NBA Playoffs 2023 Schedule: Dates, Times, Matchups for First Round

Author:
Madison Williams
Updated:
Apr 12, 2023
Original:
Apr 12, 2023

The 2023 NBA playoffs officially kick off on Saturday, April 15 as the first round matchups begin.

The top eight seeds from both the Western and Eastern Conferences will compete in the first round of the tournament. However, the No. 8 seeds in both conferences have yet to be determined as the play-in tournament wraps up ahead of the weekend.

Even without knowing the final teams, the NBA released the full schedule information for the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know about the postseason schedule.

What are the play-in tournament matchups?

The NBA is using the play-in tournament format for the third year in a row. The play-in tournament consists of the seventh through 10th seeds competing in games to earn the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in the playoffs.

The No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in both conferences faced each other on Tuesday night. The No. 8 Hawks beat the No. 7 Heat in order to earn the Eastern Conference’s official seventh seed. Then, the No. 7 Lakers beat the No. 8 Timberwolves to earn the Western Conference’s seventh spot in the playoffs.

It’s not the end of the road for the Heat and the Timberwolves. They will face the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchups on Wednesday night. Here’s the details of the remaining play-in tournament schedule.

Wednesday, April 12

Game 3: No. 9 Raptors vs. No. 10 Bulls (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Game 4: No. 9 Pelicans vs. No. 10 Thunder (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Friday, April 14

Game 5: Winner of Game 3 vs. No. 7 Heat (7/7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

Game 6: Winner of Game 4 vs. No. 8 Timberwolves (9:30/10 p.m. ET, ESPN)

When are the first-round playoff matchups?

The top six seeds from each conference already earned their playoff berths at the end of the 2022–23 regular season. Once the play-in tournament finishes, all eight seeds in each conference will be set and the first round of matchups will begin.

Each first round series will be best-of-seven, meaning the teams must win four games to advance to the next round. Game details for any of the matchups past the fourth game in each series are not available yet.

Here’s the full TV schedule for the first round of the playoffs, which is detailed below (* — if necessary).

Eastern Conference

(1) Bucks. vs. No. 8 Seed

Game 1: Sunday, April 16, No. 8 Seed vs. Bucks (5:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, No. 8 Seed vs. Bucks (9 p.m. ET, NBATV)
Game 3: Saturday, April 22, Bucks vs. No. 8 Seed (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Monday, April 24, Bucks vs. No. 8 Seed (TBD, TBD)
Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, No. 8 Seed vs. Bucks*
Game 6: Friday, April 28, Bucks vs. No. 8 Seed*
Game 7: Sunday, April 30, No. 8 Seed at Bucks*

(2) Celtics vs. (7) Hawks

Game 1: Saturday, April 15, Hawks vs. Celtics (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 2: Tuesday, April 18, Hawks vs. Celtics (7 p.m. ET, NBATV)
Game 3: Friday, April 21, Celtics vs. Hawks (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Celtics vs. Hawks (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5: Tuesday, April 25, Hawks vs. Celtics*
Game 6: Thursday, April 27, Celtics vs. Hawks*
Game 7: Saturday, April 29, Hawks vs. Celtics*

(3) 76ers vs. (6) Nets

Game 1: Saturday, April 15, Nets vs. 76ers (1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 2: Monday, April 17, Nets vs. 76ers (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Thursday, April 20, 76ers vs. Nets (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4: Saturday, April 22, 76ers vs. Nets (1 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5: Monday, April 24, Nets vs. 76ers*
Game 6: Thursday, April 27, 76ers vs. Nets*
Game 7: Saturday, April 29, Nets vs. 76ers*

(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Knicks

Game 1: Saturday, April 15, Knicks vs. Cavaliers (6 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 2: Tuesday, April 18, Knicks vs. Cavaliers (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Friday, April 21, Cavaliers vs. Knicks (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Cavaliers vs. Knicks (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Knicks vs. Cavaliers*
Game 6: Friday, April 28, Cavaliers vs. Knicks*
Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Knicks vs. Cavaliers*

Western Conference

(1) Nuggets vs. No. 8 Seed

Game 1: Sunday, April 16, No. 8 Seed vs. Nuggets (10:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, No. 8 Seed vs. Nuggets (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Friday, April 21, Nuggets vs. No. 8 Seed (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Nuggets vs. No. 8 Seed (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5: Tuesday, April 25, No. 8 Seed vs. Nuggets*
Game 6: Thursday, April 27, Nuggets vs. No. 8 Seed*
Game 7: Saturday, April 29, No. 8 Seed vs. Nuggets*

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(2) Grizzlies vs. (7) Lakers

Game 1: Sunday, April 16, Lakers vs. Grizzlies (3 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, Lakers vs. Grizzlies (7:30 p.m., TNT)
Game 3: Saturday, April 22, Grizzlies vs. Lakers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Monday, April 24, Grizzlies vs. Lakers (TBD, TBD)
Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Lakers vs. Grizzlies*
Game 6: Friday, April 28, Grizzlies vs. Lakers*
Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Lakers vs. Grizzlies*

(3) Kings vs. (6) Warriors

Game 1: Saturday, April 15, Warriors vs. Kings (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 2: Monday, April 17, Warriors vs. Kings (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Thursday, April 20, Kings vs. Warriors (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Kings vs. Warriors (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Warriors vs. Kings*
Game 6: Friday, April 28, Kings vs. Warriors*
Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Warriors vs. Kings*

(4) Suns vs. (5) Clippers

Game 1: Sunday, April 16, Clippers vs. Suns (8 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2: Tuesday, April 18, Clippers vs. Suns (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Thursday, April 20, Suns vs. Clippers (10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV)
Game 4: Saturday, April 22, Suns vs. Clippers (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5: Tuesday, April 25, Clippers vs. Suns*
Game 6: Thursday, April 27, Suns vs. Clippers*
Game 7: Saturday, April 29, Clippers vs. Suns*