To sign up for our daily email newsletter, CLICK HERE
The 2018 NBA Playoffs have arrived!
Starting April 14, sixteen teams — eight from each the Eastern and Western conferences — will begin their route for the NBA championship and the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy, to be rewarded in June.
While most observers predict a Golden State Warriors-Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive year, there are several obstacles that could hamper that projection. Both the Warriors and Cavaliers have been beset by major injuries to their star players (e.g. Warriors’ Steph Curry will miss the first round due to a sprained MCL) and have experienced significant stretches of game losses throughout the regular season, preventing each from finishing atop their respective conferences — those honors went to the Houston Rockets in the West and Toronto Raptors in the East.
Also of note this postseason: after several years languishing near or at the bottom of the NBA standings, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Minnesota Timberwolves both achieved playoff berths this year. It’s Philadelphia’s first postseason since 2012; Minnesota’s first since 2004.
ABC, TNT, ESPN, ESPN2 and NBA TV are the national television outlets for the NBA playoffs.
TV Tuesday Audio Segment with Douglas Pucci
joining Scott Nolte on
Y100.1 FM (Northwest Iowa)
TV Tuesday Audio Segment with Douglas Pucci
joining Scott Nolte on
Y100.1 FM (Northwest Iowa)
The following are the scheduled game start times (all times Eastern; start times subject to change), respective networks for the first round of playoff action:
Updated Sat., Apr. 28, 2018 1:20 a.m. EDT
EASTERN CONFERENCE
[#1] Toronto Raptors vs. [#8] Washington Wizards
Game 1: Saturday, Apr. 14 5:30 p.m. at Toronto on ESPN, NBC Sports Washington, SportsNet
Announcers:
ESPN: Ryan Ruocco, P.J. Carlesimo, Jorge Sedano
NBC Sports Washington: Steve Buckhantz (play-by-play), Kara Lawson (analyst), Chris Miller (reporter)
SportsNet: Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Leo Rautins (analyst)
Game 2: Tuesday, Apr. 17 7:00 p.m. at Toronto on NBA TV, NBC Sports Washington+, TSN
Announcers:
NBA TV: Pete Pranica, Greg Anthony, Jared Greenberg
NBC Sports Washington+: Steve Buckhantz (play-by-play), Kara Lawson (analyst), Chris Miller (reporter)
TSN: Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Jack Armstrong (analyst)
Game 3: Friday, Apr. 20 8:00 p.m. at Washington on ESPN2, NBC Sports Washington, TSN
Announcers:
ESPN2: Adam Amin, P.J. Carlesimo, Jorge Sedano
NBC Sports Washington: Steve Buckhantz (play-by-play), Kara Lawson (analyst), Chris Miller (reporter)
TSN: Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Jack Armstrong (analyst)
Game 4: Sunday, Apr. 22 6:00 p.m. at Washington on TNT, NBC Sports Washington, SportsNet
Announcers:
TNT: Spero Dedes, Mike Fratello, Jared Greenberg
NBC Sports Washington: Steve Buckhantz (play-by-play), Kara Lawson (analyst), Chris Miller (reporter)
SportsNet: Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Leo Rautins (analyst)
Game 5: Wednesday, Apr. 25 7:00 p.m. at Toronto on NBA TV, NBC Sports Washington, TSN
Announcers:
NBA TV: Spero Dedes, Mike Fratello, Jared Greenberg
NBC Sports Washington: Steve Buckhantz (play-by-play), Kara Lawson (analyst), Chris Miller (reporter)
TSN: Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Jack Armstrong (analyst)
Game 6: Friday, Apr. 27 7:00 p.m. at Washington on ESPNEWS/NBA TV, NBC Sports Washington, SportsNet
Announcers:
ESPNEWS/NBA TV: Dave Pasch, Doris Burke, Cassidy Hubbarth
NBC Sports Washington: Steve Buckhantz (play-by-play), Kara Lawson (analyst), Chris Miller (reporter)
SportsNet: Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Jack Armstrong (analyst)
[#2] Boston Celtics vs. [#7] Milwaukee Bucks
Game 1: Sunday, Apr. 15 1:00 p.m. at Boston on TNT, NBC Sports Boston, Fox Sports Wisconsin
