2023 NBA playoffs preview: Full schedule, key dates and how to watch live

The 2023 NBA playoffs field is set.

16 teams will compete for the Larry O'Brien trophy in June, and there are plenty of intriguing questions that will be answered in this year's postseason tournament.

Will the Golden State Warriors be able to defend their title? Can Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the Bucks to another championship? Are the Denver Nuggets for real?

When will Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James break the 39,000 points barrier?

Here is everything you need to know about the biggest team competition in professional basketball: the NBA playoffs.

Check out the NBA all-time scoring list.

When do the 2023 NBA playoffs start?

With the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on 14 April, the NBA playoffs will start on 15 April.

How do the NBA playoffs work?

The NBA Playoffs is a four-round, best-of-seven emilination postseason tournament held every year to determine that season's champion. The playoffs are held after the league's regular season and its preliminary postseason tournament, the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Each playoff matchup is determined by seeding (i.e. the first seed will play the eighth seed, second seed plays the seventh seed, etc.), with the top four seeds in each conference enjoying home-court advantage. Series are played in the 2–2–1–1–1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage 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 playoff first round schedule?

Eastern Conference

Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Miami Heat (8)

Game 1: Heat vs. Bucks | Sun., April 16 | 5:30 ET 
Game 2: Heat vs. Bucks | Wed., April 19 | 9 ET 
Game 3: Bucks vs. Heat | Sat., April 22 | 7:30 ET 
Game 4: Bucks vs. Heat | Mon., April 24 | TBD
*Game 5: Heat vs. Bucks | Wed., April 26 | TBD
*Game 6: Bucks vs. Heat | Fri, April 28 | TBD
*Game 7: Heat vs. Bucks | Sun., April 20 | TBD 

Boston Celtics (2) vs. Atlanta Hawks (7)
Game 1: Hawks vs. Celtics | Sat., April 15 | 3:30 ET 
Game 2: Hawks vs. Celtics | Tues., April 18 | 7 ET 
Game 3: Celtics vs. Hawks | Fri., April 21 | 7 ET 
Game 4: Celtics vs. Hawks | Sun, April 23 | 7 ET 
*Game 5: Hawks vs. Celtics | Tues., April 25 | TBD
*Game 6: Celtics vs. Hawks | Thurs., April 27 | TBD
*Game 7: Hawks vs. Celtics | Sat., April 29 | TBD

Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)
Game 1: Nets vs. 76ers | Sat., April 15 | 1 ET 
Game 2: Nets vs. 76ers | Mon., April 17 | 7:30 ET 
Game 3: 76ers vs. Nets | Thurs., April 20 | 7:30 ET 
Game 4: 76ers vs. Nets | Sat., April 22 | 1 ET 
*Game 5: Nets vs. 76ers | Mon., April 24 | TBD
*Game 6: 76ers vs. Nets | Thurs., April 27 | TBD
*Game 7: Nets vs. 76ers | Sat., April 29 | TBD

Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. New York Knicks (5)
Game 1: Knicks vs. Cavaliers | Sat., April 15 | 6 ET 
Game 2: Knicks vs. Cavaliers | Tues., April 18 | 7:30 ET 
Game 3: Cavaliers vs. Knicks | Fri., April 21 | 8:30 ET 
Game 4: Cavaliers vs. Knicks | Sun., April 23 | 1 ET 
*Game 5: Knicks vs. Cavaliers | TBD
*Game 6: Cavaliers vs. Knicks | TBD
*Game 7: Knicks vs. Cavaliers | TBD

Western Conference

Denver Nuggets (1) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8)
Game 1: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets | Sun., April 16 | 10.30 ET 
Game 2: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets | Wed., April 19 | 10 ET 
Game 3: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves | Fri., April 21 | 9:30 ET 
Game 4: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves | Sun., April 23 | 9:30 ET 
*Game 5: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets | Tues., April 25 | TBD
*Game 6: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves | Thurs., April 27 | TBD
*Game 7: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets | Sat., April 29 | TBD

Memphis Grizzlies (2) vs. L.A. Lakers (7)
Game 1: Lakers vs. Grizzlies | Sun., April 16 | 3 ET 
Game 2: Lakers vs. Grizzlies | Wed., April 19 | 7:30 ET 
Game 3: Grizzlies vs. Lakers | Sat., April 22 | 10 ET 
Game 4: Grizzlies vs. Lakers | Mon. April 24 | TBD
*Game 5: Lakers vs. Grizzlies | Wed., April 26 | TBD
*Game 6: Grizzlies vs. Lakers | Fri., April 28 | TBD
*Game 7: Lakers vs. Grizzlies | Sun., April 30 | TBD

Sacramento Kings (3) vs. Golden State Warriors (6)
Game 1: Warriors vs. Kings | Sat., April 15 | 8:30 ET 
Game 2: Warriors vs. Kings | Mon., April 17 | 10 ET 
Game 3: Kings vs. Warriors | Thurs., April 20 | 10 ET 
Game 4: Kings vs. Warriors | Sun., April 23 | 3.30 ET 
*Game 5: Warriors vs. Kings | Wed., April 26 | TBD
*Game 6: Kings vs. Warriors | Fri., April 28 | TBD
*Game 7: Warriors vs. Kings | Sun., April 30 | TBD

Phoenix Suns (4) vs. LA Clippers (5)
Game 1: Clippers vs. Suns | Sun., April 16 | 8 ET 
Game 2: Clippers vs. Suns | Tues., April 18 | 10 ET 
Game 3: Suns vs. Clippers | Thurs., April 20 | 10:30 ET 
Game 4: Suns vs. Clippers | Sat., April 22 | 3:30 ET 
*Game 5: Clippers vs. Suns | Tues., April 25 | TBD
*Game 6: Suns vs. Clippers | Thurs., April 27 | TBD
*Game 7: Clippers vs. Suns | Sat., April 29 | TBD (TNT)

* if neccessary

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.