The 2024 NBA Playoffs will consist of 16 teams, with the first round beginning on Saturday afternoon. The Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Knicks and Nuggets — all of the top seeds in their respective matchups — defended their home courts and won on Saturday. The Nuggets, who dominated the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals a season ago, closed out the night with another win against Los Angeles.
Earlier in the day, the Knicks took advantage of the fourth quarter to defeat the 76ers, getting 29 points from Joel Embiid. Concerns about injury in the 2nd quarter. Elsewhere, Anthony Edwards made his presence felt, the Timberwolves scored 33 points in a big win over the Suns, and the Cavaliers held off the Magic.
The other four series tee off on Sunday, with the first round potentially running through May 5. Here's how CBS Sports experts choose their brackets.
saturday nba playoff scores
- Cavaliers 97, Magic 83 (Cavaliers 1-0 lead) — Box score
- Timberwolves 120, Suns 95 (Wolves 1-0 lead) — Box score
- Knicks 111, 76ers 104 (Knicks 1-0 lead) — Box score
- Nuggets 114. Lakers 103 (Nuggets 1-0 lead) — Box score
The complete playoff bracket is shown below. The full playoff schedule can be found here.
2024 NBA Playoffs Bracket
Kim O'Reilly, CBS Sports
1st round scores, series schedule
(all eastern)
celtics vs heat
Sunday, April 21: Game 1, 1 p.m., ABC/Fubo.
Wednesday, April 24: Game 2, 7 p.m., TNT
Saturday, April 27: Game 3, 6 p.m., TNT
Monday, April 29th: Game 4, TBA
Wednesday, May 1st: Game 5*, TBA
Friday, May 3: Game 6*, TBA
Sunday, May 5th: Game 7*, TBA
Knicks vs. 76ers
Saturday, April 20: Knicks 111, 76ers 104
Monday, April 22: Game 2, 7:30 p.m., TNT
Thursday, April 25: Game 3, 7:30 p.m., TNT
Sunday, April 28: Game 4, 1 p.m., ABC/Fubo.
Tuesday, April 30th: Game 5*, TBA
Thursday, May 2nd: Game 6*, TBA
Saturday, May 4: Game 7*, TBA
Bucks vs Pacers
Sunday, April 21: Game 1, 7 p.m., TNT
Tuesday, April 23: Game 2, 8:30 p.m., NBA TV/fubo
Friday, April 26: Game 3, 5:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Sunday, April 28: Game 4, 7 p.m., TNT
Tuesday, April 30th: Game 5*, TBA
Thursday, May 2nd: Game 6*, TBA
Saturday, May 4: Game 7*, TBA
Cavaliers vs. Magic
Saturday, April 20: Cavaliers 97, Magic 83
Monday, April 22: Game 2, 7 p.m., NBA TV/fubo
Thursday, April 25: Game 3, 7 p.m., NBA TV/fubo
Saturday, April 27: Game 4, 1 p.m., TNT
Tuesday, April 30th: Game 5*, TBA
Friday, May 3: Game 6*, TBA
Sunday, May 5th: Game 7*, TBA
thunder vs pelicans
Sunday, April 21: Game 1, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Wednesday, April 24: Game 2, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Saturday, April 27: Game 3, 3:30 p.m., TNT
Monday, April 29th: Game 4, TBA
Wednesday, May 1st: Game 5*, TBA
Friday, May 3: Game 6*, TBA
Sunday, May 5th: Game 7*, TBA
nuggets vs lakers
Saturday, April 20: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
Monday, April 22: Game 2, 10 p.m., TNT
Thursday, April 25: Game 3, 10 p.m., TNT
Saturday, April 27: Game 4, 8:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
Monday, April 29: Game 5*, TBA
Thursday, May 2nd: Game 6*, TBA
Saturday, May 4: Game 7*, TBA
Timberwolves vs. Suns
Saturday, April 20: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
Tuesday, April 23: Game 2, 7:30 p.m., TNT
Friday, April 26: Game 3, 10:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Sunday, April 28: Game 4, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Tuesday, April 30th: Game 5*, TBA
Thursday, May 2nd: Game 6*, TBA
Saturday, May 4: Game 7*, TBA
Clippers vs. Mavericks
Sunday, April 21: Game 1, 3:30 p.m., ABC/Fubo
Tuesday, April 23: Game 2, 10 p.m., TNT
Friday, April 26: Game 3, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Sunday, April 28: Game 4, 3:30 p.m., ABC/Fubo
Wednesday, May 1st: Game 5*, TBA
Friday, May 3: Game 6*, TBA
Sunday, May 5th, Game 7*, TBA
