The NBA Playoff Bracket is all set after the NBA wrapped up yet another scintillating season. But we’re not here to discuss Russell Westbrook’s triple-doubles or James Harden’s slashing threes. We’re here to talk about what matters most when it comes to professional basketball: the post-season. Record and awards go out the window come April. Kobe Bryant said it best when matter-of-factly stated: “You either win a championship or you’re sh*t.”
Keeping that in mind, here are a bunch of teams that will be clawing each other’s eyes out to raise that banner. Naturally, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are the favorites to meet (again) in the Finals. But the San Antonio Spurs are always dangerous out West and the Boston Celtics continue to overachieve in the East.
Get ya popcorn ready, folks.
NBA Playoff Bracket
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls
No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Indiana Pacers
No. 3 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks
No. 4 Washington Wizards vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference
No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies
No. 3 Houston Rockets vs. No. 6 Oklahoma City Thunder
No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
NBA Playoff Round 1 Schedule
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls
Game 1 – at Celtics, Sunday, April 16, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 – at Celtics, Tuesday, April 18, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 – at Bulls, Friday, April 21, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4 – at Bulls, Sunday, April 23, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 (if necessary) – at Celtics, Wednesday, April 26 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) – at Bulls, Friday, April 28 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) – at Celtics, Sunday, April 30 (TBD)
No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Indiana Pacers
Game 1 – at Cavs, Saturday, April 15, 3 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 2 – at Cavs, Monday, April 17, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 – at Pacers, Thursday, April 20, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4 – at Pacers, Sunday, April 23, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 5 (if necessary) – at Cavs, Tuesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) – at Pacers, Thursday, April 27 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) – at Cavs, Saturday, April 29, TNT
No. 3 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks
Game 1 – at Raptors, Saturday, April 15, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2 – at Raptors, Tuesday, April 18, 7 p.m. ET, NBATV
Game 3 – at Bucks, Thursday, April 20, 8 p.m. ET, NBATV
Game 4 – at Bucks, Saturday, April 22, 3 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 (if necessary) – at Raptors, Monday, April 24, 7 p.m. ET, NBATV
Game 6 (if necessary) – at Bucks, Thursday, April 27 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) – at Raptors, Saturday, April 29, TNT
No. 4 Washington Wizards vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks
Game 1 – at Wizards, Sunday, April 16, 1 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 – at Wizards, Wednesday, April 19, 7 p.m ET, NBATV
Game 3 – at Hawks, Saturday, April 22, 5:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4 – at Hawks, Monday, April 24, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 (if necessary) – at Wizards, Wednesday, April 26 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) – at Hawks, Friday, April 28 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) – at Wizards, Sunday, April 30 (TBD)
Western Conference
No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers
Game 1 – at Warriors, Sunday, April 16, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 2 – at Warriors, Wednesday, April 19, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 – at Blazers, Saturday, April 22, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4 – at Blazers, Monday, April 24, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 (if necessary) – at Warriors, Wednesday, April 26 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) – at Blazers, Friday, April 28, (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) – at Warriors, Sunday, April 30 (TBD)
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies
Game 1 – at Spurs, Saturday, April 15, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2 – at Spurs, Monday, April 17, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 – at Grizzlies, Thursday, April 20, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4 – at Grizzlies, Saturday, April 22, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 5 (if necessary) – at Spurs, Tuesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) – at Grizzlies, Thursday, April 27 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) – at Spurs, Saturday, April 29 (TBD)
No. 3 Houston Rockets vs. No. 6 Oklahoma City Thunder
Game 1 – at Rockets, Sunday, April 16, 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 – at Rockets, Wednesday, April 19th, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 – at Thunder, Friday, April 21, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4 – at Thunder, Sunday, April 23, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 5 (if necessary) – at Rockets, Tuesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) – at Thunder, Thursday, April 27 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) – at Rockets, Saturday, April 29 (TBD)
No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No 5 Utah Jazz
Game 1 – at Clippers, Saturday, April 15, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2 – at Clippers, Tuesday, April 18, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 – at Jazz, Friday, April 21, 10:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Game 4 – at Jazz, Sunday, April 23, 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 (if necessary) – at Clippers, Tuesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) – at Jazz, Friday, April 28 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) – at Clippers, Sunday, April 30 (TBD)
