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NBA playoffs 2023 schedule, bracket, format

The 2023 NBA playoffs schedule is set.

This year there was no in-between separating contenders and pretenders looking to grab better odds at top prospect Victor Wembanyama.

The tank-a-thon even forced the Dallas Mavericks to throw all their chips in the NBA Draft lottery, despite having two of the game’s premier scorers, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

The play-in tournament is slated to begin on Tuesday, with many participating teams resting their starters on Sunday in preparation.

The traditional NBA playoffs will begin on April 15.

Here is the full NBA playoff schedule. (Games with asterisks are if necessary.)

Want to catch a game? The Knicks schedule with links to buy tickets can be found here.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has led the Bucks to the top of the East this season. Rob Carr/Getty Images

Eastern Conference NBA playoff schedule, bracket

Play-in Tournament

No. 8. Hawks 116, No. 7 Heat 105

  • Hawks get No. 7 seed

No. 10 Bulls 109, No. 9 Raptors 105

  • Bulls play Heat for the No. 8 seed.

No. 8 seed: No. 7 Heat 102 vs. No. 10 Bulls 91

No. 1 Bucks vs. No. 8 Heat

Game 1: Sunday, April 16, 5:30 p.m. at Milwaukee (TNT)
Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, 9 p.m. at Milwaukee (NBA TV)
Game 3: Saturday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. at Miami (ESPN)
Game 4: Monday, April 24 at Miami,
Game 5*: Wednesday, April 26 at Milwaukee
Game 6*: Friday, April 28, at Miami
Game 7*: Sunday, April 30, at Milwaukee

No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Hawks

Game 1: Saturday, April 15, 3:30 p.m. at Boston (ESPN)
Game 2: Tuesday, April 18, 7 p.m. at Boston (NBA TV)
Game 3: Friday, April 21, 7 p.m. at Atlanta (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 23, 7 p.m. at Atlanta (TNT)
Game 5*: Tuesday, April 25 at Boston
Game 6*: Thursday, April 27 at Atlanta
Game 7*: Saturday, April 29 at Boston

No. 3 76ers vs. No. 6 Nets

Game 1: Saturday, April 15, 1 p.m. at Philadelphia (ESPN)
Game 2: Monday, April 17, 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia (TNT)
Game 3: Thursday, April 20, 7:30 p.m. at Brooklyn (TNT)
Game 4: Saturday, April 22, 1 p.m. at Brooklyn (TNT)
Game 5*: Monday, April 24 at Philadelphia
Game 6*: Thursday, April 27 at Brooklyn
Game 7*: Saturday, April 29 at Philadelphia

Want to catch a game? The Nets schedule with links to buy tickets can be found here.

Jalen Brunson pushed the Knicks to the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Knicks

Game 1: Saturday, April 15, 6 p.m. at Cleveland (ESPN)
Game 2: Tuesday, April 18, 7:30 p.m. at Cleveland (TNT)
Game 3: Friday, April 21, 8:30 p.m. at New York (ABC)
Game 4: Sunday, April 23, 1 p.m. at New York (ABC)
Game 5*: Wednesday, April 26 at Cleveland
Game 6*: Friday, April 28 at New York
Game 7*: Sunday, April 30 at Cleveland

Western Conference NBA playoff schedule, bracket

Play-in Tournament

No. 7 Lakers 108, No. 8 Timberwolves 102 (OT)

  • Lakers get No. 7 seed; Timberwolves play Thunder for No. 8 seed
LeBron James will try to lead the Lakers into the playoffs. Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

No. 10 Thunder 123, No. 9 Pelicans 118

No. 8 seed: No. 10 Timberwolves 120, vs. No. 9 Thunder 95

No. 1 Nuggets vs. No. 8 play-in winner

Game 1: Sunday, April 16, 10:30 p.m. at Denver (TNT)
Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, 10 p.m. at Denver (TNT)
Game 3: Friday, April 21, 9:30 p.m. at Minnesota (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 23, 9:30 p.m. at Minnesota (TNT)
Game 5*: Tuesday, April 25 at Denver
Game 6*: Thursday, April 27 at Minnesota
Game 7*: Saturday, April 29 at Denver

No. 2 Grizzlies vs. No. 7 Lakers

Game 1: Sunday, April 16, 3 p.m. at Memphis (ABC)
Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, 7:30 p.m. at Memphis (TNT)
Game 3: Saturday, April 22, 10 p.m., at Los Angeles (ESPN)
Game 4: Monday, April 24 at Los Angeles
Game 5*: Wednesday, April 26 at Memphis
Game 6*: Friday, April 28 at Los Angeles
Game 7*: Sunday, April 30 at Memphis

No. 3 Kings vs. No. 6 Warriors

Game 1: Saturday, April 15, 8:30 p.m. at Sacramento (ABC)
Game 2: Monday, April 17, 10 p.m. at Sacramento (TNT)
Game 3: Thursday, April 20, 10 p.m. at Golden State (TNT)
Game 4: Sunday, April 23, 3:30 p.m. at Golden State (ABC)
Game 5*: Wednesday, April 26 at Sacramento
Game 6*: Friday, April 28 at Golden State
Game 7*: Sunday, April 30 at Sacramento

Kevin Durant will try to push the Suns over the edge for a chance of gaining the franchise its first-ever championship. Chris Coduto/Getty Images

No. 4 Suns vs. No. 5 Clippers

Game 1: Sunday, April 16. 8 p.m. at Phoenix (TNT)
Game 2: Tuesday, April 18, 10 p.m. at Phoenix (TNT)
Game 3: Thursday, April 20, 10:30 p.m. at Los Angeles (NBA TV)
Game 4: Saturday, April 22, 3:30 p.m. at Los Angeles (TNT)
Game 5*: Tuesday, April 25 at Phoenix
Game 6*: Thursday, April 27 at Los Angeles
Game 7*: Saturday, April 29 at Phoenix

NBA playoffs second round

The second round of the NBA playoffs will begin on May 1, with a possible move-up to April 29 if the first round ends early.

NBA playoffs conference finals

The NBA conference finals will begin on May 16, but could be moved up to May 14.

NBA Finals

Game 1: June 1
Game 2: June 4
Game 3: June 7
Game 4: June 9
Game 5* June 12
Game 6*: June 15
Game 7*: June 18

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Tobi Tarwater

Update: 2024-07-08