2024 NBA Playoff Bracket: Seedings, Matchups and Schedule
By Sascha Paruk
Updated:
2024 NBA Playoff Picture
| Seed | Eastern Conference | Seed | Western Conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Celtics | 1 | |
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| 5 | 5 | Dallas Mavericks | |
| 6 | 6 | ||
| 7 | 7 | ||
| 8 | 8 | ||
| 9 | 9 | ||
| 10 | 10 |
Remaining 2024 NBA playoff seeds as of May 19, 2024.
2024 NBA Playoffs Schedule
| Round | Start Dates |
|---|---|
| Play-In Tournament | April 16 |
| First Round | April 20 |
| Conference Semifinals | May 4 |
| Conference Finals | May 21 |
| 2024 NBA Finals | June 6 |
When Do the 2024 NBA Playoffs Start?
The Play-In Tournament runs over four days, from April 16 to 19. The first round gets underway on April 20 and will likely run until the first weekend of May. While the first round and NBA Finals start dates are set in stone, the second-round and conference finals start dates will hinge upon how long the series in the previous round last.
How Does the NBA Playoff Bracket Work?
For the fifth straight season, the NBA will continue with the Play-In Tournament for the 7-10 seeds in each conference before commencing the traditional 16-team playoff format.
Following the Play-In Tournament, the playoffs will continue with a traditional playoff bracket: eight teams from each of the Eastern and Western Conference competing in a postseason of four rounds comprised of seven-game series. The opening round matchups are 1-vs-8, 2-vs-7, 3-vs-6 and 4-vs-5. The NBA does not re-seed if upsets occur. The bracket is fixed. So the winner of the 1-vs-8 matchup in the East will play the winner of the 4-vs-5 matchup no matter who wins each matchup.
How Does the NBA Play-In Tournament Work?
In the Play-In Tournament, the #7 and #8 seed in each conference will each have two opportunities to win one game to earn a playoff spot. The #9 and #10 seed in each conference will each have to win two consecutive games to earn a playoff spot.
The #7 team in each conference hosts the #8 team, with the winner receiving the seventh seed. The winner of the #9 vs #10 game will then face the loser of the 7-8 game, with the winner of that game earning the #8 seed in the final bracket.
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Managing Editor
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
