An exciting final day of the regular season provided the needed clarity for the 2018 NBA Playoffs bracket, as up until that point several teams weren’t yet certain of who they’d face in the first round.
There may have been some gamesmanship in attempt to orchestrate a favorable matchup, and time will tell if that ultimately proved beneficial. With the dust now settled, the playoffs begin Saturday at 12 p.m. PT, with the defending champion Golden State Warriors hosting the San Antonio Spurs.
Although the Warriors are seeking a third title in four years, they enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. They do so without Stephen Curry, who is still on the mend from a knee injury.
Golden State was supplanted at the top of the standings by the Houston Rockets, who finished with the best record in the NBA at 65-17 and therefore clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Meanwhile in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors earned the No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history by going 59-23 and finishing four games ahead of the Boston Celtics. The Los Angeles Lakers missed the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.
Included below are all first-round playoff matchups, TV listings (PT) and season series recaps.
Western Conference
Houston Rockets (1) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8); Houston won season series 4-0
Game 1: Timberwolves at Rockets, Sunday, April 15, 6 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2: Timberwolves at Rockets, Wednesday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Rockets at Timberwolves, Saturday, April 21 at 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Rockets at Timberwolves, Monday, April 23 at 5 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5*: Timberwolves at Rockets, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6*: Rockets at Timberwolves, Friday, April 27 (TBD)
Game 7*: Timberwolves at Rockets, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)
Golden State Warriors (2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7); Golden State won season series 3-1
Game 1: Spurs at Warriors, Saturday, April 14 at 12 p.m. (ABC)
Game 2: Spurs at Warriors, Monday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Warriors at Spurs, Thursday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 4: Warriors at Spurs, Sunday, April 22 at 12:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 5*: Spurs at Warriors, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)
Game 6*: Warriors at Spurs, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)
Game 7*: Spurs at Warriors, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)
Portland Trail Blazers (3) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (6); Season series tied 2-2
Game 1: Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Saturday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2: Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Tuesday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Trail Blazers at Pelicans, Thursday, April 19 at 6 p.m. (NBA TV)
Game 4: Trail Blazers at Pelicans, Saturday, April 21 at 2 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5*: Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)
Game 6*: Trail Blazers at Pelicans, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)
Game 7*: Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)
Oklahoma City Thunder (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5); Oklahoma City won season series 3-1
Game 1: Jazz at Thunder, Sunday, April 15 at 3:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2: Jazz at Thunder, Wednesday, April 18 at 5 p.m. (NBA TV)
Game 3: Thunder at Jazz, Saturday, April 21 at 17 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Thunder at Jazz, Monday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5*: Jazz at Thunder, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6*: Thunder at Jazz, Friday, April 27 (TBD)
Game 7*: Jazz at Thunder, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)
Eastern Conference
Toronto Raptors (1) vs. Washington Wizards (8); Season series tied 2-2
Game 1: Wizards at Raptors, Saturday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2: Wizards at Raptors, Tuesday, April 17 at 4 p.m. (NBA TV)
Game 3: Raptors at Wizards, Friday, April 20 at 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 4: Raptors at Wizards, Sunday, April 22 at 3 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5*: Wizards at Raptors, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6*: Raptors at Wizards, Friday, April 27 (TBD)
Game 7*: Wizards at Raptors, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (7); Season series tied 2-2
Game 1: Bucks at Celtics, Sunday, April 15 at 10 a.m. (TNT)
Game 2: Bucks at Celtics, Tuesday, April 17 at 5 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Celtics at Bucks, Friday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Celtics at Bucks, Sunday, April 22 at 10 a.m. (ABC)
Game 5*: Bucks at Celtics, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)
Game 6*: Celtics at Bucks, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)
Game 7*: Bucks at Cetlics, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)
Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Miami Heat (6); Season series tied 2-2
Game 1: Heat at 76ers, Saturday, April 14 at 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2: Heat at 76ers, Monday, April 16 at 5 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: 76ers at Heat, Thursday, April 19 at 4 p.m. (TNT)
Game 4: 76ers at Heat, Saturday, April 21 at 11:30 a.m. (TNT)
Game 5*: Heat at 76ers, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)
Game 6*: 76ers at Heat, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)
Game 7*: Heat at 76ers, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Indiana Pacers (5); Indian won season series 3-1
Game 1: Pacers at Cavaliers, Sunday, April 15 at 12:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 2: Pacers at Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 18 at 4 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Cavaliers at Pacers, Friday, April 20 at 4 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Cavaliers at Pacers, Sunday, April 22 at 5:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5*: Pacers at Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6*: Cavaliers at Pacers, Friday, April 27 (TBD)
Game 7*: Pacers at Cavaliers, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)
*if necessary
