We’ve all had our fill of the boiling game appetizer, it’s time to delve into the main course: The playoffs. On Thursday, the NBA released the playoff schedule for the first round for 2020.
Those sizzling games saw unexpected stars – Indiana’s TJ Warren looked like an elite quarterback – and teams we didn’t expect to explode on the scene, like the 8-0 Suns. The playoffs promised even more of that – and a few upsets.
Here are a few more notes on the NBA playoff schedule for the first round of 2020:
• The NBA continues with the format of the Summer League / AAU style with four games per day spread out over the course of the day.
• Games are played every other day in all eight series.
• It will not be known which team will be the top seed of the West (the Lakers) in the first round until the play-in games on Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday.
• The first Western Conference Play-In game is Saturday, August 15 at 2:30 ET (ABC). If the eighth-seeded team wins, the series is over and that team advances to the Lakers; if the eighth seed team loses a second game, it will be played on Sunday at 4:30 ET (ESPN).
The Heat and Pacers play last Monday, meet again on Friday, and then begin a best-of-7 series next Tuesday. Miami won that first game impressively.
• Chris Paul, now a Thunder uniform, will take over his former team, the Houston Rockets.
• The NBA has released an NBA Finals schedule to teams.
NBA playoffs schedule 2020, first round, by date (all times are Eastern):
Western Conference
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Play-in winner
Game 1: August 18, 9pm (TNT)
Game 2: August 20, 9pm (ESPN)
Game 3: August 22nd. 8:30 pm (ABC)
Game 4: August 24th. 21 hours (TNT)
Game 5: August 26, TBD
Game 6: August 28, TBD
Game 7: 30 August, TBD
Now. 2 LA Clippers vs. Dallas
Game 1:17 August. 9pm (ESPN)
Game 2: August 19, 9pm (TNT)
Game 3: August 21st. 21 hours (TNT)
Game 4:23 aug. 3:30 pm (ABC)
Game 5:25 Aug., TBD
Game 6: August 27, TBD
Game 7: August 29, TBD
Nr. 3 Denver vs. No. 6 Utah
Game 1:17 August. 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2:19 aug. 16 o’clock (TNT)
Game 3: August 21st. 16 o’clock (TNT)
Game 4: August 23, 9pm (TNT)
Game 5:25 Aug., TBD
Game 6: August 27, TBD
Game 7: August 29, TBD
Oklahoma City vs. Houston (4/5 order still decided)
Game 1:18 aug. 6:30 pm (TNT)
Game 2:20 aug. 3:30 pm (ESPN)
Game 3: August 22nd. 6pm (ESPN)
Game 4: August 24, 16, 4pm (TNT)
Game 5: August 26, TBD
Game 6: August 28, TBD
Game 7: 30 August, TBD
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Milwaukee vs. Now. 8 Orlando
Game 1:18 August. 13:30 (TNT)
Game 2: August 20th. 6pm (ESPN)
Game 3: 22 aug. 13:30 (TNT)
Game 4: August 24th. 13:30 (NBATV)
Game 5: August 26, TBD
Game 6: August 28, TBD
Game 7: 30 August, TBD
No. 2 Toronto vs. no. 7 Brooklyn
Game 1:17 aug. 4pm (ESPN)
Game 2: August 19th. 13:30 (NBATV)
Game 3: August 21st. 1:30 pm (NBA TV)
Game 4: August 23rd. 6:30 pm (TNT)
Game 5:25 Aug., TBD
Game 6: August 27, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7:29 Aug, TBD (TNT)
Now. 3 Boston vs. No. 6 Philadelphia
Game 1:17 August. 6:30 pm (ESPN)
Game 2: August 19th. 6:30 pm (TNT)
Game 3: August 21st. 6:30 pm (TNT)
Game 4: August 23rd. 13 o’clock (ABC)
Game 5:25 Aug., TBD
Game 6: August 27, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7:29 Aug, TBD (TNT)
Miami vs. Indiana (4/5 finish completed yet to be decided)
Game 1:18 aug. 16.00 (TNT)
Game 2: August 20th. 1pm (ESPN)
Game 3: 22 aug. 15:30 (TNT)
Game 4: August 24 6:30 (TNT)
Game 5: August 26, TBD
Game 6: August 28, TBD
Game 7: 30 August, TBD
