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NBA playoffs bracket
2024 NBA Playoffs bracket and results
Eastern Conference Semifinals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers: Celtics lead series 3-1
The Boston Celtics opened the Eastern Conference semifinal with a decisive 25-point win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics look to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the third consecutive season and are a massive favorite to do so after winning Game 4.
- Game 1: Celtics 120, Cavs 95
- Game 2: Cavs 118, Celtics 94
- Game 3: Celtics 106, Cavs 93
- Game 4: Celtics 109, Cavs 102
- Game 5: Wednesday, May 15
- Game 6: Saturday, May 18 (if necessary)
- Game 7: Monday, May 20 (if necessary)
(2) New York Knicks vs. (6) Indiana Pacers: Series tied 2-2
The New York Knicks might be in trouble. Jalen Brunson doesn't look 100% and the Indiana Pacers just throttled the Knicks 121-89 to even the series at two games apiece. With the series shifting back to Madison Square Garden, New York will look to find solace in having the homecourt advantage. But will it be enough?
- Game 1: Knicks 121, Pacers 117
- Game 2: Knicks 130, Pacers 121
- Game 3: Pacers 111, Knicks 106
- Game 4: Pacers 121, Knicks 89
- Game 5: Tuesday, May 14
- Game 6: Friday, May 17
- Game 7: Sunday, May 19 (if necessary)
Western Conference Semifinals
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks: Series tied 2-2
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks opened their Western Conference semifinal with an evenly-played opening quarter. Then, OKC took over, ultimately winning 117-95 as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points with nine rebounds and nine assists. The Mavs came back in a big way, though, with wins in Game 2 and 3 behind massive scoring performances from... P.J. Washington. The former Hornet is averaging 21.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game so far in the series.
- Game 1: Thunder 117, Mavs 95
- Game 2: Mavs 119, Thunder 110
- Game 3: Mavs 105, Thunder 101
- Game 4: Thunder 100, Mavs 96
- Game 5: Wednesday, May 15
- Game 6: Saturday, May 18 (if necessary)
- Game 7: Monday, May 20 (if necessary)
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (3) Minnesota Timberwolves: Series tied 2-2
The Nuggets' prospects of winning this series looked as bleak as possible after two games, but they flipped the script in Game 3, crushing the Wolves 117-90 on the road Friday night and evened the series up with Sunday's 115-107 win. Now, the defending champs are back in the driver's seat.
- Game 1: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 99
- Game 2: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 80
- Game 3: Nuggets 117, Timberwolves 90
- Game 4: Nuggets 115, Timberwolves 107
- Game 5: Tuesday, May 14
- Game 6: Thursday, May 16
- Game 7: Sunday, May 19 (if necessary)
First Round - East
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Miami Heat - Celtics win 4-1
- Game 1: Celtics 114, Heat 104
- Game 2: Heat 111, Celtics 101
- Game 3: Celtics 104, Heat 84
- Game 4: Celtics 102, Heat 88
- Game 5: Celtics 118, Heat 84
(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers - Knicks win 4-2
- Game 1: Knicks 111, 76ers 104
- Game 2: Knicks 104, 76ers 101
- Game 3: 76ers 125, Knicks 114
- Game 4: Knicks 97, 76ers 92
- Game 5: 76ers 112, Knicks 106 (OT)
- Game 6: Knicks 118, 76ers 115
(3) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Indiana Pacers - Pacers win 4-2
- Game 1: Bucks 109, Pacers 94
- Game 2: Pacers 125, Bucks 108
- Game 3: Pacers 121, Bucks 118 (OT)
- Game 4: Pacers 126, Bucks 113
- Game 5: Bucks 115, Pacers 92
- Game 6: Pacers 120, Bucks 98
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Orlando Magic - Cavs win 4-3
- Game 1: Cavs 97, Magic 83
- Game 2: Cavs 96, Magic 86
- Game 3: Magic 121, Cavs 83
- Game 4: Magic 112, Cavs 89
- Game 5: Cavs 104, Magic 103
- Game 6: Magic 103, Cavs 96
- Game 7: Cavs 106, Magic 94
First Round - West
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans - Thunder win 4-0
- Game 1: Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
- Game 2: Thunder 124, Pelicans 92
- Game 3: Thunder 106, Pelicans 85
- Game 4: Thunder 97, Pelicans 89
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers - Nuggets win 4-1
- Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
- Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
- Game 3: Nuggets 112, Lakers 105
- Game 4: Lakers 119, Nuggets 108
- Game 5: Nuggets 108, Lakers 106
(3) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (6) Phoenix Suns - Timberwolves win 4-0
- Game 1: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
- Game 2: Timberwolves 105, Suns 93
- Game 3: Timberwolves 126, Suns 109
- Game 4: Timberwolves 122, Suns 116
(4) LA Clippers vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks - Mavericks win 4-2
- Game 1: Clippers 109, Mavericks 97
- Game 2: Mavericks 96, Clippers 93
- Game 3: Mavericks 101, Clippers 90
- Game 4: Clippers 116, Mavericks 111
- Game 5: Mavericks 123, Clippers 93
- Game 6: Mavericks 114, Clippers 101
Eastern Conference Bracket
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Miami Heat
(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers
(3) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Indiana Pacers
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Orlando Magic
Western Conference Bracket
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers
(3) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (6) Phoenix Suns
(4) LA Clippers vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks
2024 NBA Playoffs key dates
- April 16-19: NBA Play-In Tournament
- April 20: NBA Playoffs begin
- May 6-7: NBA Conference Semifinals begin
- May 21-22: NBA Conference Finals begin
- June 6: NBA Finals Game 1
- June 9: NBA Finals Game 2
- June 12 NBA Finals Game 3
- June 14: NBA Finals Game 4
- June 17: NBA Finals Game 5 (if necessary)
- June 20: NBA Finals Game 6 (if necessary)
- June 23: NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)
NBA playoff format
The NBA playoffs, a high-stakes tournament following the regular season, adopt a format designed to favor successful teams while giving underdogs a shot at the championship. Here's a brief look at the structure:
- The postseason begins with a Play-In Tournament featuring the 7th through 10th-ranked teams in each conference. This extends from April 16 to 19.
- The NBA Playoffs kick off with the first round on April 20, where the top one to six teams in each conference join the winners of the Play-In.
- The matchups are set as No. 1 vs. No. 8 seed, No. 2 vs. No. 7 seed, No. 3 vs. No. 6 seed, and No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed.
- Each playoff round, including the Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and NBA Finals, features a seven-game series.
- In these series, the higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, 5 (if necessary), and 7 (if necessary) following a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
- The NBA Finals start on June 6.
Looking for more intel? Our NBA playoff odds page details which teams have the best shot of winning their respective series, while our NBA Championship odds breaks down the clubs with the best odds of winning the NBA Finals. And be sure to check out our NBA Finals MVP odds page to see which player is most likely to hoist the Bill Russell Trophy when all is said and done.
NBA Playoff Bracket FAQs
The Play-In Tournament starts on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The first round of the NBA Playoffs start on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
A total of 16 teams, eight from each conference, make the NBA Playoffs.
The Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks snuck in to the Play-In Tournament with fewer than 40 wins in 2024.