NBA Playoffs 2023: First Round TV Schedule & Preview
The long playoff march to the NBA Finals tips off with 16 teams in the title hunt.
Action tips off on Saturday, April 15, with Game 1s from four conference quarterfinal series. ESPN has the Brooklyn Nets at the Philadelphia 76ers, the Atlanta Hawks at the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at the Cleveland Cavaliers. ABC has the Golden State Warriors at the Sacramento Kings in primetime.
Sunday has the Los Angeles Lakers at the Memphis Grizzlies (ABC), and the No. 1 Eastern Conference seed Milwaukee Bucks will face the Miami Heat (TNT). The Los Angeles Clippers are at the Phoenix Suns in primetime on TNT.
California, here we come 🔥
The Warriors, Kings, Lakers and Clippers are in the playoffs for the first time in the same year! pic.twitter.com/AYqQ6f808N
— NBA (@NBA) April 12, 2023
The Western Conference’s top seed, the Denver Nuggets, face the Minnesota Timberwolves. That series tips off Monday, April 16, on TNT.
Winners in the best-of-seven-game series advance to the conference semifinal round beginning May 1.
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS: FIRST ROUND
All Times Eastern/Central. *If Necessary
Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Miami Heat (8)
Sunday, April 16 Game 1: Heat at Bucks, 5:30/4:30c (TNT)
Wednesday, April 19 Game 2: Heat at Bucks, 9/8c (NBA TV)
Saturday, April 22 Game 3: Bucks at Heat, 7:30/6:30c (ESPN)
Monday, April 24 Game 4: Bucks at Heat, 7:30/6:30c (TNT)
Wednesday, April 26 Game 5: Heat at Bucks, 9:30/8:30c (NBA TV)
Friday, April 28 Game 6*: Bucks at Heat, TBD
Sunday, April 20 Game 7*: Heat at Bucks, TBD
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Atlanta Hawks (7)
Saturday, April 15 Game 1: Hawks at Celtics, 3:30/2:30c (ESPN)
Tuesday, April 18 Game 2: Hawks at Celtics, 7/6c (NBA TV)
Friday, April 21 Game 3: Celtics at Hawks, 7/6c (ESPN)
Sunday, April 23 Game 4: Celtics at Hawks, 7/6c (TNT)
Tuesday, April 25 Game 5: Hawks at Celtics, 7:30/6:30c (TNT)
Thursday, April 27 Game 6*: Celtics at Hawks, TBD
Saturday, April 29 Game 7*: Hawks at Celtics, TBD
Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)
76ers Win Series 4-0
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. New York Knicks (5)
Saturday, April 15 Game 1: Knicks at Cavaliers, 6/5c (ESPN)
Tuesday, April 18 Game 2: Knicks at Cavaliers, 7:30/6:30c (TNT)
Friday, April 21 Game 3: Cavaliers at Knicks, 8:30/7:30c (ABC)
Sunday, April 23 Game 4: Cavaliers at Knicks, 1/noon c (ABC)
Wednesday, April 26 Game 5: Knicks at Cavaliers, 7/6c (NBA TV)
Friday, April 28 Game 6*: Cavaliers at Knicks, TBD
Sunday, April 30 Game 7*: Knicks at Cavaliers, TBD
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS: FIRST ROUND
All Times Eastern/Central. *If Necessary
Denver Nuggets (1) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8)
Monday, April 16 Game 1: Timberwolves at Nuggets, 10/9c (TNT)
Wednesday, April 19 Game 2: Timberwolves at Nuggets, 10/9c (TNT)
Friday, April 21 Game 3: Nuggets at Timberwolves, 9:30/8:30c (ESPN)
Sunday, April 23 Game 4: Nuggets at Timberwolves, 9:30/8:30c (TNT)
Tuesday, April 25 Game 5: Timberwolves at Nuggets, 9/8c (NBA TV)
Thursday, April 27 Game 6*: Nuggets at Timberwolves, TBD
Saturday, April 29 Game 7*: Timberwolves at Nuggets, TBD
Memphis Grizzlies (2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7)
Sunday, April 16 Game 1: Lakers at Grizzlies, 3/2c (ABC)
Wednesday, April 19 Game 2: Lakers at Grizzlies, 7:30/6:30c (TNT)
Saturday, April 22 Game 3: Grizzlies at Lakers, 10/9c (ESPN)
Monday, April 24 Game 4: Grizzlies at Lakers, 10/9c (TNT)
Wednesday, April 26 Game 5: Lakers at Grizzlies, 7:30/6:30c (TNT)
Friday, April 28 Game 6*: Grizzlies at Lakers, TBD
Sunday, April 30 Game 7*: Lakers at Grizzlies, TBD
Sacramento Kings (3) vs. Golden State Warriors (6)
Saturday, April 15 Game 1: Warriors at Kings, 8:30/7:30c (ABC)
Monday, April 17 Game 2: Warriors at Kings, 10/9c (TNT)
Thursday, April 20 Game 3: Kings at Warriors, 10/9c (TNT)
Sunday, April 23 Game 4: Kings at Warriors, 3:30/2:30c (ABC)
Wednesday, April 26 Game 5: Warriors at Kings, 10/9c (TNT)
Friday, April 28 Game 6*: Kings at Warriors, TBD
Sunday, April 30 Game 7*: Warriors at Kings, TBD
Phoenix Suns (4) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (5)
Sunday, April 16 Game 1: Clippers at Suns, 8/7c (TNT)
Tuesday, April 18 Game 2: Clippers at Suns, 10/9c (TNT)
Thursday, April 20 Game 3: Suns at Clippers, 10:30/9:30c (NBA TV)
Saturday, April 22 Game 4: Suns at Clippers, 3:30/2:30c (TNT)
Tuesday, April 25 Game 5: Clippers at Suns, 10/9c (TNT)
Thursday, April 27 Game 6*: Suns at Clippers, TBD
Saturday, April 29 Game 7*: Clippers at Suns, TBD (TNT)
