NBA playoffs 2022 – Complete first-round matchups, schedules and news

The NBA postseason is here, and it’s shaping up to be a wide-open chase to the 2022 title.

The Phoenix Suns ran away with the league’s best regular-season record — eight games clear of the second-best Memphis Grizzlies. Devin Booker, Chris Paul and the reigning Western Conference champs are on a mission to redeem themselves after last season’s six-game Finals defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Plenty of West contenders stand in the Suns’ way, including Ja Morant and the Grizzlies, MVP favorite Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors, who are back in the playoffs for the first time since reaching the Finals in 2019.

In the East, the defending champion Bucks are the 3-seed in a log-jammed conference — the top-seeded Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers were separated by just two games in the final regular season standings.

And the Brooklyn Nets, who needed the play-in tournament to clinch the 7-seed, have the star power to shake up the playoffs bracket.

Here’s all the info you need for each first-round matchup, including schedules, news and series-by-series analysis.

MORE: What to know about the 16 teams fighting for the title

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Game 1: Atlanta vs. Miami | Sun., April 17 (1 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2: Atlanta vs. Miami | Tue., April 19 (TBD)
Game 3: Miami vs. Atlanta | Fri., April 22 (TBD, ESPN)
Game 4: Miami vs. Atlanta | Sun., April 24 (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5*: Atlanta vs. Miami | Tue., April 26 (TBD)
Game 6*: Miami vs. Atlanta | Thu., April 28 (TBD)
Game 7*: Atlanta vs. Miami | Sat., April 30 (TBD, TNT)

* if necessary

play

Kendrick Perkins discusses the reasons he believes the Miami Heat are title contenders.

Game 1: Brooklyn vs. Boston | Sun., April 17 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 2: Brooklyn vs. Boston | Wed., April 20 (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Boston vs. Brooklyn | Sat., April 23 (TBD, ESPN)
Game 4: Boston vs. Brooklyn | Mon., April 25 (TBD)
Game 5*: Brooklyn vs. Boston | Wed., April 27 (TBD)
Game 6*: Boston vs. Brooklyn | Fri., April 29 (TBD)
Game 7*: Brooklyn vs. Boston | Sun., May 1 (TBD)

* if necessary

play

Jayson Tatum unleashes 31 points to lead the Celtics to clinching the No. 2 seed in the East after defeating the Grizzlies.

Game 1: Chicago vs. Milwaukee | Sun., April 17 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2: Chicago vs. Milwaukee | Wed., April 20 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Milwaukee vs. Chicago | Fri., April 22 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4: Milwaukee vs. Chicago | Sun., April 24 (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5*: Chicago vs. Milwaukee | Wed., April 27 (TBD)
Game 6*: Milwaukee vs. Chicago | Fri., April 29 (TBD)
Game 7*: Chicago vs. Milwaukee | Sun., May 1 (TBD)

* if necessary

play

Giannis Antetokounmpo with the and-1 bucket

Game 1: Toronto vs. Philadelphia | Sat., April 16 (6 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 2: Toronto vs. Philadelphia | Mon., April 18 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Philadelphia vs. Toronto | Wed., April 20 (8 p.m. ET, NBATV)
Game 4: Philadelphia vs. Toronto | Sat., April 23 (2 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5*: Toronto vs. Philadelphia | Mon., April 25 (TBD)
Game 6*: Philadelphia vs. Toronto | Thu., April 28 (TBD)
Game 7*: Toronto vs. Philadelphia | Sat., April 30 (TBD, TNT)

* if necessary

play

Joel Embiid has a 41 point double-double in a 133-120 win over the Pacers.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Game 1: New Orleans vs. Phoenix | Sun., April 17 (9 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 2: New Orleans vs. Phoenix | Tue., April 19 (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Phoenix vs. New Orleans | Fri., April 22 (TBD, ESPN)
Game 4: Phoenix vs. New Orleans | Sun., April 24 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5*: New Orleans vs. Phoenix | Tue., April 26 (TBD)
Game 6*: Phoenix vs. New Orleans | Thu., April 28 (TBD)
Game 7*: New Orleans vs. Phoenix | Sat., April 30 (TBD, TNT)

* if necessary

Game 1: Minnesota vs. Memphis | Sat., April 16 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 2: Minnesota vs. Memphis | Tue., April 19 (TBD)
Game 3: Memphis vs. Minnesota | Thu., April 21 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4: Memphis vs. Minnesota | Sat., April 23 (TBD, ESPN)
Game 5*: Minnesota vs. Memphis | Tue., April 26 (TBD)
Game 6*: Memphis vs. Minnesota | Fri., April 29 (TBD)
Game 7*: Minnesota vs. Memphis | Sun., May 1 (TBD)

* if necessary

Game 1: Denver vs. Golden State | Sat., April 16 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 2: Denver vs. Golden State | Mon., April 18 (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Golden State vs. Denver | Thu., April 21 (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4: Golden State vs. Denver | Sun., April 24 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5*: Denver vs. Golden State | Wed., April 27 (TBD)
Game 6*: Golden State vs. Denver | Fri., April 29 (TBD)
Game 7*: Denver vs. Golden State | Sun., May 1 (TBD)

* if necessary

Game 1: Utah vs. Dallas | Sat., April 16 (1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 2: Utah vs. Dallas | Mon., April 18 (8:30 p.m. ET, NBATV)
Game 3: Dallas vs. Utah | Thu., April 21 (9 p.m. ET, NBATV)
Game 4: Dallas vs. Utah | Sat., April 23 (4:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5*: Utah vs. Dallas | Mon., April 25 (TBD)
Game 6*: Dallas vs. Utah | Thu., April 28 (TBD)
Game 7*: Utah vs. Dallas | Sat., April 30 (TBD, TNT)

* if necessary