2024 NBA Playoffs: Schedule, teams, format & more

With a memorable regular season in the books, here's everything you need to know about the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

2024 NBA Playoffs start date

The NBA Playoffs started on Saturday 20th April following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament.

2024 NBA Playoffs teams

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics
2. New York Knicks
3. Milwaukee Bucks
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Orlando Magic
6. Indiana Pacers
7. Philadelphia 76ers
8. Miami Heat

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Denver Nuggets
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. Phoenix Suns
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. New Orleans Pelicans

2024 NBA Playoffs schedule

First round matches started on Saturday 20 April and will end on Sunday 5 May.

The conference semi-finals will begin on 6-7 May but can be moved to 4-5 May, if the prior round is completed early.

After that is the conference finals which are set to commence on 21-22 May, though they can also be moved to 19-20 May if the previous round is completed early.

The NBA Finals will begin on Thursday 6 June.

Western Conference - First Round

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder v New Orleans Pelicans (8)

• Game 1: Sunday 21 April @ Oklahoma City
• Game 2: Wednesday 24 April @ Oklahoma City
• Game 3: Saturday 27 April @ New Orleans
• Game 4: Monday 29 April @ New Orleans
• Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday 1 May @ Oklahoma City
• Game 6 (if necessary): Friday 3 May @ New Orleans
• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday 5 May @ Oklahoma City

(2) Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers (7)

• Game 1: Saturday 20 April @ Denver
• Game 2: Monday 22 April @ Denver
• Game 3: Thursday 25 April @ Los Angeles
• Game 4: Saturday 27 April @ Los Angeles
• Game 5 (if necessary): Monday 29 April @ Denver
• Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday 2 May @ Los Angeles
• Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday 4 May @ Denver

(4) Los Angeles Clippers v Dallas Mavericks (5)

• Game 1: Sunday 21 April @ Los Angeles
• Game 2: Tuesday 23 April @ Los Angeles
• Game 3: Friday 26 April @ Dallas
• Game 4: Sunday 28 April @ Dallas
• Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday 1 May @ Los Angeles
• Game 6 (if necessary): Friday 3 May @ Dallas
• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday 5 May @ Los Angeles

(3) Minnesota Timberwolves v Phoenix Suns (6)

• Game 1: Saturday 20 April @ Minnesota
• Game 2: Tuesday 23 April @ Minnesota
• Game 3: Friday 26 April @ Phoenix
• Game 4: Sunday 28 April @ Phoenix
• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday 20 April @ Minnesota
• Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday 2 May @ Phoenix
• Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday 4 May @ Minnesota

Eastern Conference - First Round

(1) Boston Celtics v Miami Heat (8)

• Game 1: Sunday 21 April @ Boston
• Game 2: Wednesday 24 April @ Boston
• Game 3: Saturday 27 April @ Miami
• Game 4: Monday 29 April @ Miami
• Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday 1 May @ Boston
• Game 6 (if necessary): Friday 3 May @ Miami
• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday 5 May @ Boston

(2) New York Knicks v Philadelphia 76ers (7)

• Game 1: Saturday 20 April @ New York
• Game 2: Monday 22 April @ New York
• Game 3: Thursday 25 April @ Philadelphia
• Game 4: Sunday 28 April @ Philadelphia
• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday 30 April @ New York
• Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday 2 May @ Philadelphia
• Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday 4 May @ New York

(3) Milwaukee Bucks v Indiana Pacers (6)

• Game 1: Sunday 21 April @ Milwaukee
• Game 2: Tuesday 23 April @ Milwaukee
• Game 3: Friday 26 April @ Indiana
• Game 4: Sunday 28 April @ Indiana
• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday 30 April @ Milwaukee
• Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday 2 May @ Indiana
• Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday 4 May @ Milwaukee

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers v Orlando Magic (5)

• Game 1: Saturday 20 April @ Cleveland
• Game 2: Monday 22 April @ Cleveland
• Game 3: Thursday 25 April @ Orlando
• Game 4: Saturday 27 April @ Orlando
• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday 30 April @ Cleveland
• Game 6 (if necessary): Friday 3 May @ Orlando
• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday 5 May @ Cleveland

NBA Finals schedule

Game 1: Thursday 6 June
Game 2: Sunday 9 June
Game 3: Wednesday 12 June
Game 4: Friday 14 June
Game 5 (if necessary): Monday 17 June
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday 20 June
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday 23 June

2024 NBA Playoffs format

After the 82-game regular season concludes and the Play-In tournament is completed, eight teams from each conference will battle it out for supremacy in the NBA Playoffs.

The first round matches are seeded and teams will face off in a best-of-seven series to advance.

All four rounds of the Playoffs are best-of-seven series but the teams are not reseeded after each round.

The team with the better regular season record will have home advantage, with each series played out in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, meaning the team with the better regular season record will have one more home match if the series reaches Game 7.

In each conference, the winner of the No.1 seed v No.8 seed will play the winner of the No.4 seed and No.5 seed. The winner of the No.2 seed v No.7 seed will encounter the winner of the No.3 seed v No.6 seed.

The last two remaining teams in each conference will face off in the Conference Finals and the winners of those matches will meet in the NBA Finals.

NBA Playoffs history

Boston Celtics claimed their 18th title in 2024 to become the most successful team in NBA history.

The year prior, the Denver Nuggets defeated Miami Heat to win their first NBA title in franchise history last year.

Los Angeles Lakers are one behind the Celtics with 17 titles, while the Golden State Warriors have been the most dominant victory in the last decade, reaching the NBA Finals in six seasons and clinching the title in four of those.

As of 2024, there have been 41 eastern conference champions compared to 37 from the western conference.

Most NBA titles

	Titles	Finals appearances
Boston Celtics	18	23
Los Angeles Lakers	17	32
Golden State Warriors	7	12
Chicago Bulls	6	6
San Antonio Spurs	5	6
Philadelphia 76ers	3	9
Detroit Pistons	3	7
Miami Heat	3	7