Keep tabs on our continually updated bracket as we monitor each series right up to the conclusion of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks. Also, don't forget to explore our most recent NBA picks, featuring top bets from our esteemed basketball analysts and experts.
NBA playoffs bracket
2024 NBA Playoffs bracket and results
NBA Finals
The end is near for the Mavericks, who find themselves in an 0-3 hole after losing Game 3 106-99 at home. No team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit in the NBA Finals and only one team in such a situation has even forced a Game 7. That was all the way back in 1951, when the Rochester Royals nearly blew it against the resilient New York Knicks.
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks: Boston wins series 4-1
- Game 1: Celtics 107, Mavs 89
- Game 2: Celtics 105, Mavs 98
- Game 3: Celtics 106, Mavs 99
- Game 4: Mavs 122, Celtics 84
- Game 5: Celtics 106, Mavs 88
Eastern Conference Finals
It was a true battle of David vs. Goliath as the 64-win Celtics took on the 47-win Pacers. Boston coasted through to the conference finals with just a pair of losses while Indiana needed a full seven games against the injury-ravaged Knicks to punch their ticket. The Pacers put up a fight in Game 1, nearly winning in regulation before losing in OT. While the Pacers kept things mostly competitive in the eventual sweep, losing three of four game by five points or less, the Celtics were simply too much to overcome.
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (6) Indiana Pacers: Boston wins series 4-0
- Game 1: Celtics 133, Pacers 128 OT
- Game 2: Celtics 126, Pacers 110
- Game 3: Celtics 114, Pacers 111
- Game 4: Celtics 105, Pacers 102
Western Conference Finals
The Timberwolves appeared to be a team of destiny after dispatching the defending champion Nuggets in the conference semifinals. But they went down 0-3 in their best-of-seven series against the Mavericks and had no answer for the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The pair combined for 72 points in Dallas' crushing close-out win on Thursday and now will face the Celtics in the NBA Finals.
(3) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks: Mavericks wins series 4-1
- Game 1: Mavs 108, Timberwolves 105
- Game 2: Mavs 109, Timberwolves 108
- Game 3: Mavs 116, Timberwolves 107
- Game 4: Timberwolves 105, Mavs 100
- Game 5: Mavs 124, Timberwolves 103
Eastern Conference Semifinals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers: Celtics win series 4-1
- 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: Celtics 113, Cavs 98
(2) New York Knicks vs. (6) Indiana Pacers: Pacers win series 4-3
- 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: Knicks 121, Pacers 91
- Game 6: Pacers 116, Knicks 103
- Game 7: Pacers 130, Knicks 109
Western Conference Semifinals
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks: Mavs win series 4-2
- 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: Mavs 104, Thunder 92
- Game 6: Mavs 117, Thunder 116
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (3) Minnesota Timberwolves: Timberwolves win series 4-3
- 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: Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 97
- Game 6: Timberwolves 115, Nuggets 70
- Game 7: Timberwolves 98, Nuggets 90
First Round - East
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Miami Heat - Celtics win series 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 series 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 series 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 series 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 series 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 series 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 series 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 series 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.
