The NBA Conference Finals are upon us, with the playoff picture narrowing down to four formidable teams, all vying for the coveted spots in the 2024 NBA Finals.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics, maintaining their dominant streak, secured their place with another decisive five-game series victory, this time against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their next challenge awaits in the form of the surprising Indiana Pacers, who clinched their spot after a convincing win over the short-handed New York Knicks in a thrilling Game 7 showdown.
Out West, the Minnesota Timberwolves showcased their resilience with a stunning comeback victory in Game 7 against the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, led by the formidable Nikola Jokic. This marks the Timberwolves’ first appearance in the conference finals since 2004.
As the stage is set, each team now faces the arduous task of winning their best-of-7 series to advance further. The NBA playoffs adhere to a best-of-7 format throughout all rounds, with no reseeding after each stage. Home-court advantage is granted to the team with the superior regular-season record, with games structured in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, featuring the higher-seeded team hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 if necessary.
Schedule:
EAST FINALS
Boston Celtics (1) vs. Indiana Pacers (6)
Game 1: Tuesday, May 21 at Boston (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Game 2: Thursday, May 23 at Boston (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 3: Saturday, May 25 at Indiana (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4: Monday, May 27 at Indiana (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 29 at Boston (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 31 at Indiana (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, June 2 at Boston (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Minnesota Timberwolves (3) vs. Dallas Mavericks (5)
Game 1: Wednesday, May 22 at Minnesota (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2: Friday, May 24 at Minnesota (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Sunday, May 26 at Dallas (8 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4: Tuesday, May 28 at Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, May 30 at Minnesota (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Saturday, June 1 at Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, June 3 at Minnesota (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
