Judging by the first two games of the 2023 NBA playoffs, this season’s road to the championship is going to be amazing. The Golden State Warriors are fighting to defend their 2022 NBA championship against the Sacramento Kings. The Lakers advanced through the 2022-2023 regular season, but LeBron and Co. shut out the Grizzlies in Game 1 with a stunning 128-112 victory. And the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back in Game 2 with a 107-90 win after a shocking Game 1 loss to the New York Knicks, a game in which the Cavs couldn’t seem to… well, rebound.
Oh, and Golden State’s bad boy, Draymond Green, is already out. We are not surprised, but we are tuning in.
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The four California NBA franchises, the Warriors, Kings, Clippers and Lakers, made it to this year’s playoffs. That’s an NBA first since the four were set in the Golden State. New York’s two NBA franchises, the Nets and the Knicks, both secured playoff spots. New York’s NHL franchises, the Devils, Islanders and Rangers, are also in the running for the Stanley Cup – the first time all five NBA and NHL teams in New York have punched a ticket to the postseason together since 1994.
Everything that makes history makes for very expensive personal tickets. There is no shame in watching from home, but you have to know when and how to watch.
When and where to watch the 2023 NBA playoffs
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Round 1 is already underway with the best of seven series already serving up a big surprise. Big stars like the Clippers’ Paul George, the Grizzlies’ Ja Morant and the Bucks’ Giannis are already battling injuries early in the first round, making way for a possible semifinal upset the Conference.
How to watch the 2023 NBA playoffs Round 1
The 2023 playoffs, three conference rounds of up to seven games each, will be played now through May 17. The best-of-seven NBA Finals begin June 1, ending June 9-18 depending on how many games are played.
All playoff games will be broadcast on either ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. The NBA Finals will be broadcast live ABC. Playoff games flow on Sling, fubo TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream.
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NBA round 1 playoff games and schedule:
Hawks vs. Celtics:
- Game 3: Friday, April 21, Celtics at Hawks, 4 p.m. MST, ESPN
- Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Celtics at Hawks, 4pm MST, TNT
- Game 5: Tuesday, April 25, Hawks at Celtics (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 6: Thursday, April 27, Celtics at Hawks (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 7: Saturday, April 29, Hawks at Celtics (Time, channel TBA) *
Knicks vs. Cavaliers:
- Game 3: Friday, April 21, Cavaliers at Knicks, 5:30 p.m. MST, ABC
- Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Cavaliers at Knicks, 10 a.m. MST, ABC
- Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Knicks at Cavaliers (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 6: Friday, April 28, Cavaliers at Knicks (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Knicks at Cavaliers (Time, channel TBA) *
Clippers vs. Suns: ·
- Game 3: Thursday, April 20, Suns at Clippers, 7:30 p.m. MST, NBA TV / Bally Sports Arizona
- Game 4: Saturday, April 22, Suns at Clippers, 12:30 p.m. MST, TNT/Bally Sports Arizona
- Game 5: Tuesday, April 25, Clippers at Suns (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 6: Thursday, April 27, Suns at Clippers (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 7: Saturday, April 29, Clippers at Suns (Time, channel TBA) ** if necessary
Lakers vs. Grizzlies:
- Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, Lakers at Grizzlies, 4:30 p.m. MST, TNT
- Game 3: Saturday, April 22, Grizzlies at Lakers, 7 p.m. MST, ESPN
- Game 4: Monday, April 24, Grizzlies at Lakers, (Time, channel TBA)
- Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Lakers at Grizzlies (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 6: Friday, April 28, Grizzlies at Lakers (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Lakers at Grizzlies (Time, channel TBA) *
Heat vs Bucks:
- Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, Heat at Bucks, 6 p.m. MST, NBA TV
- Game 3: Saturday, April 22, Bucks at Heat, 4:30 pm MST, ESPN
- Game 4: Monday, April 24, Bucks at Heat (Time, channel TBA)
- Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Heat at Bucks (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 6: Friday, April 28, Bucks at Heat (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Heat at Bucks (Time, channel TBA) *
Nuggets vs: Timberwolves:
- Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, Timberwolves at Nuggets, 7pm MST, TNT
- Game 3: Friday, April 21, Nuggets at Timberwolves, 6:30 p.m. MST, ESPN
- Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Nuggets at Timberwolves, 6:30 p.m. MST, TNT
- Game 5: Tuesday, April 25, Timberwolves at Nuggets (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 6: Thursday, April 27, Nuggets at Timberwolves (Time, channel TBA)*
- Game 7: Saturday, April 29, Timberwolves at Nuggets (Time, channel TBA) *
Nets vs. Sixers:
- Game 3: Thursday, April 20, 76 at Nets, 4:30 pm MST, TNT
- Game 4: Saturday, April 22, 76ers at Nets, 10 a.m. MST, TNT
- Game 5: Monday, April 24, Net at 76ers (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 6: Thursday, April 27, 76ers at Nets (Time, channel TBA)*
- Game 7: Saturday, April 29, Net at 76ers (Time, channel TBA)*
Warriors vs. Kings:
- Game 3: Thursday, April 20, Kings at Warriors, Chase Center, 7pm MST, TNT
- Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Kings at Warriors, 12:30 p.m. MST, ABC
- Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Warriors at Kings (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 6: Friday, April 28, Kings at Warriors (Time, channel TBA) *
- Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Warriors at Kings (Time, channel TBA) *
