NBA Playoff Bracket: Seeding, Series Matchups, Schedule

Get a breakdown on how the bracket is set up for the 2018 NBA playoffs.

Author:
Khadrice Rollins
Publish date:
Apr 13, 2018

The NBA postseason kicks off on Saturday April 14 and will continue until June when a champion is crowned in the NBA Finals.

The Rockets enter this year's playoffs tied with the defending champion Warriors for the best odds to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy at the postseason's conclusion.

Houston will have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs after earning the best record in the league at 65-17. The Raptors will have the luxury of hosting any series they play against an Eastern conference opponent and will host the Finals if they make it to the championship round and the Rockets do not because Toronto's 59-23 record is the best in the East, and second-best overall, just one game ahead of Golden State.

Take a look below at how the bracket is set up and what each team's path to the Finals will be. You can check out a schedule for the first round of the playoffs here.

Eastern Conference

First Round

No. 1 Raptors vs. No. 8 Wizards

No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No 5 Pacers

No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Bucks

No. 3 76ers vs. No. 6 Heat

Second Round

Raptors/Wizards vs. Cavaliers/Pacers—If the Raptors advance to this round, they will host the series. If the Wizards advance, the Cavaliers or Pacers will host.

Celtics/Bucks vs. 76ers/Heat—If the Celtics advance to this round, they will host this series. The Bucks advance, the 76ers or Heat will host.

Eastern Conference Finals

TBD vs. TBD

Western Conference

First Round

No. 1 Rockets vs. No. 8 Timberwolves

No. 4 Thunder vs. No. 5 Jazz

No. 2 Warriors vs. No. 7 Spurs

No. 3 Trail Blazers vs. No. 6 Pelicans

Second Round

Rockets/Timberwolves vs. Thunder/Jazz—If the Rockets advance to this round, they will host the series. If the Timberwolves advance, the Thunder or Jazz will host.

Warriors/Spurs vs. Trail Blazers/Pelicans— If the Warriors advance to this round, they will host the series. If the Spurs advance, the Trail Blazers or Pelicans will host.

Western Conference Finals

TBD vs. TBD