After a long regular season that featured numerous key injuries, a wild MVP chase and playoff races that went down to the final day, the NBA playoff picture is finally set.
NBA playoff schedule 2015: Clippers-Spurs headlines first-round matchups
After a long and exciting season, the NBA Playoffs have finally arrived. Here are the matchups and schedule for the first round.
The Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks clinched their No. 1 seeds early, but they had to wait until the final day of the regular season to learn their first-round opponents. The Warriors will open the postseason against Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans, while the Hawks will play the Brooklyn Nets. Both the Pelicans and Nets picked up wins to earn their spot in the postseason.
The Houston Rockets nabbed the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference thanks to the San Antonio Spurs losing to the Pelicans, while the Chicago Bulls earned the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference by beating Atlanta. With the Spurs losing and Memphis Grizzlies winning, San Antonio fell to the sixth seed to set up an intriguing matchup against the third-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.
Here are all the first-round matchups. The dates, times and television broadcasts will be filled in as the official schedule is released. All times are ET.
Western Conference
No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans
Game 1: At Golden State, Saturday, April 18, ABC. 3:30 p.m.
Game 2: At Golden State, Monday April 20, TNT. 10:30 p.m.
Game 3: At New Orleans, Thursday April 23, TNT. 9:30 p.m.
Game 4: At New Orleans, Saturday April 25, ESPN. 8 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary): At Golden State, Tuesday April 28, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): At New Orleans, Friday May 1, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): At Golden State, Sunday May 3, TBD
No. 2 Houston Rockets vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks
Game 1: At Houston, Saturday April 18, ESPN. 9:30 p.m.
Game 2: At Houston, Tuesday April 21, TNT, 9:30 p.m.
Game 3: At Dallas, Friday April 24, ESPN, 7 p.m.
Game 4: At Dallas, Sunday April 26, TNT 9:30 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary): At Houston, Tuesday April 28 TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): At Dallas, Thursday April 30 TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): At Houston, Saturday May 2 TBD
No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 6 San Antonio Spurs
Game 1: At Los Angeles, Sunday April 19, TNT, 10:30 p.m.
Game 2: At Los Angeles, Wednesday April 22, TNT, 10:30 p.m.
Game 3: At San Antonio, Friday April 24, ESPN, 9:30 p.m.
Game 4: At San Antonio, Sunday April 26, ABC, 3:30
Game 5 (if necessary): At Los Angeles, Tuesday April 28 TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): At San Antonio, Thursday April 30 TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): At Los Angeles, Saturday May 2 TBD
No. 4 Portland Trail Blazers vs. No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies
Game 1: At Memphis, Sunday April 19, TNT, 8 p.m.
Game 2: At Memphis, Wednesday April 22, TNT, 8 p.m.
Game 3: At Portland, Saturday April 25, ESPN, 10:30 p.m.
Game 4: At Portland, Monday April 27, TNT, 10:30 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary): At Memphis, April 29 TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): At Portland, Friday May 1 TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): At Memphis, Sunday May 3 TBD
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 8 Brooklyn Nets
Game 1: At Atlanta, Sunday April 19, TNT, 5:30 p.m.
Game 2: At Atlanta, Wednesday April 22, NBATV, 7 p.m.
Game 3: At Brooklyn, Saturday April 25, TNT, 3 p.m.
Game 4: At Brooklyn, Monday April 27, TBD
Game 5 (if necessary): At Atlanta, Wednesday April 29, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): At Brooklyn, Friday May 1, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): At Atlanta, Sunday May 3, TBD
No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Boston Celtics
Game 1: At Cleveland, Sunday April 19, ABC, 3 p.m.
Game 2: At Cleveland, Tuesday April 21, TNT, 7 p.m.
Game 3: At Boston, Thursday April 23, TNT, 7 p.m.
Game 4: At Boston, Sunday April 26, ABC, 1 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary): At Cleveland, Tuesday April 28, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): At Boston, Thursday April 30, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): At Cleveland, Saturday May 2, TBD
No. 3 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks
Game 1: At Chicago, Saturday, April 18, ESPN, 7 p.m.
Game 2: At Chicago, Monday April 20, TNT, 8 p.m.
Game 3: At Milwaukee, Thursday April 23, NBATV, 8 p.m.
Game 4: At Milwaukee, Saturday April 25, TNT, 5:30
Game 5 (if necessary): At Chicago, Monday April 27, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): At Milwaukee, Thursday April 30 TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): At Chicago, Saturday May 2, TBD
No. 4 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 5 Washington Wizards
Game 1: At Toronto, Saturday April 18, ESPN, 12:30 p.m.
Game 2: At Toronto, Tuesday April 21, NBATV, 8 p.m.
Game 3: At Washington, Friday April 24, ESPN, 8 p.m.
Game 4: At Washington, Sunday April 26, TNT, 7 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary): At Toronto, Wednesday April 29, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): At Washington, Friday May 1, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): At Toronto, Sunday May 3, TBD
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