Announcers:
TNT: Brian Anderson, Kevin McHale, Ros Gold-Onwude
NBC Sports Boston: Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn, Chris Mannix
Fox Sports Wisconsin: Jim Paschke, Marques Johnson, Telly Hughes
Game 2: Tuesday, Apr. 17 8:00 p.m. at Boston on TNT, NBC Sports Boston, Fox Sports Wisconsin
Announcers:
TNT: Brian Anderson, Kevin McHale, Ros Gold-Onwude
NBC Sports Boston: Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn, Chris Mannix
Fox Sports Wisconsin: Jim Paschke, Marques Johnson, Telly Hughes
Game 3: Friday, Apr. 20 9:30 p.m. at Milwaukee on ESPN, NBC Sports Boston, Fox Sports Wisconsin
Announcers:
ESPN: Mark Jones, Hubie Brown, Cassidy Hubbarth
ESPN Deportes: Leo Montero & Fabricio Oberto
NBC Sports Boston: Mike Gorman, Brian Scalabrine, Chris Mannix
Fox Sports Wisconsin: Jim Paschke, Marques Johnson, Telly Hughes
Game 4: Sunday, Apr. 22 1:00 p.m. at Milwaukee on ABC
Announcers:
ABC: Mark Jones, Hubie Brown, Cassidy Hubbarth
ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Jim Spanarkel
ESPN Deportes: Fernando Alvarez & Pablo Viruega
Game 5: Tuesday, Apr. 24 7:00 p.m. at Boston on NBA TV, NBC Sports Boston, Fox Sports Wisconsin
Announcers:
NBA TV: Spero Dedes, Mike Fratello, Ros Gold-Onwude
NBC Sports Boston: Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn, Chris Mannix
Fox Sports Wisconsin: Jim Paschke, Marques Johnson, Telly Hughes
Game 6: Thursday, Apr. 26 8:00 p.m. at Milwaukee on TNT, NBC Sports Boston, Fox Sports Wisconsin
Announcers:
TNT: Brian Anderson, Kevin McHale, Ros Gold-Onwude
NBC Sports Boston: Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn, Chris Mannix
Fox Sports Wisconsin: Jim Paschke, Marques Johnson, Telly Hughes
Game 7: Saturday, Apr. 28 8:00 p.m. at Boston on TNT, NBC Sports Boston, Fox Sports Wisconsin
Announcers:
TNT: Brian Anderson, Kevin McHale, Ros Gold-Onwude
NBC Sports Boston: Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn, Chris Mannix
Fox Sports Wisconsin: Jim Paschke, Marques Johnson, Telly Hughes
[#3] Philadelphia 76ers vs. [#6] Miami Heat
Game 1: Saturday, Apr. 14 8:00 p.m. at Philadelphia on ESPN, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Fox Sports Sun
Announcers:
ESPN: Mark Jones, Hubie Brown, Israel Gutierrez
NBC Sports Philadelphia: Marc Zumoff, Alaa Abdelnaby
Fox Sports Sun: Eric Reid, Tony Fiorentino
Game 2: Monday, Apr. 16 8:00 p.m. at Philadelphia on TNT, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Fox Sports Sun
Announcers:
TNT: Spero Dedes, Mike Fratello, Rebecca Haarlow
NBC Sports Philadelphia: Marc Zumoff, Alaa Abdelnaby
Fox Sports Sun: Eric Reid, Tony Fiorentino
Game 3: Thursday, Apr. 19 7:00 p.m. at Miami on TNT, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Fox Sports Sun
Announcers:
TNT: Brian Anderson, Kevin McHale, Rebecca Haarlow
NBC Sports Philadelphia: Marc Zumoff, Alaa Abdelnaby
Fox Sports Sun: Eric Reid, Tony Fiorentino
Game 4: Saturday, Apr. 21 2:30 p.m. at Miami on TNT, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Fox Sports Sun
Announcers:
TNT: Brian Anderson, Kevin McHale, Rebecca Haarlow
NBC Sports Philadelphia: Marc Zumoff, Alaa Abdelnaby
Fox Sports Sun: Eric Reid, Tony Fiorentino
Game 5: Tuesday, Apr. 24 8:00 p.m. at Philadelphia on TNT, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Fox Sports Sun
Announcers:
TNT: Brian Anderson, Kevin McHale, Rebecca Haarlow
NBC Sports Philadelphia: Marc Zumoff, Alaa Abdelnaby
Fox Sports Sun: Eric Reid, Tony Fiorentino
[#4] Cleveland Cavaliers vs. [#5] Indiana Pacers
Game 1: Sunday, Apr. 15 3:30 p.m. at Cleveland on ABC
Announcers:
ABC: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters, Steve Javie
ESPN Radio: Adam Amin, P.J. Carlesimo
Game 2: Wednesday, Apr. 18 7:00 p.m. at Cleveland on TNT, Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Indiana
Announcers:
TNT: Marv Albert, Chris Webber, Allie LaForce
