The 2023 NBA playoffs are almost here.
The Golden State Warriors are the defending champions but are still battling to qualify for the postseason, in which 16 teams will face off in four rounds of action to determine the 2023 NBA champion.
The top six teams in each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs, while the teams that finish the regular season in seventh through 10th place will advance to the NBA’s play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff teams in each conference. The play-in tournament will take place April 11-14, with the first round of the playoffs tipping off on April 15.
The NBA Finals are set to tip off on June 1, with Game 7 — should the series go that long — scheduled for June 18. All NBA Finals games will be available on ABC and the ESPN App.
Latest news
Eastern Conference
The Boston Celtics are the defending Eastern Conference champions.
Through games played Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks, Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks have clinched a playoff berth and have locked in the top five seeds in the East. The Toronto Raptors and the Chicago Bulls are guaranteed a spot in the play-in tournament. The Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks will also be in the play-in tournament, unless either team overtakes the Brooklyn Nets for sixth.
The Bucks, who won the NBA championship in 2021, are the top seed in the East, but the Celtics can still overtake them in the standings.
As of Wednesday, the first-round playoff matchups would be:
-
1. Bucks vs. 8. Play-in winner
-
2. Celtics vs. 7. Play-in winner
-
3. 76ers vs. 6. Nets
-
4. Cavaliers vs. 5. Knicks
Western Conference
The Golden State Warriors are the defending Western Conference champions.
Through games played Tuesday, the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns have clinched a playoff berth.
The Nuggets are the top seed in the West, but the Grizzlies can still overtake them in the standings. The Lakers and Pelicans have clinched spots in the play-in.
As of Wednesday, the first-round playoff matchups would be:
MORE: These West play-in scenarios are pure madness
Historical NBA Finals coverage
2022: Warriors champions once again
Stephen Curry & Co. returned to the top of the mountain, defeating the Boston Celtics in six games to claim their fourth championship in the past seven seasons.
Complete 2022 NBA Finals coverage
2021: Giannis, Bucks conquer the Suns
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s epic Game 6 performance ended the Milwaukee Bucks’ 50-year title drought, giving them their second NBA championship with a win over the Phoenix Suns.
Complete 2021 NBA Finals coverage
2020: LeBron, Lakers claim bubble title
The Los Angeles Lakers conquered the NBA’s Orlando bubble, defeating the Miami Heat in six games for the 17th championship in franchise history.
Complete 2020 NBA Finals coverage
2019: Kawhi becomes King in the North
For the first time in NBA history, a team outside the United States won the championship, as the Toronto Raptors knocked off the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Complete 2019 NBA Finals coverage
2018: How sweep it is for Warriors
The Golden State Warriors capped off a second consecutive title run by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games.
Complete 2018 NBA Finals coverage
2017: Durant puts Warriors back on top
The Golden State Warriors were nearly perfect in 2017, going 16-1 in the playoffs en route to winning the NBA championship.
Complete 2017 NBA Finals coverage
2016: ‘Cleveland, this is for you!’
LeBron James and the Cavaliers ended Cleveland’s 52-year title drought by becoming the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.
Complete 2016 NBA Finals coverage