NBA Playoffs 2023: Bracket, start dates, TV times, matchups, and scores for first round

The bracket for the 2023 NBA Playoffs is set.

Updated Apr 25, 2023, 12:27 PM UTC

Philadelphia 76ers v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

The 2023 NBA Playoffs are finally here. The postseason bracket was set on the last day of the regular season, with four first round series locked in and four more ready to be determined by the NBA play-in tournament.

The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 7-8 matchup in the West play-in tournament, with the winner earning the 7-seed and drawing the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies in the first round best of seven series. The New Orleans Pelicans will host the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 8-9 with the winner playing the loser of the Lakers/Wolves game for the No. 8 seed.

The Miami Heat host the Atlanta Hawks in the 7-8 matchup in the East, with the winner facing the Boston Celtics in the first round. The Toronto Raptors host the Chicago Bulls in the 9-10 matchup in the East. The winner of Bulls/Raptors then faced the loser of Heat/Hawks for the No. 8 seed.

Read about the NBA play-in tournament rules here.

We already know the Philadelphia 76ers will face the Brooklyn Nets in the 3-6 matchup, and that the Cleveland Cavaliers will host the New York Knicks in the East’s 4-5 matchup. In the West, the Sacramento Kings face the Golden State Warriors in the 3-6 matchup, and the Phoenix Suns face the Los Angeles Clippers in the 4-5 matchup.

Here are the matchup we know so far in the East:

No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 Miami Heat, best of seven series

No. 2 Boston Celtics vs No. 7 Atlanta Hawks, best of seven series

No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Brooklyn Nets, best of seven series

No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 New York Knicks, best of seven series

Here are the matchup we know so far in the West:

No. 1 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves, best of seven series

No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies vs No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers, best of seven series

No. 3 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 6 Golden State Warriors, best of seven series

No. 4 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers, best of seven series

NBA Playoffs 2023 bracket

NBA Playoffs 2023: Start dates, TV times, and more

Saturday, April 15

Game 1: No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Brooklyn Nets, 1 p.m., ESPN

Game 1: No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks, 3:30 p.m.. ESPN

Game 1: No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 New York Knicks, 6 p.m., ESPN

Game 1: No. 3 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 6 Golden State Warriors, 8:30 p.m., ABC

Sunday, April 16

Game 1: No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers, 3 p.m., ABC

Game 1: No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 Miami Heat, 5:30 p.m., TNT

Game 1: No. 4 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers, 8 p.m., TNT

Game 1: No. 1 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves, 10:30 p.m., TNT

2023 NBA play-in tournament schedule and dates

April 11

Game 1: Atlanta Hawks 116, Miami Heat 105

Game 2: Los Angeles Lakers 108, Minnesota Timberwolves 102

April 12

Game 1: Chicago Bulls 109, Toronto Raptors 105

Game 2: Oklahoma City Thunder 123, New Orleans Pelicans 118

April 14

Game 1: Miami Heat 102, Chicago Bulls 91

Game 2: Minnesota Timberwolves 120, Oklahoma City Thunder 95

First Round Playoff Schedule and Results

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 Miami Heat (Heat lead 3-1)

No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Atlanta Hawks (Celtics lead 3-1)

No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Brooklyn Nets (76ers win series 4-0)

Game 1: 76ers 121, Nets 101
Game 2: 76ers 96, Nets 84
Game 3: 76ers 102, Nets 97
Game 4: 76ers 96, Nets 88

No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 New York Knicks (Knicks lead 3-1)

Game 1: Knicks 101, Cavaliers 97
Game 2: Cavaliers 107, Knicks 90
Game 3: Knicks 99, Cavaliers 79
Game 4: Knicks 102, Cavaliers 93
*Game 5: Knicks @ Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 26 | 7:00 p.m. ET | NBATV
*Game 6: Cavaliers @ Knicks | TBD
*Game 7: Knicks @ Cavaliers | TBD