Starting 5, April 20: Here. We. Go. The playoffs are here – NBA.com

Four Game 1s blow the lid off the 2024 NBA Playoffs today.

When the NBA Playoffs start this weekend, and you just earned your ticket with your back against the wall… for the second year in a row.

THE LINEUP 🏀
What’s inside today’s edition? 
Today’s The Day: Everything you need to know before the 2024 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel tip off this afternoon
The Final Two: The Heat and Pelicans survived the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament to grab the 8th seeds
West Finals Rematch: The Nuggets open their title defense against the Lakers tonight on ABC
Three More Game 1s: The Playoffs begin at 1 ET from Cleveland to open an ESPN tripleheader
Playoff Paths: Three teams that prove there are multiple methods to creating a contender
BUT FIRST … ⏰

The 2024 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel tip off today with an ESPN tripleheader – Magic-Cavs (1 ET), Suns-Wolves (3:30 ET) and Sixers-Knicks (6 ET) – followed by the 2023 champion Nuggets beginning their title defense against the Lakers in prime time (8:30 ET, ABC).
LeBron James is one of six players confirmed to be mic’d up for Saturday’s games 🎤

After Miami and New Orleans each overcame a missing star – Jimmy Butler for the Heat, Zion Williamson for the Pelicans – to survive a win-or-go-home Play-In game to complete the 2024 NBA Playoffs bracket.
Here’s everything you gotta know heading into the first weekend of the second season.
First, all 8 series tip off this weekend across ESPN, ABC and TNT, starting today at 1 ET.
Saturday
Sunday

The 2024 Playoffs tip off in Cleveland as the Cavs host the Magic to open an ESPN tripleheader.
Nikola Jokic & the Nuggets’ title defense begins tonight against LeBron James & the Lakers in a rematch of last year’s West Finals, to close out the night on ABC.
New Teams: This year’s Playoff field includes five teams that were on the outside looking in a year ago.

New Faces: In addition to five new teams, we have young stars making their Playoff debuts this weekend.

They’re Back: Stop us if you’ve heard this story before: after losing the 7 vs. 8 game to open the Play-In Tournament, the Heat beat the Bulls in the win-or-go-home game to secure the 8th seed to begin their Playoff run.
The Heat ran that exact play last year and began a historic run to the Finals with an 8 vs. 1 upset over Milwaukee. Now they’ll try to do it vs. Boston – a frequent Playoff opponent – after eliminating Chicago, 112-91. | Recap

A 6-0 Sweep: The Pelicans finished a perfect season against the Kings, with their sixth win of the season being the most important as it secured the 8th seed in the West while ending Sacramento’s season.
Brandon Ingram (24 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) and Jonas Valanaciunas (19 pts, 12 reb) led the way for the Pelicans, who also got huge contributions from their bench, to help overcome the absence of Zion Williamson. | Recap
3. NUGGETS OPEN TITLE DEFENSE WITH WEST FINALS REMATCH

It took the Denver Nuggets 47 seasons to win their first NBA championship. Today, they’ll try to take the first step toward making it two titles in 48 seasons as their title defense begins in the Mile High City against a familiar opponent – the Los Angeles Lakers.
Which team will set the tone for this series in Game 1? Can the Lakers get their first win over the Nuggets in 492 days? Or will the Nuggets begin their run through the West in 2024 the same way they ended it in 2023?
4. THE PLAYOFFS TIP OFF IN ‘THE LAND’

Welcome to hoops heaven, also known as the opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs.
We get back-to-back days of back-to-back-to-back-to-back games as every team tries to gain an early advantage in the best-of-seven series.
And it all starts this afternoon in Cleveland.
(4) Cavs vs. (5) Magic (1 ET, ESPN)

(3) Timberwolves vs. (6) Suns (3:30 ET, ESPN)

(2) Knicks vs. (7) Sixers (6 ET, ESPN)
5. DIFFERENT PATHS: BUILDING A PLAYOFF TEAM

This year’s Playoff field proves that there are multiple ways to build a contending team. The Magic, Suns and Timberwolves are all in action today and have assembled their rosters in very different ways.
Orlando: The core of the Magic was built with first round picks, led by 2022 No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero, along with Jalen Suggs (5th) and Franz Wagner (8th) from the year prior, Cole Anthony (15th) in 2020 and Jonathan Isaac (6th) in 2017.

Phoenix (Trades): Devin Booker is the only player on the Suns roster that Phoenix drafted (13th overall in 2015). Instead, the Suns built this roster primarily through trades. After acquiring Kevin Durant at the 2022 trade deadline, they added Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen and Jusuf Nurkic via trades in 2023.

Minnesota (Draft+Trades):The Wolves drafted two pillars – Karl-Anthony Towns (2015) and Anthony Edwards (2020) – with No. 1 overall picks in the draft. In the 2022 offseason, they executed a blockbuster trade to bring in three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, and followed that by adding Mike Conley at the 2023 trade deadline.
The 2024 NBA Playoffs Presented by Google Pixel concluded with the Boston Celtics winning their 18th championship.
Get ready for the playoffs with the biggest storylines and key things to watch in every series.
Spotlighting one noteworthy stat that could play a part in each first-round matchup.
For the 1st time, the NBA App launches a global celebration of fandom dedicated to the greatest players and fans in the world.
The 2024 NBA Playoffs Presented by Google Pixel concluded with the Boston Celtics winning their 18th championship.
Get ready for the playoffs with the biggest storylines and key things to watch in every series.
Spotlighting one noteworthy stat that could play a part in each first-round matchup.
For the 1st time, the NBA App launches a global celebration of fandom dedicated to the greatest players and fans in the world.
From San Francisco, Sacramento & Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, the NBA is ready to ball out this summer.
The NBA's all-time leading scorer has reportedly agreed to a two-year deal that will keep him with the Lakers.
The 19-year-old son of LeBron James says he 'never really had a thought' about teaming up with his dad.
Kemba Walker, who played for the Hornets, Celtics, Knicks and Mavs in his career, was a 4-time NBA All-Star.
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Entenda tudo sobre o processo de agente livre, incluindo os principais termos, os tipos de agentes livres e as opções de contrato.

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