How to watch the 2023 NBA Playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The 2023 NBA Playoffs are just around the corner.
The NBA’s annual postseason tournament begins with the Play-In featuring the Nos. 7-10 seeds in each conference on April 11, two days after the regular season concludes. The opening round of the playoffs begins on April 15.
This year’s tournament is guaranteed to have some incredible storylines.
How far can the Suns go with trade-deadline acquisition and 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant in the mix? How will the defending champion Golden State Warriors fare? Will the top-seeded Denver Nuggets be able to get over their recent postseason hump? Will Boston be able to make it back to the Finals, or will Giannis Antetounmpko and Milwaukee or Joel Embiid and Philadelphia ruin their quest?
Here’s everything you need to know about the NBA Playoffs.
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
The Nos. 7-10 seeds in each conference are set to participate in the NBA’s third annual Play-In Tournament. Here’s how it works:
-The No. 7 seed in each conference hosts the No. 8 seed in each conference, while the No. 9 seed hosts the No. 10 seed.
-The winner of the 7 seed-8 seed matchup will be the No. 7 seed in the postseason. The loser of the 7-8 game plays the winner of the 9-10 game for the No. 8 seed, the final playoff spot in the conference.
2023 NBA Playoff Schedule
April 11-15: NBA Play-In Tournament
April 15: First round of NBA Playoffs begin
May 1-2: Second round of NBA Playoffs begin (potential to begin on April 29-30 depending on first-round results)
May 16-17: NBA Conference Finals begin (potential to start on May 14-15)
June 1: NBA Finals begin
2023 NBA Play-in Tournament
April 11:
Game 1: East No. 7 Miami Heat vs. East No. 8 Atlanta Hawks/ Toronto Raptors (Winner is No. 7 seed)
Game 2: West No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers/ New Orleans Pelicans/ Los Angeles Clippers / Golden State Warriors/ Minnesota Timberwolves vs. West No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans/ Los Angeles Lakers/ Los Angeles Clippers/ Golden State Warriors/ Minnesota Timberwolves (Winner is No. 7 seed)
April 12:
Game 3: East No. 9 Toronto Raptors/ Atlanta Hawks/ Chicago Bulls vs. East No. 10 Chicago Bulls/ Atlanta Hawks (Loser is eliminated)
Game 4: West No. 9 Minnesota Timberwolves/ New Orleans Pelicans/ Los Angeles Lakers/ Los Angeles Clippers vs. West No. 10 Oklahoma City Thunder (Loser is eliminated)
April 14:
Game 5: Loser of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 3 (Winner is No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated)
Game 6: Loser of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 4 (Winner is No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated)
2023 NBA First Round
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 seed
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 seed
No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Brooklyn Nets
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 New York Knicks
Western Conference
No. 1 Denver Nuggets/ Memphis Grizzlies vs. No. 8 seed
No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies/ Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 seed
No. 3 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Clippers/ Golden State Warriors/ Los Angeles Lakers/ New Orleans Pelicans
No. 4 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 5 Golden State Warriors/ Los Angeles Clippers/ Los Angeles Lakers/ New Orleans Pelicans
2023 NBA Finals Schedule
Game 1: June 1
Game 2: June 4
Game 3: June 7
Game 4: June 9
Game 5*: June 12
Game 6*: June 15
Game 7*: June 18
* if necessary
Recent NBA Champions
2022: Golden State Warriors
2021: Milwaukee Bucks
2020: Los Angeles Lakers
2019: Toronto Raptors
2018: Golden State Warriors
2017: Golden State Warriors
2016: Cleveland Cavaliers
2015: Golden State Warriors
2014: San Antonio Spurs
2013: Miami Heat
2012: Miami Heat
2011: Dallas Mavericks
2010: Los Angeles Lakers
