The NBA starts its two-month quest to determine a champion as the first round of the playoffs tip off with four games Saturday.
The field went from 20 to 16 teams through the play-in tournament, as the four survivors join the eight-game first round. All four rounds of the playoffs are best of 7.
Oklahoma City and Cleveland are the top seeds in the Western Conference and Eastern Conference respectively, though defending champion Boston is one of the favorites. The Los Angles Lakers, another favorite, open Saturday against Minnesota.
When do the NBA playoffs start?
The best-of-seven first rounds begin Saturday, April 19.
NBA playoff format
Eight teams from each conference go into a seeded bracket to produce the two conference champions. Each round is a best-of-seven with the NBA finals set to begin on June 5.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves playoffs
The Los Angeles Lakers are a No. 3 seed and will host the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Mountain/7:30 p.m. Central. That is the first game of a seven-game series.
Who are the top seeds?
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers are the top seeds.
Western Conference playoff pairings
In bracket order
- (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies
- (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
- (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
- (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
Eastern Conference playoff pairings
In bracket order
- (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat
- (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
- (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
- (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic
Full NBA first-round playoff schedules
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies
Game 1: Grizzlies at Thunder, Sunday, April 20, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, ABC
Game 2: Grizzlies at Thunder, Tuesday, April 22, 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT, TNT
Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies, Thursday, April 24, TBD, TNT
Game 4:Thunder at Grizzlies, Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, TNT
Game 5: Grizzlies at Thunder, Monday, April 28, TBD *
Game 6: Thunder at Grizzlies, Thursday, May 1, TBD *
Game 7: Grizzlies at Thunder, Saturday, May 3, TBD *
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
Game 1: Warriors at Rockets, Sunday, April 20, 7:30 p.m. MT/8:30 p.m. CT, TNT
Game 2: Warriors at Rockets, Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. MT/8:30 p.m. CT, TNT
Game 3: Rockets at Warriors, Saturday, April 26, 7:30 p.m. MT/8:30 p.m. CT, ABC
Game 4: Rockets at Warriors, Monday, April 28, 7:30 p.m. MT/8:30 p.m. CT, TNT
Game 5: Warriors at Rockets, TBD*
Game 6: Rockets at Warriors, TBD*
Game 7: Warriors at Rockets, TBD
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers, Saturday, April 19, 6:30 p.m. MT/7:30 p.m. CT, ABC
Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers, Tuesday, April 22, 8 p.m. MT/9 p.m. CT, TNT
Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves, Friday, April 25, 7:30 p.m. MT/8:30 p.m. CT, ESPN
Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves, Sunday, April 27, 1:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m. CT, ABC
Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers, Wednesday, April 30, TBD*
Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves, Friday, May 2, TBD*
Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers, Sunday, May 4, TBD*
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets, Saturday, April 19, 1:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets, Monday, April 21, 8 p.m. MT/9 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers, Thursday, April 24, TBD, NBA TV
Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers, Saturday, April 26, 4 p.m. MT/5 p.m. TNT
Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets, Tuesday, April 29, TBD*
Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers, Thursday, May 1, TBD*
Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets, Saturday, May 3, TBD*
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Miami Heat
Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers, Sunday, April 20, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT, TNT
Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 23, 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT, NBA TV
Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat, Saturday, April 26, TBD, TNT
Game 4:Cavaliers at Heeat, Monday, April 28, TBD
Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 30, TBD *
Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat, Friday, May 2, TBD *
Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers, Sunday, May 4, TBD *
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Orlando Magic
Game 1: Orlando Magic at Celtics, Sunday, April 20, 1:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m. CT, ABC
Game 2: Orlando Magic at Celtics, Wednesday, April 23, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT, TNT
Game 3: Celtics at Orlando Magic, Friday, April 25, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT, ESPN
Game 4: Celtics at Orlando Magic, Sunday, April 27, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m., TNT
Game 5: Orlando Magic at Celtics, TBD*
Game 6: Celtics at Orlando Magic, TBD*
Game 7: Orlando Magic at Celtics, TBD*
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
Game 1: Pistons at Knicks, Saturday, April 19, 4 p.m. MT/5 p.m. CT, ESPN
Game 2: Pistons at Knicks, Monday, April 21, 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Knicks at Pistons, Thursday, April 24, TBD, TN
Game 4: Knicks at Pistons, Sunday, April 27, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, ABC
Game 5: Pistons at Knicks, Tuesday, April 29, TBD*
Game 6: Knicks at Pistons, Thursday, May 1, TBD*
Game 7: Pistons at Knicks, Saturday, May 3, TBD*
(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
Game 1: Bucks at Pacers, Saturday, April 19, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, ESPN
Game 2: Bucks at Pacers, Tuesday, April 22, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT, ESPN
Game 3: Pacers at Bucks, Friday, April 25, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT, ESPN
Game 4: Pacers at Bucks, Sunday, April 27, 7:30 p.m. MT/8:30 p.m. CT, ESPN
Game 5: Bucks at Pacers, Tuesday, April 29, TBD *
Game 6: Pacers at Bucks, Friday, May 2, TBD *
Game 7: Bucks at Pacers, Sunday, May 4, TBD *
How to watch NBA playoffs
Most NBA playoff games will be televised on ABC, ESPN and TNT. A few will be on NBA TV.
NBA predictions and odds
Odds to win the NBA Finals from ESPN BET:
Oklahoma City Thunder +180
Boston Celtics +190
Cleveland Cavaliers +575
Los Angeles Lakers +1300
Golden State Warriors +1500
LA Clippers +2500
New York Knicks +3000
Denver Nuggets +3300
Minnesota Timberwolves +4000
Houston Rockets +8000
Indiana Pacers +8000
Milwaukee Bucks +10000
Detroit Pistons +25000
Atlanta Hawks +75000
Orlando Magic +75000
Memphis Grizzlies +75000
Dallas Mavericks +100000
Miami Heat +100000
OKC Thunder
The No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the betting favorite to win the NBA title.
NBA games tonight
Saturday's NBA schedule
Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, ESPN
Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets, 1:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m., ESPN
Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks, 4 p.m. MT/5 p.m. CT, ESPN
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angles Lakers, 6:30 p.m. MT/7:30 p.m. CT, ABC
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
