The NBA playoff field is set. Here's the bracket, schedule and more to know for Round 1 (2024)

It's time for playoff basketball.

The 2024 NBA playoff field is finally set following the conclusion of the play-in tournament on Friday night. The Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans secured the eighth and final playoff spot in the East and West, respectively.

The first round of the playoffs is packed with exciting showdowns. There will be rematches of both conference final series from last year, with the No. 2 Denver Nuggets up against the No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers and the No. 1 Boston Celtics seeking revenge over the No. 8 Heat.

Meanwhile, the No. 2 New York Knicks and No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers will square off in the postseason for the first time since 1989, while the No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers and No. 5 Dallas Mavericks will meet for the third time in five years.

From the bracket, schedule, how to watch the games, and more, here's what to know about the first round of the playoffs:

When do the NBA playoffs start?

The first playoff games were played on Saturday, April 20.

What are the first-round NBA playoff matchups?

Here's a look at the first-round series in each conference:

Eastern Conference

• No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Miami Heat
• No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic
• No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers
• No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

Western Conference

• No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans
• No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks
• No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns
• No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers

Kazeem Famuyide discusses why these three players have the most to prove in the 2024 NBA playoffs.

What is the first-round NBA playoff schedule?

Here's an updated look at the first-round schedule (* = if necessary):

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Celtics vs. No. 8 Heat

• Game 1:Celtics; 114, Heat 94
• Game 2:Heat at Celtics; Wednesday, April 24 (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 3:Celtics at Heat; Saturday, April 27 (6 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 4:Celtics at Heat; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 5*:Heat at Celtics; Wednesday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 6*: Celticsat Heat; Friday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 7*:Heat at Celtics; Sunday, May 5 (TBD, TBD)

No. 2 Knicks vs. No. 7 76ers

• Game 1:Knicks 111, 76ers 104
• Game 2:76ers at Knicks; Monday, April 22 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 3:Knicks at 76ers; Thursday, April 25 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 4:Knicks at 76ers; Sunday, April 28 (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
• Game 5*:76ers at Knicks; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 6*: Knicks at 76ers; Thursday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 7*:76ers at Knicks; Sunday, May 4 (TBD, TNT)

No. 3 Bucks vs. No. 6 Pacers

• Game 1:Bucks 109, Pacers 94
• Game 2:Pacers at Bucks; Tuesday, April 23 (8:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• Game 3:Bucks at Pacers; Friday, April 26 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 4:Bucks at Pacers; Sunday, April 28 (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 5*:Pacers at Bucks; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 6*:Bucks at Pacers; Thursday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 7*:Pacers at Bucks; Saturday, May 4 (TBD, TNT)

No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Magic

• Game 1:Cavaliers 97, Magic 83
• Game 2:Magic at Cavaliers; Monday, April 22 (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• Game 3:Cavaliers at Magic; Thursday, April 25 (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• Game 4:Cavaliers at Magic; Saturday, April 27 (1 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 5*:Magic at Cavaliers; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 6*:Cavaliers at Magic; Friday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 7*:Magic at Cavaliers; Sunday, May 5 (TBD, TBD)

Western Conference

No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 Pelicans

• Game 1:Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
• Game 2:Pelicans at Thunder; Wednesday, April 24 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 3:Thunder at Pelicans; Saturday, April 27 (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 4:Thunder at Pelicans; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 5*:Pelicans at Thunder; Wednesday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 6*: Thunder at Pelicans; Friday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 7*:Pelicans at Thunder; Sunday, May 5 (TBD, TBD)

No. 2 Nuggets vs. No. 7 Lakers

• Game 1:Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
• Game 2:Lakers at Nuggets; Monday, April 22 (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 3:Nuggets at Lakers; Thursday, April 25 (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 4:Nuggets at Lakers; Saturday, April 27 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
• Game 5*:Lakers at Nuggets; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 6*: Nuggets at Lakers; Thursday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 7*:Lakers at Nuggets; Saturday, May 4 (TBD, TNT)

No. 3 Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Suns

• Game 1: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
• Game 2:Suns at Timberwolves; Tuesday, April 23 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 3:Timberwolves at Suns; Friday, April 26 (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 4:Timberwolves at Suns; Sunday, April 28 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 5*:Suns at Timberwolves; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 6*:Timberwolves at Suns; Thursday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 7*:Suns at Timberwolves; Saturday, May 4 (TBD, TNT)

No. 4 Clippers vs. No. 5 Mavericks

• Game 1:Clippers 109, Mavericks 97
• Game 2:Mavericks at Clippers, Tuesday, April 23 (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 3:Clippers at Mavericks, Friday, April 26 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 4:Clippers at Mavericks, Sunday, April 28 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
• Game 5*:Mavericks at Clippers, Wednesday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 6*:Clippers at Mavericks, Friday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 7*:Mavericks at Clippers, Sunday, May 5 (TBD, TBD)

How many games is the first round of the NBA playoffs?

All playoff series are best of seven with a 2-2-1-1-1 format. The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.

Does the NBA reseed in the playoffs?

Unlike theNFLplayoffs, teams aren't reseeded after the first round. So the winner of the 1-8 matchup faces the winner of the 4-5 matchup in Round 2, while the winner of the 2-7 matchup faces the winner of the 3-6 matchup.

When does the second round of the NBA playoffs start?

The second round is scheduled to start May 6-7, though it could be moved up to May 4-5 if the first-round ends early.

Where to watch and stream the NBA playoffs

NBA playoff games will be broadcast nationally across ESPN, TNT, NBA TV and ABC.

Games on ABC and ESPN will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app. TNT games can be streamed on TNTdrama.com and the TNT app. Games on NBA TV can be streamed on NBA.com and the NBA app.