Sunday's scenarios: How will the West playoff seeding end up?
The 2023 NBA playoffs are almost here.
The Golden State Warriors are the defending champions entering the playoffs, in which 16 teams will face off in four rounds of action to determine the 2023 champion.
The top six teams in each conference automatically qualified for the playoffs, while the teams that finished the regular season in seventh through 10th places advanced to the NBA’s play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff teams in each conference. The play-in tournament will take place Tuesday through Friday, with the first round of the playoffs tipping off Saturday.
The NBA Finals are slated to start June 1, with Game 7 — should the series go that long — scheduled for June 18. All NBA Finals games will be available on ABC and the ESPN App.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
TBD
Game 1: April 16 at Milwaukee
Game 2: at Milwaukee
Game 3: at Play-In Winner
Game 4: at Play-In Winner
Game 5*: at Milwaukee
Game 6*: at Play-In Winner
Game 7*: at Milwaukee
*If necessary
1:00
Why Tim Legler would pick Bucks over Celtics in NBA playoffs
Tim Legler explains why he favors the Bucks to beat the Celtics if the two teams meet in the playoffs.
TBD
Game 1: Saturday at Boston, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: at Boston
Game 3: at Play-In Winner
Game 4: at Play-In Winner
Game 5*: at Boston
Game 6*: at Play-In Winner
Game 7*: at Boston
*If necessary
1:07
Perk: Celtics should be ‘praying’ they don’t see the Heat in the first round
Kendrick Perkins sees a potential upset brewing if the Celtics and Heat square off in the playoffs.
Odds: 76ers -900 (Caesars) | 76ers: 75% (ESPN BPI)
Game 1: Saturday at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: at Philadelphia
Game 3: at Brooklyn
Game 4: at Brooklyn
Game 5*: at Philadelphia
Game 6*: at Brooklyn
Game 7*: at Philadelphia
*If necessary
2:08
How the 76ers can win the Eastern Conference
Tim Bontemps and Tim Legler detail what the 76ers need to do in order to win the East.
Odds: Cavaliers -205 (Caesars) | Knicks: 52% (ESPN BPI)
Game 1: Saturday at Cleveland, 6 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: at Cleveland
Game 3: at New York
Game 4: at New York
Game 5*: at Cleveland
Game 6*: at New York
Game 7*: at Cleveland
*If necessary
1:59
How deep can the Knicks go in the postseason?
Tim Legler and Tim Bontemps break down the Knicks’ postseason prospects.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
TBD
Game 1: April 16 at Denver
Game 2: at Denver
Game 3: at Play-In Winner
Game 4: at Play-In Winner
Game 5*: at Denver
Game 6*: at Play-In Winner
Game 7*: at Denver
*If necessary
0:32
Mike Malone calls out ‘soft’ Nuggets
Nuggets head coach Mike Malone was disappointed with his team’s effort in a loss against the Rockets.
TBD
Game 1: April 16 at Memphis
Game 2: at Memphis
Game 3: at Play-In Winner
Game 4: at Play-In Winner
Game 5*: at Memphis
Game 6*: at Play-In Winner
Game 7*: at Memphis
*If necessary
1:56
Jaren Jackson Jr. drops 36 as Grizzlies defeat the Bucks
Jaren Jackson Jr. puts up an efficient 36 points, including 5 threes, en route to a Grizzlies win over the Bucks 137-114.
Odds: Warriors -265 (Caesars) | Warriors/Kings: 50% (ESPN BPI)
Game 1: Saturday at Sacramento, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: at Sacramento
Game 3: at Golden State
Game 4: at Golden State
Game 5*: at Sacramento
Game 6*: at Golden State
Game 7*: at Sacramento
*If necessary
1:33
Perk: Warriors’ defense has been ‘horrible,’ Lakers favorites in the West
Kendrick Perkins says the Warriors’ defense has been ‘horrible’ and the Lakers are favorites in the Western Conference.
Odds: Suns -500 (Caesars) | Clippers: 82% (ESPN BPI)
Game 1: April 16 at Phoenix
Game 2: at Phoenix
Game 3: at LA
Game 4: at LA
Game 5*: at Phoenix
Game 6*: at LA
Game 7*: at Phoenix
*If necessary
1:45
Kevin Durant leads Suns to 7th straight win with 29-point performance
Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns win their seventh straight game with a tough home win over the Denver Nuggets.
Historical NBA Finals coverage
2022: Warriors champions once again
Stephen Curry & Co. returned to the top of the mountain, defeating the Boston Celtics in six games to claim their fourth championship in the past seven seasons.
Complete 2022 NBA Finals coverage
2021: Giannis, Bucks conquer the Suns
Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s epic Game 6 performance ended the Milwaukee Bucks’ 50-year title drought, giving them their second NBA championship with a win over the Phoenix Suns.
Complete 2021 NBA Finals coverage
2020: LeBron, Lakers claim bubble title
The Los Angeles Lakers conquered the NBA’s Orlando bubble, defeating the Miami Heat in six games for the 17th championship in franchise history.
Complete 2020 NBA Finals coverage
2019: Kawhi becomes King in the North
For the first time in NBA history, a team outside the United States won the championship, as the Toronto Raptors knocked off the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Complete 2019 NBA Finals coverage
2018: How sweep it is for Warriors
The Golden State Warriors capped off a second consecutive title run by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games.
Complete 2018 NBA Finals coverage
2017: Durant puts Warriors back on top
The Golden State Warriors were nearly perfect in 2017, going 16-1 in the playoffs en route to winning the NBA championship.
Complete 2017 NBA Finals coverage
2016: ‘Cleveland, this is for you!’
LeBron James and the Cavaliers ended Cleveland’s 52-year title drought by becoming the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.
