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NBA playoffs 2024: Conference semifinals news, schedule, scores and highlights

NBA, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks

The NBA playoffs' conference semifinals are underway. Expect plenty of drama after a thrilling start to the postseason.

The Boston Celtics, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and top overall seed, battle the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers. In the other East series, the No. 2 seed New York Knicks renew their old rivalry with the No. 6 seed Indiana Pacers.

In the West, the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder take on the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks. The other West clash pits the No. 2 seed and defending NBA Finals champion Denver Nuggets against the No. 3 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.

The four teams from each conference face off in a best-of-7 series to advance. All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-7, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary). 

We'll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2024 NBA Finals, which tip off on June 6 on ABC and the ESPN app.

MORE: First-round news and scores |   Offseason guides

EASTERN CONFERENCE


  

Boston Celtics (1) tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers (4), 1-1

Game 1: Celtics 120, Cavaliers 95
Game 2: Cavaliers 118, Celtics 94
Game 3: Saturday, May 11 at Cleveland (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4: Monday, May 13 at Cleveland (7:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5: Wednesday, May 15 at Boston (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 17 at Cleveland (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 19 at Boston

  • Cavs ride Mitchell's 29 to Game 2 win over Celtics to tie series

  • Sources: Celtics assistant Charles Lee to become Hornets coach

  • Derrick White continues heater as Celtics burn Cavs in Game 1

  • Herring: One strength (and a flaw) for the Celtics, other playoff teams


 

New York Knicks (2) lead Indiana Pacers (6), 2-0

Game 1: Knicks 121, Pacers 117
Game 2: Knicks 130, Pacers 121
Game 3: Friday, May 10 at Indiana (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, May 12 at Indiana (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, May 14 at New York (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 17 at Indiana (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 19 at New York

  • Knicks' OG Anunoby (hamstring) ruled out for Game 3

  • Source: Pacers file complaint to NBA over 78 calls, non-calls

  • Jalen Brunson returns from injury, sparks Knicks to 2-0 lead

  • Hockensmith: The birth of the Nova Knicks

  • Herring: How Jalen Brunson's ruthless old-man game is driving the Knicks

WESTERN CONFERENCE


  

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) tied with the Dallas Mavericks (5), 1-1

Game 1: Thunder 117, Mavericks 95
Game 2: Mavericks 119, Thunder 110
Game 3: Saturday, May 11 at Dallas (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4: Monday, May 13 at Dallas (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5: Wednesday, May 15 at Oklahoma City (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Saturday, May 18 at Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, May 20 at Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

  • Luka Doncic bounces back to help Mavs even series with Thunder

  • MacMahon: Two under-the-radar trades turned the Mavs into a real threat

  • Pelton: Why OKC's championship window is wide open for years to come

  • Shelburne: Inside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's improbable rise


 

Minnesota Timberwolves (3) lead Denver Nuggets (2), 2-0

Game 1: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 99
Game 2: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 80
Game 3: Friday, May 10 at Minnesota (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, May 12 at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, May 14 at Denver (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, May 16 at Minnesota (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 19 at Denver

  • Karl-Anthony Towns gets social justice honor, Kareem trophy

  • Nuggets' Nikola Jokic wins NBA MVP for 3rd time in 4 seasons

  • Rudy Gobert had 'emotions' watching Timberwolves dominate Nuggets

  • Lowe: How Anthony Edwards' rise has led to the redemption of Karl-Anthony Towns

  • Holmes: The forgotten Serbian legend who paved the way for Jokic and other stars

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