Featured Game
Game 5: Lakers vs. Nuggets
Not our GOAT. LeBron and company take Game 4, preventing the humiliation of a sweep to their conference rival (if we can call it that.) The Lakers beat the Nuggets 119 – 108 and have taken the first step toward the greatest comeback in playoff history… However, it’s absolutely a journey of 10,000 miles, up a 30-degree incline, with a pebble in your shoe. The odds (Lakers +240 ML) are quite literally stacked against them. The challenge of overturning such a deficit has been insurmountable, but … LeBron has led a team to a title down 3-1 in the Finals. We may not be able to call it impossible, but this Denver team losing four straight seems far-fetched, regardless of how the Lakers respond in the next game.
The Play-In Tournament
The road to the NBA Playoffs tips off with the Play-In Tournament on April 16 through April 19. Teams on the playoff bubble (7th to 10th seed of each conference) play in a round-robin to earn a spot in the NBA Playoffs.
- The 7-8 Game: The teams that finish 7th and 8th in their respective conferences face off in a single game. The winner of this game secures the 7th seed and a spot in the playoffs, entering the first round against the 2nd seed.
- The 9-10 Game: Concurrently, the teams that finish 9th and 10th also play against each other. However, the stakes are different; the loser of this game is eliminated from playoff contention, while the winner moves on to another chance to claim a playoff spot.
- The Loser of 7-8 vs. Winner of 9-10: The loser of the 7-8 game and the winner of the 9-10 game then play one final game. The winner of this match secures the 8th seed and the final playoff spot in their conference. The loser of this game is eliminated from the playoffs.
Play-In Tournament Results
The 2024 NBA Play-In, to me, is one of the best mods to the NBA format. The games were intense; narratives came alive and to a close. In the East, the Philadelphia 76ers narrowly defeated the Miami Heat 105-104, while the Heat rebounded strongly to secure their spot by beating the Chicago Bulls 112-91. On the West side, the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106, and the Pelicans bounced back by overcoming the Sacramento Kings 105-98, securing their playoff berth
The Playoff Picture
The 2024 NBA Playoff stage is set.
| Western Conference (Record) (Future Odds) | Eastern Conference (Record) (Future Odds) |
|---|---|
| 1. Thunder (57-25) (+900) | 1. Celtics (64-18) (+115) |
| 2. Nuggets (57-25) (+260) | 2. Knicks (50-32) (+1200) |
| 3. Timberwolves (56-26) (+900) | 3. Bucks (49-33) (+7500) |
| 4. Clippers (51-31) (+3000) | 4. Cavaliers (48-34) (+7500) |
| 5. Mavericks (50-32) (+1800) | 5. Magic (47-35) (+15000) |
| 6. Pacers (47-35) (+5000) | |
| 7. Lakers (47-35) (+15000) | 7. 76ers (47-35) (+5000) |
| 8. Pelicans (49-33) (+50000) | 8. Heat (46-36) (+25000) |
Playoff Schedule
The block is ho as the 2024 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel, kick off on April 20.
Eastern Conference – First Round
- Boston (1) vs. Heat (8): BOS leads series 2 – 1
- Game 1: Celtics 114, Heat 94
- Game 2: Heat 111, Celtics 101
- Game 3: Celtics 104, Heat 84
- Game 4: Celtics vs. Heat; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
- New York (2) vs. 76ers (7) NYK Leads 3 – 1
- Game 1: Knicks 111, 76ers 104
- Game 2: Knicks 104, 76ers 101
- Game 3: 76ers 125, Knicks 114
- Game 4: Knicks 97, 76ers 92
- Game 5: 76ers vs. Knicks; Tuesday, April 30 (7 ET, TNT)
- Game 6: Knicks vs. 76ers; Thursday, May 2 (TBD, TNT)*
- Milwaukee (3) vs. Indiana (6): IND Leads 3 – 1
- Game 1: Bucks 109, Pacers 94
- Game 2: Pacers 125, Bucks 108
- Game 3: Pacers 121, Bucks 118 (OT)
- Game 4: Pacers 126, Bucks 113
- Game 5: Pacers vs. Bucks; Tuesday, April 30 (9:30 ET, TNT)
- Game 6: Bucks vs. Pacers; Thursday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)*
- Cleveland (4) vs. Orlando (5): Series tied 2 – 2
- Game 1: Cavaliers 97, Magic 83
- Game 2: Cavaliers 96, Magic 86
- Game 3: Magic 121, Cavaliers 83
- Game 4: Magic 112, Cavaliers 89
- Game 5: Magic vs. Cavaliers; Tuesday, April 30 (8 ET, NBA TV)
- Game 6: Cavaliers vs. Magic; Friday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)
Western Conference – First Round
- Oklahoma City (1) vs. Pelicans (8): OKC Leads 3 – 0
- Game 1: Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
- Game 2: Thunder 124, 92
- Game 3: Thunder 106, Pelicans 85
- Game 4: Thunder vs. Pelicans; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
- Game 5: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Wednesday, May 1 (8:30 ET, NBA TV)*
- Denver (2) vs. Lakers (7) DEN Leads 3 – 1
- Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
- Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
- Game 3: Nuggets 112, Lakers 105
- Game 4: Lakers 119, Nuggets 108
- Game 5: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Monday, April 29 (10 ET, TNT)
- Game 6: Nuggets vs. Lakers; Thursday, May 2 (TBD, TNT)*
- Minnesota (3) vs. Phoenix (6) MIN sweeps 4 – 0
- Game 1: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
- Game 2: Timberwolves 105, 93
- Game 3: Timberwolves 126. Suns 109
- Game 4: Timberwolves 122. Suns 116
- LA Clippers (4) vs. Dallas (5) Series tied 2 – 2
- Game 1: Clippers 109, Mavericks 97
- Game 2: Mavericks 96, Clippers 93
- Game 3: Clippers vs. Mavericks; Friday, April 26 (8 ET, ESPN)
- Game 4: Clippers vs. Mavericks; Sunday, April 28 (3:30 ET, ABC)
- Game 5: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Wednesday, May 1 (10 ET, TNT)
- Game 6: Clippers vs. Mavericks; Friday, May 3 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
- Game 7: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Sunday, May 5 (TBD, TBD)*
Conference Semifinals Schedule
The Conference Semis begin May 6 – 7 but can move up to May 4-5 if the series from the prior round ends early.
Conference Finals Schedule
The Conference Finals begin May 21 – 22 but may move to May 19-20 if the series from the prior round ends early.
NBA Finals Schedule
2024 NBA Finals begin June 6, with ABC:
- Thursday, June 6: Game 1
- Sunday, June 9: Game 2
- Wednesday, June 12: Game 3
- Friday, June 14: Game 4