Fox Sports Ohio: Steve Buckhantz, Phil Chenier
Fox Sports Indiana: Chris Denari, Quinn Buckner, Jeremiah Johnson
Game 3: Friday, Apr. 20 7:00 p.m. at Indiana on ESPN, Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Indiana
Announcers:
ESPN: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters
ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Jon Barry
ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin & Carlos Morales
Fox Sports Ohio: Steve Buckhantz, Phil Chenier
Fox Sports Indiana: Chris Denari, Quinn Buckner, Austin Croshere, Jeremiah Johnson
Game 4: Sunday, Apr. 22 8:30 p.m. at Indiana on TNT, Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Indiana
Announcers:
TNT: Marv Albert, Chris Webber, Allie LaForce
Fox Sports Ohio: Steve Buckhantz, Phil Chenier
Fox Sports Indiana: Chris Denari, Quinn Buckner, Austin Croshere, Jeremiah Johnson
Game 5: Wednesday, Apr. 25 7:00 p.m. at Cleveland on TNT, Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Indiana
Announcers:
TNT: Ian Eagle, Brent Barry, Allie LaForce
Fox Sports Ohio: Steve Buckhantz, Phil Chenier
Fox Sports Indiana: Chris Denari, Quinn Buckner, Jeremiah Johnson
Game 6: Friday, Apr. 27 8:00 p.m. at Indiana on ESPN, Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Indiana
Announcers:
ESPN: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters
Fox Sports Ohio: Steve Buckhantz, Phil Chenier
Fox Sports Indiana: Chris Denari, Quinn Buckner, Austin Croshere, Jeremiah Johnson
Game 7: Sunday, Apr. 29 1:00 p.m. at Cleveland on ABC
Announcers:
ABC: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Doris Burke
WESTERN CONFERENCE
[#1] Houston Rockets vs. [#8] Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: Sunday, Apr. 15 9:00 p.m. at Houston on TNT, AT&T Southwest, Fox Sports North
Announcers:
TNT: Marv Albert, Chris Webber, Kristen Ledlow
AT&T Southwest: Bill Worrell, Craig Ackerman, Matt Bullard, Clyde Drexler, Bart Enis
Fox Sports North: Dave Benz, Jim Petersen, Marney Gellner
Game 2: Wednesday, Apr. 18 9:30 p.m. at Houston on TNT, AT&T Southwest, Fox Sports North
Announcers:
TNT: Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Kristen Ledlow
AT&T Southwest: Bill Worrell, Craig Ackerman, Matt Bullard, Clyde Drexler, Bart Enis
Fox Sports North: Dave Benz, Jim Petersen, Marney Gellner
Game 3: Saturday, Apr. 21 7:30 p.m. at Minnesota on ESPN, AT&T Southwest, Fox Sports North
Announcers:
ESPN: Dave Pasch, Doris Burke, Jorge Sedano
ESPN Radio: Adam Amin, Jon Barry
AT&T Southwest: Bill Worrell, Craig Ackerman, Matt Bullard, Clyde Drexler, Bart Enis
Fox Sports North: Dave Benz, Jim Petersen, Marney Gellner
Game 4: Monday, Apr. 23 8:00 p.m. at Minnesota on TNT, AT&T Southwest, Fox Sports North
Announcers:
TNT: Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Kristen Ledlow
AT&T Southwest: Bill Worrell, Craig Ackerman, Matt Bullard, Clyde Drexler, Bart Enis
Fox Sports North: Dave Benz, Jim Petersen, Marney Gellner
Game 5: Wednesday, Apr. 25 9:30 p.m. at Houston on TNT, AT&T Southwest, Fox Sports North
Announcers:
TNT: Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Kristen Ledlow
AT&T Southwest: Bill Worrell, Craig Ackerman, Matt Bullard, Clyde Drexler, Bart Enis
Fox Sports North: Dave Benz, Jim Petersen, Marney Gellner
[#2] Golden State Warriors vs. [#7] San Antonio Spurs
Game 1: Saturday, Apr. 14 3:00 p.m. at Golden State on ABC
Announcers:
ABC: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters
ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Jon Barry
Game 2: Monday, Apr. 16 10:30 p.m. at Golden State on TNT, NBC Sports Bay Area, Fox Sports Southwest
Announcers:
TNT: Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, David Aldridge
NBC Sports Bay Area: Bob Fitzgerald, Jim Barnett, Kerith Burke
Fox Sports Southwest: Bill Land, Sean Elliott, Andrew Monaco
