2023 NBA playoffs: Conference semi-finals preview, schedule & how to watch
The 2023 playoffs will soon be entering the second round, and we have all the key details to get you ready for the conference semi-finals.
Basketball
The NBA (National Basketball Association) playoffs are always fantastic, full of drama and fast - and the 2022-23 edition is proving to be no different.
The first round of action saw the Miami Heat, led by Jimmy Butler, upset the Eastern Conference No.1 seed Milwaukee Bucks in five games to become the first play-in team in NBA history to win a playoff series, and just the sixth No.8 seed to advance past a No.1 seed. They'll meet New York in the Eastern Conference semi-finals after the Knicks eliminated the No.4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers, also in five games. The other semi-final in the conference sees the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid take on Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics; the 76ers swept the Brooklyn Nets 4-0 in the first round, while Boston beat Atlanta in six games.
Out west, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets prepare to host the Phoenix Suns on Saturday evening, with both teams overcoming their first round tests against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers, respectively. The other semi-final matchup in the Western Conference will see the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers won their series against the Memphis Grizzlies 4-2, while the defending champions knocked out the Sacramento Kings 4-3.
Here is everything you need to know about the conference semi-finals.
What is the NBA conference semi-final format in the playoffs?
As was the case for the first round of the playoffs, each matchup in the best-of-seven conference semi-finals follows the 2–2–1–1–1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage (the higher seed of the two teams) hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while their opponent hosts Games 3, 4, and 6, with Games 5, 6 and 7 being played if needed. The first team to four wins advances to the next round.
What is the NBA conference semi-final schedule?
Eastern Conference
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (3)
• Game 1: Sixers vs. Celtics | Mon., May 1 | 7:30 ET
• Game 2: Sixers vs. Celtics | Wed., May 3 | 8 ET
• Game 3: Celtics vs. Sixers | Fri., May 5 | 7:30 ET
• Game 4: Celtics vs. Sixers | Sun., May 7 | 3:30 ET
• *Game 5: Sixers vs. Celtics | Tue., May 9 | TBD
• *Game 6: Celtics vs. Sixers | Thurs., May 11 | TBD
• *Game 7: Sixers vs. Celtics | Sun., May 14 | TBD
New York Knicks (5) vs. Miami Heat (8)
• Game 1: Heat vs. Knicks | Sun., April 30 | 1 ET
• Game 2: Heat vs. Knicks | Tues., May 2 | TBD
• Game 3: Knicks vs. Heat | Sat., May 6 | TBD
• Game 4: Knicks vs. Heat | Mon., May 8 | 7:30 ET
• *Game 5: Heat vs. Knicks | Wed., May 10 | TBD
• *Game 6: Knicks vs. Heat | Fri., May 12 | TBD
• *Game 7: Heat vs. Knicks | Mon., May 15 | 8 ET
Western Conference
Denver Nuggets (1) vs. Phoenix Suns (4)
• Game 1: Suns vs. Nuggets | Sat., April 29 | 8:30 ET
• Game 2: Suns vs. Nuggets | Mon., May 1 | 10 ET
• Game 3: Nuggets vs. Suns | Fri., May 5 | 10 ET
• Game 4: Nuggets vs. Suns | Sun., May 7 | 8 ET
• *Game 5: Suns vs. Nuggets | Tue., May 9 | TBD
• *Game 6: Nuggets vs. Suns | Thurs., May 11 | TBD
• *Game 7: Suns vs. Nuggets | Sun., May 14 | TBD
Golden State Warriors (6) - Los Angeles Lakers (7)
• Game 1: Lakers vs. Warriors | Tue., May 2 | 10 ET
