After navigating a very difficult NBA season marred with injuries and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the League overcame the odds to finish the season and start the playoffs.
This year’s postseason has been different with the addition of the perennial NBA Play-In tournament expanding the field from 16 to 20 teams. But after the final Western Conference play-in matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors is said and done, the playoff brackets goes back to normal.
The @WashWizards clinch the East #8 seed and will face Philadelphia in the First Round of the #NBAPlayoffs.
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2021
The @memgrizz and @warriors battle Friday at 9pm/et on ESPN for the West #8 seed! #StateFarmPlayIn pic.twitter.com/WGiLsslcjh
The playoff games will be split between the ESPN and TNT networks. First- and second-round games are scattered across both channels. All NBA Finals games will be shown exclusively on ABC.
Eastern Conference first round schedule.
(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Washington Wizards:
- Game 1: Sunday, May 23 | Washington at Philadelphia, 1 ET, TNT
- Game 2: Wednesday, May 26 | Washington at Philadelphia, 7 ET, NBA TV
- Game 3: Saturday, May 29 | Philadelphia at Washington, TBD, ESPN
- Game 4: Monday, May 31 | Philadelphia at Washington, TBD, TNT
- Game 5: Wednesday, June 2 | Washington at Philadelphia, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 6: Friday, June 4 | Philadelphia at Washington, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 7: Sunday, June 6 | Washington at Philadelphia, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
(2) Brooklyn Nets vs. (7) Boston Celtics:
- Game 1: Saturday, May 22 | Boston at Brooklyn, 8 ET, ABC
- Game 2: Tuesday, May 25 | Boston at Brooklyn, 7:30 ET, TNT
- Game 3: Friday, May 28 | Brooklyn at Boston, 8:30 ET, ABC
- Game 4: Sunday, May 30 | Brooklyn at Boston, 7 ET, TNT
- Game 5: Tuesday, June 1 | Boston at Brooklyn, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 6: Thursday, June 3 | Brooklyn at Boston, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 7: Saturday, June 5 | Boston at Brooklyn, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
(3) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Miami Heat:
- Game 1: Saturday, May 22 | Miami at Milwaukee, 2 ET, ESPN
- Game 2: Monday, May 24 | Miami at Milwaukee, 7:30 ET, TNT
- Game 3: Thursday, May 27 | Milwaukee at Miami, 7:30 ET, TNT
- Game 4: Saturday, May 29 | Milwaukee at Miami, 1:30 ET, TNT
- Game 5: Tuesday, June 1 | Miami at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 6: Thursday, June 3 | Milwaukee at Miami, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 7: Saturday, June 5 | Miami at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
(4) New York Knicks vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
- Game 1: Sunday, May 23 | Atlanta at New York, 7 ET, TNT
- Game 2: Wednesday, May 26 | Atlanta at New York, 7:30 ET, TNT
- Game 3: Friday, May 28 | New York at Atlanta, 7 ET, ESPN
- Game 4: Sunday, May 30 | New York at Atlanta, 1 ET, ABC
- Game 5: Wednesday, June 2 | Atlanta at New York, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 6: Friday, June 4 | New York at Atlanta, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 7: Sunday, June 6 | Atlanta at New York, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
Western Conference first round schedule.
(1) Utah Jazz vs. (8) Winner of Memphis/Golden State:
- Game 1: Sunday, May 23 | GSW/MEM at Utah, 9:30 ET, TNT
- Game 2: Wednesday, May 26 | GSW/MEM at Utah, 10 ET, TNT
- Game 3: Saturday, May 29 | Utah at GSW/MEM, TBD, ESPN
- Game 4: Monday, May 31 | Utah at GSW/MEM, TBD, TNT
- Game 5: Wednesday, June 2 | GSW/MEM at Utah, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 6: Friday, June 4 | Utah at GSW/MEM, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 7: Sunday, June 6 | GSW/MEM at Utah, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
(2) Phoenix Suns vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers:
- Game 1: Sunday, May 23 | L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 3:30 ET, ABC
- Game 2: Tuesday, May 25 | L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 10 ET, TNT
- Game 3: Thursday, May 27 | Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 10 ET, TNT
- Game 4: Sunday, May 30 | Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 3:30 ET, ABC
- Game 5: Tuesday, June 1 | L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 6: Thursday, June 3 | Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 7: Saturday, June 5 | L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers:
- Game 1: Saturday, May 22 | Portland at Denver, 10:30 ET, ESPN
- Game 2: Monday, May 24 | Portland at Denver, 10 ET, TNT
- Game 3: Thursday, May 27 | Denver at Portland, 10:30 ET, NBA TV
- Game 4: Saturday, May 29 | Denver at Portland, 4 ET, TNT
- Game 5: Tuesday, June 1 | Portland at Denver, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 6: Thursday, June 3 | Denver at Portland, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 7: Saturday, June 5 | Portland at Denver, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks:
- Game 1: Saturday, May 22 | Dallas at LA Clippers, 4:30 ET, ESPN
- Game 2: Tuesday, May 25 | Dallas at LA Clippers, 10:30 ET, NBA TV
- Game 3: Friday, May 28 | LA Clippers at Dallas, 9:30 ET, ESPN
- Game 4: Sunday, May 30 | LA Clippers at Dallas, 9:30 ET, TNT
- Game 5: Wednesday, June 2 | Dallas at LA Clippers, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 6: Friday, June 4 | LA Clippers at Dallas, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
- Game 7: Sunday, June 6 | Dallas at LA Clippers, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
The first round of the NBA playoffs start on Saturday, May 22nd.
