NBA Playoff Schedule 2014: Updated Bracket and Preview for Wednesday Tilts
We are only a few days into the NBA playoffs, and there have already been overtime affairs, a No. 8 seed pushing a No. 1 seed, a Kevin Durant loss on his home court and an upstart team from Washington adding some new blood to the postseason picture.
Here is a look at the entire first-round schedule with television information. An updated bracket can be found here.
| 4/20 | (1) Spurs 90, (8) Mavericks 85 | Noon | TNT |
| 4/23 | (8) Mavericks vs. (1) Spurs | 7 p.m. | NBATV |
| 4/26 | (1) Spurs vs. (8) Mavericks | 3:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/28 | (1) Spurs vs. (8) Mavericks | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/30 | (8) Mavericks vs. (1) Spurs | TBD | TBD |
| 5/2 | (1) Spurs vs. (8) Mavericks | TBD | TBD |
| 5/4 | (8) Mavericks vs. (1) Spurs | TBD | TBD |
| 4/19 | (2) Thunder 100, (7) Grizzlies 86 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4/21 | (7) Grizzlies 111, (2) Thunder 105 | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/24 | (2) Thunder vs. (7) Grizzlies | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/26 | (2) Thunder vs. (7) Grizzlies | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4/29 | (7) Grizzlies vs. (2) Thunder | TBD | TBD |
| 5/1 | (2) Thunder vs. Grizzlies | TBD | TBD |
| 5/3 | (7) Grizzlies vs. (2) Thunder | TBD | TNT |
| 4/19 | (6) Warriors 109, (3) Clippers 105 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 4/21 | (3) Clippers 138, (6) Warriors 98 | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/24 | (3) Clippers vs. (6) Warriors | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/27 | (3) Clippers vs. (6) Warriors | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 4/29 | (6) Warriors vs. (3) Clippers | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 5/1 | (3) Clippers vs. (6) Warriors | TBD | TBD |
| 5/3 | (6) Warriors vs. (3) Clippers | TBD | TNT |
| 4/20 | (5) Trail Blazers 122, (4) Rockets 120 | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/23 | (5) Trail Blazers vs. (4) Rockets | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/25 | (4) Rockets vs. (5) Trail Blazers | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4/27 | (4) Rockets vs. (5) Trail Blazers | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/30 | (5) Trail Blazers vs. (4) Rockets | TBD | TBD |
| 5/2 | (4) Rockets vs. (5) Trail Blazers | TBD | TBD |
| 5/4 | (5) Trail Blazers vs. (4) Rockets | TBD | TBD |
| 4/19 | (8) Hawks 101, (1) Pacers 93 | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4/22 | (1) Pacers 101, (8) Hawks 85 | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/24 | (1) Pacers vs. (8) Hawks | 7 p.m. | NBATV |
| 4/26 | (1) Pacers vs. (8) Hawks | 2 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/28 | (8) Hawks vs. (1) Pacers | 8 p.m. | NBATV |
| 5/1 | (1) Pacers vs. (8) Hawks | TBD | TBD |
| 5/3 | (8) Hawks vs. (1) Pacers | TBD | TNT |
| 4/20 | (2) Heat 99, (7) Bobcats 88 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 4/23 | (7) Bobcats vs. (2) Heat | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/26 | (2) Heat vs. (7) Bobcats | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4/28 | (2) Heat vs. (7) Bobcats | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/30 | (7) Bobcats vs. (2) Heat | TBD | TBD |
| 5/2 | (2) Heat vs. (7) Bobcats | TBD | TBD |
| 5/4 | (7) Bobcats vs. (2) Heat | TBD | ABC |
| 4/19 | (6) Nets 94, (3) Raptors 87 | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4/22 | (3) Raptors 100, (6) Nets 85 | 8 p.m. | NBATV |
| 4/25 | (3) Raptors vs. (6) Nets | 7 p.m. | ESPN 2 |
| 4/27 | (3) Raptors vs. (6) Nets | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/30 | (6) Nets vs. (3) Raptors | TBD | TBD |
| 5/2 | (3) Raptors vs. (6) Nets | TBD | TBD |
| 5/4 | (6) Nets vs. (3) Raptors | TBD | TBD |
| 4/20 | (5) Wizards 102, (4) Bulls 93 | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/22 | (5) Wizards 101, (4) Bulls 99 | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/25 | (4) Bulls vs. (5) Wizards | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4/27 | (4) Bulls vs. (5) Wizards | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| 4/29 | (5) Wizards vs. (4) Bulls | TBD | TBD |
| 5/1 | (4) Bulls vs. (5) Wizards | TBD | TBD |
| 5/3 | (5) Wizards vs. (4) Bulls | TBD | TNT |
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Now that we know the schedule and broadcast information, let’s dig into some quick previews for Wednesday’s action.
Charlotte Bobcats at Miami Heat
On paper, this was never going to be much of a series anyway, but when Al Jefferson injured his foot during the Bobcats' Game 1 loss, Charlotte probably saw any glimmer of hope it had fly out the window.
To make matters worse, Charlotte was actually leading early in that game and controlling the tempo when the big man got injured.
Rachel Nichols of CNN broke down how bad it seemed for Jefferson:
Jefferson finished the game and is expected to play for the rest of the series, but he is far from 100 percent. Throw that on top of the fact that the Miami Heat have yet to lose to the Bobcats since LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, and this is a formidable mismatch.
Look for the Heat to jump out to an early lead and never look back in Game 2.
Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs climbed out of a double-digit hole in Game 1 to hold onto home-court advantage against their in-state rival, but it was anything but easy.
While it may not be as publicized as the Heat’s winning streak over the Bobcats, the Spurs have won 10 games in a row over the Dallas Mavericks. That probably makes the first loss in the series all the more difficult to swallow for Dirk Nowitzki and company.
The Mavericks’ star talked about his struggles during the first contest and how he expects to remedy them in Game 2, according to the Associated Press, via ESPN.com:
"You don't want to overthink it. You don't want to go completely crazy and just hoist everything you see because some of those shots are contested. They've got to be within the flow and within the rhythm of the game.
"
San Antonio holds a mental edge over Dallas right now because of the winning streak and most recent comeback.
The Mavericks will have their moments in Game 2, but Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and the rest of the Spurs will make the critical plays down the stretch.
Dallas will press too much on offense yet again, and the Spurs will be halfway home to a first-round series victory.
Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets
It took an incredible game from both LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard and a poor one from James Harden for the Portland Trail Blazers to come away victorious in Game 1 of this series, but they stole home court nonetheless.
The Rockets controlled the majority of the game, but when Dwight Howard failed to convert on his free throws down the stretch when he was intentionally fouled, the tide turned. Expect Houston to take its center out if the same situation arises in Game 2 to avoid another repeat collapse.
Even if it loses Wednesday, Portland will still be thrilled to walk away from Houston with a split.
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