NBA Playoffs 2024 schedule: Eastern matchups, scores, dates, game times for first round, TV info, key stats.

The 2024 NBA playoff picture is coming into focus.

The 2023-24 NBA regular season is complete and the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs is almost here. Expect plenty of drama after a memorable regular season.

The Boston Celtics clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference in March and have homecourt advantage through the entire postseason as they look to return to the Finals for the first time since 2022 and hang an NBA championship banner for the first time since 2008. They'll await the results of the play-in tournament to know their first-round opponent, as will the No. 2 seed New York Knicks.

The Orlando Magic had just 34 victories last season and posted a 47-35 mark this season, good for the No. 5 seed.

2024 Eastern Conference first-round series, schedules, game times, how to watch, TV info

No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 TBD

Game 1, Sunday: at Boston, 1 p.m. ET, ABC

Game 2, April 24: at Boston, 7 p.m. ET, TNT

Game 3, April 27: at No. 8, 6 p.m. ET, TNT

Game 4, April 29: at No. 8, time and TV TBD

Game 5, May 1: at Boston, time and TV TBD

Game 6, May 3: at No. 8, time and TV TBD

Game 7, May 5: at Boston, time and TV TBD

Key stats: The Celtics finished first offensively (122.2 points per 100 possessions) and No. 2 defensively (110.6 points per 100 possessions).

Who to watch: The Celtics have the best starting five: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.

No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia or Miami

Game 1, Saturday: at New York, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN

Game 2, Monday: at New York, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Game 3, April 25: at No. 7, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Game 4, April 28: at No. 7, 1 p.m. ET, ABC

Game 5, April 30: at New York, time and TV TBD

Game 6, May 2: at No. 7, time and TV TBD

Game 7, May 4: at New York, time TBD, TNT

Season series: Knicks won 3-1 vs. Sixers; Knicks won 2-1 vs. Heat

Key stats: Four teams finished in the top 10 offensively and defensively, and the Knicks were one of them.

No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers

Game 1, Sunday: Indiana at Milwaukee, 7 p.m. ET, TNT

Game 2, Tuesday: Indiana at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV

Game 3, April 26: Milwaukee at Indiana, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Game 4, April 28: Milwaukee at Indiana, 7 p.. ET, TNT

Game 5, April 30: Indiana at Milwaukee, time and TV TBD

Game 6, May 2: Milwaukee at Indiana, time and TV TBD

Game 7, May 4: Indiana at Milwaukee, time TBD, TNT

Season series: Pacers won 4-1

Key stats: Get ready for scoring. The Pacers had the No. 2 offense (120.5 points per 100 possessions), the Bucks are No. 6 (117.6 points per 100 possessions) and neither ranked in the top 15 defensively.

Who to watch: The health of Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo (missed final three regular-season games with a strained left calf), and Damian Lillard (sore adductor muscle) and the Tyrese Haliburton-Pascal Siakam playoff debut for the Pacers.

No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic

Game 1, Saturday: Orlando at Cleveland, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN

Game 2, Monday: Orlando at Cleveland, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV

Game 3, April 25: Cleveland at Orlando, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV

Game 4, April 27: Cleveland at Orlando, 1 p.m. ET, TNT

Game 5, April 30: Orlando at Cleveland, time and TV TBD

Game 6, May 3: Cleveland at Orlando, time and TV TBD

Game 7, May 5: Orlando at Cleveland, time and TV TBD

Season series: Tied 2-2

Key stats: The Magic’s No. 3 defense (110.8 points allowed per 100 possessions) vs. the Cavaliers’ No. 7 defense (112.1 points allowed per 100 possessions).

Who to watch: Second-year All-Star Paolo Banchero and third-year forward Franz Wagner are appearing in their first playoff series, and the Cavaliers feature Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley – a formidable inside-outside foursome.

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