When Do NBA Playoffs start? Key dates for NBA playoffs schedule

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images /
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The NBA regular season has three weeks remaining, which for most teams will mean a wild fight to secure a postseason berth or playoff seed. For some teams at the bottom of the standings their hope has already shifted to the NBA Draft and future seasons, but for the Cleveland Cavaliers and many others what happens the rest of the way will have a big impact on their postseason status.

Discussions over the last few weeks will talk about which teams are true contenders, who can win a wide-open Western Conference and who ultimately makes it into the Play-In Tournament. To ensure you are fully equipped for every discussion and ready for the playoffs to begin, here is a primer on everything you need to know.

How many teams make the NBA playoffs?

The NBA Playoffs feature 16 of the 30 teams in the league. The top six teams make the playoffs from each conference, seeded according to record (and using the tie-breakers laid out here). The teams finishing from seventh to tenth in each conference compete in a Play-In Tournament, with the two winners in each conference filling in the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds. Unlike the NFL, MLB or other leagues, winning a division does not matter for playoff seeding.

What is the format of the NBA playoffs?

NBA Playoffs Bracket: The 16 teams making the playoffs are divided into two brackets for the Eastern and Western Conferences. Inside of each bracket the teams are then seeded according to team record, with the No. 1 seed playing the No. 8 seed, No. 2. vs No. 7, and so on. The winner of the 1-8 matchup then plays the winner of the 4-5, and so forth.

NBA Playoffs Rounds: The layout of the bracket makes four playoff rounds. They are called the first round, the Conference Semifinals, the Conference Finals and the NBA FInals. The best team from each conference faces off in the NBA Finals to see who will win the championship.

NBA Playoffs Series: All four rounds will be a best-of-seven series, with the first team winning four games advancing to the next round. Prior years in NBA history say best-of-five or even best-of-three matchups played, but since 2003 all four rounds have played best-of-seven matchups.

NBA Playoffs homecourt advantage: The higher seed is given homecourt advantage in each of the first three rounds. Then in the NBA Finals the homecourt advantage is determined by record, not by seed; for example, if the No. 3 seed in the East has a better record than the No. 1 seed in the West they will have homecourt advantage in the NBA Finals. Each series starts on the home court of the higher seed / best record, with a 2-2-1-1-1- format; the higher seed therefore hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.

When do the NBA playoffs start?

The final day of the NBA regular season is April 9th, and the NBA playoffs will officially begin on April 15th. Here are some other key playoff dates:

  • May 1-2: NBA Conference Semifinals begin (possible move-up to April 29-30)
  • May 16-17: NBA Conference Finals begin (possible move-up to May 14-15)
  • June 1: NBA Finals 2023 Game 1

What is the format of the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The NBA Play-In Tournament will feature the teams that finish between seventh and 10th in each conference. The No. 7 seed will host the No. 8 seed and the No. 9 seed will host the No. 10 seed. The winner of the 7/8 game is awarded the seventh seed in the full NBA playoff bracket, while the loser will then host the winner of the 9/10 game for the eighth and final spot in the bracket.

When do the NBA Finals start?

The NBA Finals will begin on June 1, 2023. Game 7, if it is necessary, will be played on June 18th. Here is the full schedule, which will be broadcast on ABC:

  • June 1: NBA Finals 2023 Game 1
  • June 4: NBA Finals 2023 Game 2
  • June 7: NBA Finals 2023 Game 3
  • June 9: NBA Finals 2023 Game 4
  • June 12: NBA Finals 2023 Game 5 (if necessary)
  • June 15: NBA Finals 2023 Game 6 (if necessary)
  • June 18: NBA Finals 2023 Game 7 (if necessary)

Who is going to win the NBA FInals?

There is still plenty of basketball to be played before the NBA Finals, but the field looks even more wide-open than normal. The Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers all have at least a 16 percent chance of winning the Finals according to FiveThirtyEight.com. In the Western Conference the team with the greatest chance is the Denver Nuggets with 12 percent, although six teams have at least a five percent chance of winning the conference.

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Our pick as of today? The Milwaukee Bucks look like the most complete team, with championship experience and an all-world star. They are the current favorite to win the NBA Finals.