The NBA postseason is here, and it’s shaping up to be a wide-open chase to the 2022 title.
The Phoenix Suns ran away with the league’s best regular-season record — eight games clear of the second-best Memphis Grizzlies. Devin Booker, Chris Paul and the reigning Western Conference champs are on a mission to redeem themselves after last season’s six-game Finals defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks, and survived an injury to Booker to knock out the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round.
Plenty of West contenders still stand in the Suns’ way, including Ja Morant and the Grizzlies, Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors, who are back in the playoffs for the first time since reaching the Finals in 2019.
In the East, the defending champion Bucks are the 3-seed in a log-jammed conference — the top-seeded Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers were separated by just two games in the final regular season standings and all advanced to the second round.
Here’s all the info you need for each conference semifinals matchup, including game recaps, news and series-by-series analysis.
MORE: Complete first-round results
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Game 1: 76ers at Heat, Monday, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2: 76ers at Heat, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Heat at 76ers, Friday, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Heat at 76ers, Sunday May 8, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5*: 76ers at Heat, Tuesday May 10, TBD (TNT)
Game 6*: Heat at 76ers, Thursday May 12, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7*: 76ers at Heat, Sunday May 15, TBD
*If necessary
Without Joel Embiid, here’s what the 76ers must do against the Heat
76ers’ Joel Embiid out indefinitely with orbital fracture, mild concussion
Injury-depleted Heat finish off Hawks to advance
How Tyler Herro fuels the best version of the Miami Heat
The Heat have mastered winning with undrafted talent
Danilo Gallinari is forced to throw a bad pass and Bam Adebayo comes up with the steal to seal the Heat’s win vs. the Hawks in Game 5.
Game 1: Bucks at Celtics, Sunday, 1 p.m. (ABC)
Game 2: Bucks at Celtics, Tuesday, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Celtics at Bucks, Saturday May 7, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 4: Celtics at Bucks, Monday May 9, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5*: Bucks at Celtics, Wednesday May 11, TBD (TNT)
Game 6*: Celtics at Bucks, Friday May 13, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7*: Bucks at Celtics, Sunday May 15, TBD
*If necessary
Lowe: Why the Bucks need absolute peak Giannis to defeat these Celtics
Smart first guard to win DPOY since 1995-96
Bucks close out Bulls, turn attention to Celtics
Tatum scores 29 as Boston Celtics complete sweep of Brooklyn Nets
Monica McNutt discusses what to expect in the upcoming Eastern Conference semifinals matchup between the Bucks and Celtics.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Game 1: Mavericks at Suns, Monday, 10:00 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2: Mavericks at Suns, Wednesday, 10:00 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Suns at Mavericks, Friday, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Suns at Mavericks, Sunday May 8, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 5*: Mavericks at Suns, Tuesday May 10, TBD (TNT)
Game 6*: Suns at Mavericks, Thursday May 12, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7*: Mavericks at Suns, Sunday May 15, TBD
*If necessary
Paul’s perfect night from field helps Suns close out Pelicans
Mavs escape Utah as Luka advances for first time
Bridges joins list of greats in powering Suns to Game 5 win
A star guard has arrived in Dallas — the price to keep him there just went up
Why no NBA playoff team comes close to these Suns
Chris Paul goes a perfect 14-for-14 from the field as the Suns defeat the Pelicans 115-109 to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
Game 1: Warriors at Grizzlies, Sunday, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 2: Warriors at Grizzlies, Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Grizzlies at Warriors, Saturday May 7, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 4: Grizzlies at Warriors, Monday May 9, 10:00 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5*: Warriors at Grizzlies, Wednesday May 11, TBD (TNT)
Game 6*: Grizzlies at Warriors, Friday May 13, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7*: Warriors at Grizzlies, Monday May 16, TBD (TNT)
*If necessary
Comeback Grizzlies rally again, finish Wolves in 6
Morant honored as NBA’s Most Improved Player
Warriors lose Iguodala (neck) for at least a week
Meet the new lineup that has Golden State into the second round
Gary Payton II has found a home in Golden State
Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks celebrate the Grizzlies’ victory over the Timberwolves by doing the Griddy on the logo in Minnesota.
