The 2019 NBA playoffs are here. While tankers are hoping to land Duke star Zion Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, playoff contenders are ready to fight for the Larry O'Brien trophy.
On the final day of the 2018-19 NBA regular season, the Nuggets secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference behind the Warriors with an improbable win over the Timberwolves. The Trail Blazers bumped the Rockets down to No. 4 with their own stunning comeback against the Kings. The bottom half of the West field in order: Jazz, Thunder, Spurs and Clippers.
OFFSEASON PREVIEWS:
Lakers | Knicks | Bulls | Pelicans | Mavericks
Over in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks, Raptors, 76ers and Pacers have known where they stand for quite some time. The rest of the East fell into place Wednesday night with the Pistons claiming the final playoff spot just behind the Nets and Magic.
Below are the final NBA standings along with playoff matchups and start dates for each round.
When do the 2019 NBA playoffs start?
The last day of the NBA regular season is Wednesday, April 10. The 2019 NBA playoffs begin three days later on Saturday, April 13.
The conference semifinals will begin April 29-30 (possible move up to April 27-28), and the conference finals will begin May 14-15 (possible move up to May 12-13). The 2019 NBA Finals will begin May 30 and end no later than June 16.
NBA standings: Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Bucks*** | 60-22 | — |
| 2. | Raptors** | 58-24 | 2 |
| 3. | 76ers* | 51-31 | 9 |
| 4. | Celtics* | 49-33 | 11 |
| 5. | Pacers* | 48-34 | 12 |
| 6. | Nets* | 42-40 | 18 |
| 7. | Magic** | 42-40 | 18 |
| 8. | Pistons* | 41-41 | 19 |
*clinched playoff berth
**clinched division
***clinched conference
NBA standings: Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Warriors*** | 57-25 | — |
| 2. | Nuggets** | 54-28 | 3 |
| 3. | Trail Blazers* | 53-29 | 4 |
| 4. | Rockets** | 53-29 | 4 |
| 5. | Jazz* | 50-32 | 7 |
| 6. | Thunder* | 49-33 | 8 |
| 7. | Spurs* | 48-34 | 9 |
| 8. | Clippers* | 48-34 | 9 |
*clinched playoff berth
**clinched division
***clinched conference
NBA playoff picture: First-round matchups
Eastern Conference
(1) Bucks vs. (8) Pistons
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 14 | Game 1 at Milwaukee | 7 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| April 17 | Game 2 at Milwaukee | 8 p.m. ET (NBA TV) |
| April 20 | Game 3 at Detroit | 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) |
| April 22 | Game 4 at Detroit | 8 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| *April 24 | Game 5 at Milwaukee | TBD |
| *April 26 | Game 6 at Detroit | TBD |
| *April 28 | Game 7 at Milwaukee | TBD |
(*if necessary)
(2) Raptors vs. (7) Magic
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 13 | Game 1 at Toronto | 5 p.m. ET (ESPN) |
| April 16 | Game 2 at Toronto | 8 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| April 19 | Game 3 at Orlando | 7 p.m. ET (ESPN) |
| April 21 | Game 4 at Orlando | 7 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| *April 23 | Game 5 at Toronto | TBD |
| *April 25 | Game 6 at Orlando | TBD |
| *April 27 | Game 7 at Toronto | TBD (TNT) |
(*if necessary)
(3) 76ers vs. (6) Nets
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 13 | Game 1 at Philadelphia | 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) |
| April 15 | Game 2 at Philadelphia | 8 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| April 18 | Game 3 at Brooklyn | 8 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| April 20 | Game 4 at Brooklyn | 3 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| *April 23 | Game 5 at Philadelphia | TBD |
| *April 25 | Game 6 at Brooklyn | TBD |
| *April 27 | Game 7 at Philadelphia | TBD (TNT) |
(*if necessary)
(4) Celtics vs. (5) Pacers
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 14 | Game 1 at Boston | 1 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| April 17 | Game 2 at Boston | 7 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| April 19 | Game 3 at Indiana | 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) |
| April 21 | Game 4 at Indiana | 1 p.m. ET (ABC) |
| *April 24 | Game 5 at Boston | TBD |
| *April 26 | Game 6 at Indiana | TBD |
| *April 28 | Game 7 at Boston | TBD |
(*if necessary)
Western Conference
(1) Warriors vs. (8) Clippers
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 13 | Game 1 at Golden State | 8 p.m. ET (ABC) |
| April 15 | Game 2 at Golden State | 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| April 18 | Game 3 at Los Angeles | 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| April 21 | Game 4 at Los Angeles | 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC) |
| *April 24 | Game 5 at Golden State | TBD |
| *April 26 | Game 6 at Los Angeles | TBD |
| *April 28 | Game 7 at Golden State | TBD |
(*if necessary)
(2) Nuggets vs. (7) Spurs
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 13 | Game 1 at Denver | 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) |
| April 16 | Game 2 at Denver | 9 p.m. ET (NBA TV) |
| April 18 | Game 3 at San Antonio | 9 p.m. ET (NBA TV) |
| April 20 | Game 4 at San Antonio | 5:30 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| *April 23 | Game 5 at Denver | TBD |
| *April 25 | Game 6 at San Antonio | TBD |
| *April 27 | Game 7 at Denver | TBD (TNT) |
(*if necessary)
(3) Trail Blazers vs. (6) Thunder
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 14 | Game 1 at Portland | 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC) |
| April 16 | Game 2 at Portland | 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| April 19 | Game 3 at Oklahoma City | 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) |
| April 21 | Game 4 at Oklahoma City | 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| *April 23 | Game 5 at Portland | TBD |
| *April 25 | Game 6 at Oklahoma City | TBD |
| *April 27 | Game 7 at Portland | TBD (TNT) |
(*if necessary)
(4) Rockets vs. (5) Jazz
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 14 | Game 1 at Houston | 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| April 17 | Game 2 at Houston | 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| April 20 | Game 3 at Utah | 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) |
| April 22 | Game 4 at Utah | 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| *April 24 | Game 5 at Houston | TBD |
| *April 26 | Game 6 at Utah | TBD |
| *April 28 | Game 7 at Houston | TBD |
(*if necessary)
Updated odds to win the 2019 NBA championship
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Warriors | 1/2 |
| Bucks | 6/1 |
| Rockets | 6/1 |
| Raptors | 12/1 |
| Celtics | 20/1 |
| 76ers | 20/1 |
| Thunder | 40/1 |
| Nuggets | 50/1 |
| Jazz | 50/1 |
| Spurs | 80/1 |
| Trail Blazers | 200/1 |
| Clippers | 300/1 |
| Pacers | 300/1 |
| Magic | 300/1 |
| Nets | 500/1 |
| Pistons | 500/1 |
(Championship odds via sportsline.com)
