Sports
NBA playoffs 2024: First-round scores, schedule, times, TV, key stats – USA TODAY
The Oklahoma City Thunder were 40-42 last season and didn’t make the playoffs. This season, they were 57-25 and earned the top seed in the Western Conference.
In 2022-23, the Minnesota Timberwolves were 42-40, and this season, they finished 56-26, the No. 3 seed in the West.
The Orlando Magic had just 34 victories last season and posted a 47-35 mark this season, good for the No. 5 seed.
While it’s a changing NBA in some ways, some things are familiar. The Boston Celtics went from 57-25 to 64-18 (top seed in the East), and the defending champion Denver Nuggets had four more wins this season, finishing 57-25 (second seed in the West).
Will one of the upstarts get to the NBA Finals or will the two teams (Celtics, Nuggets) many expect to get there meet for the title?
Here are NBA series matchups and schedules for the first round of the playoffs:
Celtics win series 4-1
Key stats: The Celtics finished first offensively (122.2 points per 100 possessions) and No. 2 defensively (110.6 points per 100 possessions).
Who to watch: The Celtics have the best starting five: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.
Knicks win series 4-2
Season series: Knicks won 3-1
Key stats: Four teams finished in the top 10 offensively and defensively, and the Knicks were one of them.
Who to watch: Jalen Brunson and his ability to carry the Knicks without Julius Randle, and the Sixers have two All-Stars in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Pacers win series 4-2
Season series: Pacers won 4-1
Key stats: Get ready for scoring. The Pacers had the No. 2 offense (120.5 points per 100 possessions), the Bucks are No. 6 (117.6 points per 100 possessions) and neither ranked in the top 15 defensively.
Who to watch: The health of Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo (missed final three regular-season games with a strained left calf), and Damian Lillard (sore adductor muscle) and the Tyrese Haliburton-Pascal Siakam playoff debut for the Pacers.
Cavaliers win series 4-3
Season series: Tied 2-2
Key stats: The Magic’s No. 3 defense (110.8 points allowed per 100 possessions) vs. the Cavaliers’ No. 7 defense (112.1 points allowed per 100 possessions).
Who to watch: Second-year All-Star Paolo Banchero and third-year forward Franz Wagner are appearing in their first playoff series, and the Cavaliers feature Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley – a formidable inside-outside foursome.
Thunder win series 4-0
Key stats: The Thunder were one of two teams to finish the regular season with a top-four offensive and defensive ranking.
Who to watch: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams of the Thunder are the present and the future.
Nuggets win series 4-1
Key stats: The Nuggets are No. 5 offensively (117.8 points per 100 possessions) and No. 8 defensive (112.3 points allowed per 100 possessions).
Who to watch: Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, a wizards with the basketball, may just end up winning his third MVP in four seasons, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis are back.
Timberwolves win series 4-0
Season series: Suns won 3-0
Key stats: It’s the Timberwolves’ top-ranked defense (108.4 points allowed per 100 possessions) against the Suns’ No. 10 offense (116.8 points per 100 possessions).
Who to watch: Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony form a Big 3 for the Timberwolves, and Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal do the same for the Suns.
Mavericks win series 4-2
Season series: Clippers won 2-1
Key stats: Who likes offense? The Clippers are No. 4 (117.9 points per 100 possessions) and the Mavericks are No. 8 (117 points per 100 possessions).
Who to watch: The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden present problems on both sides of the court; Dallas’ Luka Doncic keeps inching closer to an MVP.