When and Where to Watch the First Round of the NBA Playoffs
Even though the San Antonio Spurs have Gone Fishin', NBA action keeps cruisin' on
The first round of the NBA Playoffs are still waiting to be finalized as the Play-In Tournament rolls along after the Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors claimed the seventh seeds for their conference. And while we won’t know who the eighth seeds are until Friday night, the NBA couldn’t wait to post the dates, times, and network for each game of the first round matchups.
Every year, there’s a series that gets relegated to playing most of their games on NBA TV. That series looks to be the one between the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks. Games 2 and 3 between them will be broadcast on that network with Game 3 being simulcast on ESPNU as well.
Beyond that, there’s the intrigue of the heavyweight matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, the newcomers on the block Detroit Pistons taking on the New York Knicks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves trying to repeat their Western Conference Finals run having to get past the LeBron and Luka-led Lakers.
Below, you’ll find each matchup and corresponding game info for that series.
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland vs. (8) Atlanta or Miami
Game 1
Hawks or Heat at Cavaliers
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Sun. April 20 at 7 ET
Game 2
Hawks or Heat at Cavaliers
Network: NBA TV | Date & Time: Wed. April 23 at 7:30 ET
Game 3
Cavaliers at Hawks or Heat
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Sat. April 26 at 1 ET
Game 4
Cavaliers at Hawks or Heat
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Mon. April 28 (Time TBD)
*Game 5*
Hawks or Heat at Cavaliers
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Wed. April 30 (Time TBD)
*Game 6*
Cavaliers at Hawks or Heat
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Fri. May 2 (Time TBD)
*Game 7*
Hawks or Heat at Cavaliers
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Sun. May 4 (Time TBD)
(2) Boston vs. (7) Orlando
Game 1
Magic at Celtics
Network: ABC | Date & Time: Sun. April 20 at 3:30 ET
Game 2
Magic at Celtics
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Wed. April 23 at 7 ET
Game 3
Celtics at Magic
Network: ESPN | Date & Time: Fri. April 25 at 7 ET
Game 4
Celtics at Magic
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Sun. April 27 at 7 ET
*Game 5*
Magic at Celtics
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Tue. April 29 (Time TBD)
*Game 6*
Celtics at Magic
Network: TBD | Date & Time:Thu. May 1 (Time TBD)
*Game 7*
Magic at Celtics
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Sat. May 3 (Time TBD)
(3) New York vs. (6) Detroit
Game 1
Pistons at Knicks
Network: ESPN | Date & Time: Sat. April 19 at 6 ET
Game 2
Pistons at Knicks
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Mon. April 21 at 7:30 ET
Game 3
Knicks at Pistons
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Thu. April 24 (Time TBD),
Game 4
Knicks at Pistons
Network: ABC | Date & Time: Sun. April 27 at 1 ET
*Game 5*
Pistons at Knicks
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Tue. April 29 (Time TBD)
*Game 6*
Knicks at Pistons
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Thu. May 1 (Time TBD)
*Game 7*
Pistons at Knicks
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Sat. May 3 (Time TBD)
(4) Indiana vs. (5) Milwaukee
Game 1
Bucks at Pacers
Network: ESPN | Date & Time: Sat. April 19 at 1 ET
Game 2
Bucks at Pacers
Network: NBA TV | Date & Time: Tue. April 22 at 7 ET
Game 3
Pacers at Bucks
Network: ESPNU/NBA TV | Date & Time: Fri. April 25 at 8 ET
Game 4
Pacers at Bucks
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Sun. April 27 at 9:30 ET
*Game 5*
Bucks at Pacers
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Tue. April 29 (Time TBD)
*Game 6*
Pacers at Bucks
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Fri. May 2 (Time TBD)
*Game 7*
Bucks at Pacers
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Sun. May 4 (Time TBD)
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) Dallas or Memphis
Game 1
Mavericks or Grizzlies at Thunder
Network: ABC | Date & Time: Sun. April 20 at 1 ET
Game 2
Mavericks or Grizzlies at Thunder
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Tue. April 22 at 7:30 ET
Game 3
Thunder at Mavericks or Grizzlies
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Thu. April 24 (Time TBD)
Game 4
Thunder at Mavericks or Grizzlies
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Sat. April 26 at 3:30 ET
*Game 5*
Mavericks or Grizzlies at Thunder
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Mon. April 28 (Time TBD)
*Game 6*
Thunder at Mavericks or Grizzlies
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Thu. May 1 (Time TBD)
*Game 7*
Mavericks or Grizzlies at Thunder
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Sat. May 3 (Time TBD)
(2) Houston vs. (7) Golden State
Game 1
Warriors at Rockets
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Sun. April 20 at 9:30 ET
Game 2
Warriors at Rockets
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Wed. April 23 at 9:30 ET
Game 3
Rockets at Warriors
Network: ABC | Date & Time: Sat. April 26 at 8:30 ET
Game 4
Rockets at Warriors
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Mon. April 28 at 10 ET
*Game 5*
Warriors at Rockets
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Wed. April 30 (Time TBD)
*Game 6*
Rockets at Warriors
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Fri. May 2 (Time TBD)
*Game 7*
Warriors at Rockets
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Sun. May 4 (Time TBD)
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota
Game 1
Wolves at Lakers
Network: ABC | Date & Time: Sat. April 19 at 8:30 ET
Game 2
Wolves at Lakers
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Tue. April 22 at 10 ET
Game 3
Lakers at Wolves
Network: ESPN | Date & Time: Fri. April 25 at 9:30 ET
Game 4
Lakers at Wolves
Network: ABC | Date & Time: Sun. April 27 at 3:30 ET
*Game 5*
Wolves at Lakers
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Wed. April 30 (Time TBD)
*Game 6*
Lakers at Wolves
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Fri. May 2 (Time TBD)
*Game 7*
Wolves at Lakers
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Sun. May 4 (Time TBD)
(4) Denver vs. (5) LA Clippers
Game 1
Clippers at Nuggets
Network: ESPN | Date & Time: Sat. April 19 at 3:30 ET
Game 2
Clippers at Nuggets
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Mon. April 21 at 10 ET
Game 3
Nuggets at Clippers
Network: NBA TV | Date & Time: Thu. April 24 (Time TBD)
Game 4
Nuggets at Clippers
Network: TNT | Date & Time: Sat. April 26 at 6 ET
*Game 5*
Clippers at Nuggets
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Tue. April 29 (Time TBD)
*Game 6*
Nuggets at Clippers
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Thu. May 1 (Time TBD)
*Game 7*
Clippers at Nuggets
Network: TBD | Date & Time: Sat. May 3 (Time TBD)
*if necessary*