Game 3: Thursday, Apr. 19 9:30 p.m. at San Antonio on TNT, NBC Sports Bay Area, Fox Sports Southwest
Announcers:
TNT: Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, David Aldridge
NBC Sports Bay Area: Bob Fitzgerald, Jim Barnett, Kerith Burke
Fox Sports Southwest: Bill Land, Sean Elliott, Andrew Monaco
Game 4: Sunday, Apr. 22 3:30 p.m. at San Antonio on ABC
Announcers:
ABC: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters
ESPN Radio: Sean Kelley, P.J. Carlesimo
ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin & Carlos Morales
Game 5: Tuesday, Apr. 24 10:30 p.m. at Golden State on TNT, NBC Sports Bay Area, Fox Sports Southwest
Announcers:
TNT: Marv Albert, Chris Webber, David Aldridge
NBC Sports Bay Area: Bob Fitzgerald, Jim Barnett, Kerith Burke
Fox Sports Southwest: Bill Land, Sean Elliott, Andrew Monaco
[#3] Portland Trail Blazers vs. [#6] New Orleans Pelicans
Game 1: Saturday, Apr. 14 10:30 p.m. at Portland on ESPN, NBC Sports Northwest, Fox Sports New Orleans
Announcers:
ESPN: Dave Pasch, Doris Burke, Cassidy Hubbarth
NBC Sports Northwest: Kevin Calabro, Lamar Hurd, Brooke Olzendam
Fox Sports New Orleans: Joel Meyers, David Wesley, Jennifer Hale
Game 2: Tuesday, Apr. 17 10:30 p.m. at Portland on TNT, NBC Sports Northwest, Fox Sports New Orleans
Announcers:
TNT: Ian Eagle, Brent Barry, Jaime Maggio
NBC Sports Northwest: Kevin Calabro, Lamar Hurd, Brooke Olzendam
Fox Sports New Orleans: Joel Meyers, David Wesley, Jennifer Hale
Game 3: Thursday, Apr. 19 9:00 p.m. at New Orleans on NBA TV, NBC Sports Northwest, Fox Sports New Orleans
Announcers:
NBA TV: Pete Pranica, Greg Anthony, Jaime Maggio
NBC Sports Northwest: Kevin Calabro, Lamar Hurd, Brooke Olzendam
Fox Sports New Orleans: Joel Meyers, David Wesley, Jennifer Hale
Game 4: Saturday, Apr. 21 5:00 p.m. at New Orleans on TNT, NBC Sports Northwest, Fox Sports New Orleans
Announcers:
TNT: Ian Eagle, Brent Barry, Jaime Maggio
NBC Sports Northwest: Kevin Calabro, Lamar Hurd, Brooke Olzendam
Fox Sports New Orleans: Joel Meyers, David Wesley, Jennifer Hale
[#4] Oklahoma City Thunder vs. [#5] Utah Jazz
Game 1: Sunday, Apr. 15 6:30 p.m. at Oklahoma City on TNT, Fox Sports Oklahoma, AT&T Utah
Announcers:
TNT: Ian Eagle, Brent Barry, Dennis Scott
Fox Sports Oklahoma: Brian Davis, Michael Cage, Leslie McCaslin
AT&T Utah: Craig Bolerjack, Matt Harpring, Ron Boone, Kristen Kenney
Game 2: Wednesday, Apr. 18 8:00 p.m. at Oklahoma City on NBA TV, Fox Sports Oklahoma, AT&T Utah
Announcers:
NBA TV: Spero Dedes, Mike Fratello, Dennis Scott
Fox Sports Oklahoma: Brian Davis, Michael Cage, Leslie McCaslin
AT&T Utah: Craig Bolerjack, Matt Harpring, Ron Boone, Kristen Kenney
Game 3: Saturday, Apr. 21 10:00 p.m. at Utah on ESPN, Fox Sports Oklahoma, AT&T Utah
Announcers:
ESPN: Ryan Ruocco, Kara Lawson, Adam Schefter
ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin & Carlos Morales
Fox Sports Oklahoma: Brian Davis, Michael Cage, Leslie McCaslin
AT&T Utah: Craig Bolerjack, Matt Harpring, Ron Boone, Kristen Kenney
Game 4: Monday, Apr. 23 10:30 p.m. at Utah on TNT, Fox Sports Oklahoma, AT&T Utah
Announcers:
TNT: Ian Eagle, Brent Barry, Dennis Scott
Fox Sports Oklahoma: Brian Davis, Michael Cage, Leslie McCaslin
AT&T Utah: Craig Bolerjack, Matt Harpring, Ron Boone, Kristen Kenney
Game 5: Wednesday, Apr. 25 9:30 p.m. at Oklahoma City on NBA TV, Fox Sports Oklahoma, AT&T Utah
Announcers:
NBA TV: Pete Pranica, Greg Anthony, Dennis Scott
Fox Sports Oklahoma: Brian Davis, Michael Cage, Leslie McCaslin
AT&T Utah: Craig Bolerjack, Matt Harpring, Ron Boone, Kristen Kenney
Game 6: Friday, Apr. 27 10:30 p.m. at Utah on ESPN, Fox Sports Oklahoma, AT&T Utah
Announcers:
ESPN: Mark Jones, Hubie Brown, Israel Gutierrez
Fox Sports Oklahoma: Brian Davis, Michael Cage, Leslie McCaslin
AT&T Utah: Craig Bolerjack, Matt Harpring, Ron Boone, Kristen Kenney
Game 7: Sunday, Apr. 29 TBD at Oklahoma City (if necessary)