• Game 2: Lakers vs. Warriors | Thurs., May 4 | 9 ET
• Game 3: Warriors vs. Lakers | Sat., May 6 | 8:30 ET
• Game 4: Warriors vs. Lakers | Mon., May 8 | 10 ET
• *Game 5: Lakers vs. Warriors | Wed., May 10 | TBD
• *Game 6: Warriors vs. Lakers | Fri., May 12 | TBD
• *Game 7: Lakers vs. Warriors | Sun., May 14 | TBD
* if necessary
Tip-off times are local
NBA playoffs first round schedule and results
Eastern Conference
Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Miami Heat (8)
• Game 1: Heat 130, Bucks 117
• Game 2: Bucks 138, Heat 122
• Game 3: Heat 121, Bucks 99
• Game 4: Heat 119, Bucks 114
• Game 5: Heat 128, Bucks 126 (OT)
Heat win series 4-1
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Atlanta Hawks (7)
• Game 1: Celtics 112, Hawks 99
• Game 2: Celtics 119, Hawks 106
• Game 3: Hawks 130, Celtics 122
• Game 4: Celtics 129, Hawks 121
• Game 5: Hawks 119, Celtics 117
• Game 6: Celtics 128, Hawks 120
Celtics win series 4-2
Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)
• Game 1: 76ers 121, Nets 101
• Game 2: 76ers 96, Nets 84
• Game 3: 76ers 102, Nets 97
• Game 4: 76ers 96, Nets 88
76ers win series 4-0
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. New York Knicks (5)
• Game 1: Knicks 101, Cavaliers 97
• Game 2: Cavaliers 107, Knicks 90
• Game 3: Knicks 99, Cavaliers 79
• Game 4: Knicks 102, Cavaliers 93
• Game 5: Knicks 106, Cavaliers 95
Knicks win series 4-1
Western Conference
Denver Nuggets (1) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8)
• Game 1: Nuggets 109, Timberwolves 80
• Game 2: Nuggets 122, Timberwolves 113
• Game 3: Nuggets 120, Timberwolves 111
• Game 4: Timberwolves 114, Nuggets 108 (OT)
• Game 5: Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 109
Nuggets win series 4-1
Memphis Grizzlies (2) vs. L.A. Lakers (7)
• Game 1: Lakers 128, Grizzlies 112
• Game 2: Grizzlies 103, Lakers 93
• Game 3: Lakers 111, Grizzlies 101
• Game 4: Lakers 117, Grizzlies 111
• Game 5: Grizzlies 116, Lakers 99
• Game 6: Lakers 125, Grizzlies 85
Lakers win series 4-2
Sacramento Kings (3) vs. Golden State Warriors (6)
• Game 1: Kings 126, Warriors 123
• Game 2: Kings 114, Warriors 106
• Game 3: Warriors 114, Kings 97
• Game 4: Warriors 126, Kings 125
• Game 5: Warriors 123, Kings 116
• Game 6: Kings 118, Warriors 99
• Game 7: Warriors vs. Kings | Sun., April 30 | TBD
Series is tied 3-3
Phoenix Suns (4) vs. LA Clippers (5)
• Game 1: Clippers 115, Suns 110
• Game 2: Suns 123, Clippers 109
• Game 3: Suns 129, Clippers 124
• Game 4: Suns 112, Clippers 100
• Game 5: Suns 136, Clippers 130
Suns win series 4-1
* if necessary
Tip-off times are local
2023 NBA playoffs key dates
- May 1-2: NBA conference semifinals begin (possible move-up to 29-30 April)
- May 16-17: NBA conference finals begin (possible move-up to 14-15 May)
- June 1: NBA Finals 2023 Game 1
- June 4: NBA Finals 2023 Game 2
- June 7: NBA Finals 2023 Game 3
- June 9: NBA Finals 2023 Game 4
- June 12: NBA Finals 2023 Game 5 (if necessary)
- June 15: NBA Finals 2023 Game 6 (if necessary)
- June 18: NBA Finals 2023 Game 7 (if necessary)
How to watch the 2023 NBA playoffs live
Viewers in the U.S. will be able to watch the 2023 NBA playoffs on ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. During the first round and conference semifinals, select games will air on each of the aforementioned networks.
International viewers can catch the action through local broadcasters, or the NBA League Pass app, available on mobile, PC, and smart TVs.