memphis vs. Minnesota Fri., April 29 (required) Game 7 *: Minnesota vs. Memphis Sun, May 1 (inclusive)
* if necessary
Game 1: Denver vs. Golden State Saturday, April 16 (20:30 ET, ABC) Match 2: Denver vs. Golden State | Monday, April 18 (22:00 ET, TNT) Match 3: Golden State vs Denver | Thursday, April 21 (22:00 ET, TNT) Match 4: Golden State vs Denver | Sun, 24 April (15:30 ET, ABC) Match 5 *: Denver vs. Golden State | Wednesday, April 27 (required) Match 6 *: Golden State vs Denver | Friday, April 29 (required) Game 7 *: Denver vs. Golden State Sun, May 1 (inclusive)
* if necessary
Game 1: Utah vs. Dallas Saturday, April 16 (13:00 ET, ESPN) Match 2: Utah vs. Dallas Monday, April 18 (20:30 ET, NBATV) Match 3: Dallas vs. Utah | Thursday, April 21 (21:00 ET, NBATV) Match 4: Dallas vs. Utah | Saturday, April 23 (16:30 ET, TNT) Match 5 *: Utah vs. Dallas | Monday, April 25 (required) Match 6 *: Dallas vs. Utah Thursday, April 28 (required) Match 7 *: Utah vs. Dallas Saturday, April 30 (TBD, TNT)
* if necessary
Add Comment