The NBA Playoffs have finally arrived after an exciting season and a number of teams got their positions on Wednesday, as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets in the final game of the season to make it into the postseason as the seventh seed, where they will face the San Antonio Spurs.
The loss by the Rockets dropped the team into eighth place, but that will give James Harden and company the chance to get some revenge on the Thunder, as they traded him before the start of the season. The Miami Heat will get their championship defending run started against the Bucks, while the Knicks will play as the number two seed against the Boston Celtics.
The other matchups include the Pacers and Hawks, Lakers Spurs, Denver Nuggets and Warriors as well as the Brooklyn Nets and the Chicago Bulls. The LA Clippers will play the Memphis Grizzlies and the Lakers will be playing without star Kobe Bryant, who injured his Achilles and will be out for the playoffs.
The Thunder and Rockets series will begin on Sunday and will give Harden a chance to show why the franchise should not have traded him. The first two games will be on TNT before heading to ESPN for Game 3.
Game 1: at OKC, Sun., April 21, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 2: at OKC, Wed., April 24, 7:00 p.m., TNT
Game 3: at HOU, Sat., April 27, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: at HOU, Mon., April 29, TBD
Game 5: at OKC, Wed., May 1, TBD*
Game 6: at HOU, Fri., May 3, TBD*
Game 7: at OKC, Sun., May 5, TBD*
The Heat and Bucks will start on Sunday as well on TNT while game 2 will be on NBA TV before going back to TNT and then ABC.
Game 1: at MIA, Sun., April 21, 7:00 p.m., TNT
Game 2: at MIA, Tue., April 23, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3: at MIL, Thu., April 25, 7:00 p.m., TNT
Game 4: at MIL, Sun., April 28, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Game 5: at MIA, Tue., April 30, TBD*
Game 6: at MIL, Thu., May 2, TBD*
Game 7: at MIA, Sat., May 4, TBD*
Spurs and Lakers begin their rivalry series on Sunday afternoon on ABC before jumping to ESPN for game two, while game three will be in LA on ESPN.
Game 1: at SA, Sun., April 21, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Game 2: at SA, Wed., April 24, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: at LA, Fri., April 26, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: at LA, Sun., April 28, 7:00 p.m., TNT
Game 5: at SA, Tue., April 30, TBD*
Game 6: at LA, Thu., May 2, TBD*
Game 7: at SA, Sat.., May 4, TBD*
Knicks are ready to make a playoff run behind scoring champion Carmelo Anthony.
Game 1: at NY, Sat., April 20, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Game 2: at NY, Tue., April 23, 8:00 p.m., TNT
Game 3: at BOS, Fri., April 26, 8:00 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: at BOS, Sun., April 28, 1:00 p.m., ABC
Game 5: at NY, Wed., May 1, TBD*
Game 6: at BOS, Fri., May 3, TBD*
Game 7: at NY, Sun., May 5, TBD*
Denver and Golden State could be one of the surprise series and will begin on Saturday.
Game 1: at DEN, Sat., April 20, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: at DEN, Tue., April 23, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: at GS, Fri., April 26, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2
Game 4: at GS, Sun., April 28, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5: at DEN, Tue., April 30, TBD*
Game 6: at GS, Thu., May 2, TBD*
Game 7: at DEN, Sat., May 4, TBD*
Pacers and Hawks could also be very entertaining as both are very talented despite not having superstars.
Game 1: at IND, Sun., April 21, 1:00 p.m., TNT
Game 2: at IND, Wed., April 24, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3: at ATL, Sat., April 27, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: at ATL, Mon., April 29, TBD*
Game 5: at IND, Wed., May 1, TBD*
Game 6: at ATL, Fri., May 3, TBD*
Game 7: at IND, Sun., May 5, TBD*
The Clippers and Grizzlies starts on Saturday and LA will get the chance to shine.
Game 1: at LA, Sat., April 20, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: at LA, Mon., April 22, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: at MEM, Thu., April 25, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4: at MEM, Sat., April 27, 4:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5: at LA, Tue., April 30, TBD*
Game 6: at MEM, Fri., May 3, TBD*
Game 7: at LA, Sun., May 5, TBD*
Bulls and Nets will start in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center on Saturday.
Game 1: at BK, Sat., April 20, 8:00 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: at BK, Mon., April 22, 8:00 p.m., TNT
Game 3: at CHI, Thu., April 25, 8:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 4: at CHI, Sat., April 27, 2:00 p.m., TNT
Game 5: at BK, Mon., April 29, TBD*
Game 6: at CHI, Thu., May 2, TBD*
Game 7: at BK, Sat., May 4, TBD*