Los Angeles Lakers- ESPN

ESPN

May 2, 2024, 07:24 AM

The first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs are underway and expect plenty of drama after a memorable regular season.

The Boston Celtics clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference in March and have homecourt advantage through the entire postseason as they look to return to the Finals for the first time since 2022 and hang an NBA championship banner for the first time since 2008. Among the series in the East to watch will be the No. 2 seed New York Knicks, who will clash against reigning MVP Joel Embiid and the No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers.

In the West, the Minnesota Timberwolves became the first team to reach the second round, sweeping the Phoenix Suns and the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder swept the New Orleans Pelicans. Defending champion Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games and are set to face the Timberwolves in the second round.

After the play-in tournament, the 16-team NBA playoffs began with four games on April 20 and four more on April 21. Eight teams from each conference reach the first round and face off in a best-of-7 series to advance. All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-7, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have homecourt advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary).

We'll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2024 NBA Finals, which tip off on June 6 on ABC and the ESPN app.

MORE: Previewing all 16 playoff teams | Offseason guides for every team

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Boston Celtics (1) defeat Miami Heat (8), 4-1

Game 1: Celtics 114, Heat 94
Game 2: Heat 111, Celtics 101
Game 3: Celtics 104, Heat 84
Game 4: Celtics 102, Heat 88
Game 5: Celtics 118, Heat 84

Celtics take off from the start, blow out Heat to end series

The Celtics finish out the series vs. the Heat in emphatic fashion, sending Miami home with a decisive win in Game 5.

New York Knicks (2) lead Philadelphia 76ers (7), 3-2

Game 1: Knicks 111, 76ers 104
Game 2: Knicks 104, 76ers 101
Game 3: 76ers 125, Knicks 114
Game 4: Knicks 97, 76ers 92
Game 5: 76ers 112, Knicks 106 (OT)
Game 6 : Thursday, May 2 at Philadelphia (9 p.m., TNT)
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 at New York (7 p.m., TNT)

Tyrese Maxey the hero with 46 points as Sixers steal Game 5

Tyrese Maxey drops 46 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, to help the Philadelphia 76ers beat the New York Knicks in Game 5.

Indiana Pacers (6) lead Milwaukee Bucks (3), 3-2

Game 1: Bucks 109, Pacers 94
Game 2: Pacers 125, Bucks 108
Game 3: Pacers 121, Bucks 118 (OT)
Game 4: Pacers 126, Bucks 113
Game 5: Bucks 115, Pacers 92
Game 6: Thursday, May 2 at Indiana (6:30 p.m., TNT)
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 4 at Milwaukee (TNT)

Short-handed Bucks beat Pacers in Game 5 to keep season alive

Bobby Portis, Khris Middleton and Patrick Beverley all put up double-doubles as the Bucks win by double digits over the Pacers.

Cleveland Cavaliers (4) lead Orlando Magic (5), 3-2

Game 1: Cavaliers 97, Magic 83
Game 2: Cavaliers 96, Magic, 86
Game 3: Magic 121, Cavaliers 83
Game 4: Magic 112, Cavaliers 89
Game 5: Cavaliers 104, Magic 103
Game 6: Friday, May 3 at Orlando (7 p.m., ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 5 at Cleveland (1 p.m., ABC)