NBA Playoff Schedule 2015: 1st-Round Dates, TV Info and Projected Matchups

Sean ODonnellContributor IIIApril 14, 2015

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry reacts after making a three pointer while drawing a foul against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 31, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

Only one regular-season game remains for most NBA franchises, but the playoff picture is far from set.

The final spot in the Western Conference is still up for grabs, as the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans are in a dead heat to claim the No. 8 seed. Currently, the Thunder are on the outside looking in and will need a win and a New Orleans loss to return to the postseason due to the Pelicans owning a head-to-head tiebreaker.

A similar situation resides in the Eastern Conference, as the Brooklyn Nets fell out of the playoff picture on the heels of a pair of devastating losses. The Indiana Pacers are riding a five-game winning streak and are now a half-game better than the Nets with one fewer loss. A dramatic turnaround will be necessary for the Nets to regain their postseason position.

There's still much to be decided during the final games of the regular season, and due to the uncertainty of most matchups, a concrete playoff schedule has yet to come to fruition. However, some known dates, times and TV info are available, so let's take a look at the first-round schedule and project the postseason matchups we're about to witness.

2015 NBA Playoff Schedule: 1st Round

2015 NBA Playoff Schedule: 1st Round
Time (ET)GameTV
Saturday, April 18
3 p.m.First Round, Game 1ABC
5:30 p.m.First Round, Game 1ESPN
8 p.m.First Round, Game 1ESPN
10:30 p.m.First Round, Game 1ESPN
Sunday, April 19
3 p.m.First Round, Game 1ABC
5:30 p.m.First Round, Game 1TNT
8 p.m.First Round, Game 1TNT
10:30 p.m.First Round, Game 1TNT
Monday, April 20
8 p.m.First RoundTNT
8 p.m.First RoundNBA TV
10:30 p.m.First RoundTNT
Tuesday, April 21
8 p.m.First RoundTNT
8 p.m.First RoundNBA TV
10:30 p.m.First RoundTNT
Wednesday, April 22
7 p.m.First RoundTNT
8 p.m.First RoundNBA TV
9:30 p.m.First RoundTNT
Thursday, April 23
7 p.m.First RoundTNT
9:30 p.m.First RoundTNT
Friday, April 24
8 p.m.First Round, Game 3ESPN
10:30 p.m.First Round, Game 3ESPN
10:30 p.m.First Round, Game 3ESPN2
Saturday, April 25
2 p.m.First Round, Game 4TNT
4:30 p.m.First Round, Game 4TNT
8 p.m.First Round, Game 4ESPN
10:30 p.m.First Round, Game 4ESPN
Sunday, April 26
1 p.m.First Round, Game 4ABC
3:30 p.m.First Round, Game 4ABC
Friday, May 1
7 p.m.First Round, Game 6*ESPNEWS
8 p.m.First Round, Game 6*ESPN
9:30 p.m.First Round, Game 6*ESPNEWS
10:30 p.m.First Round, Game 6*ESPN
Sunday, May 3
1 p.m.First Round, Game 7*ABC
3:30 p.m.First Round, Game 7ABC
*denotes "if necessary"

All known playoff schedule information courtesy of SportsMediaWatch.com.

Projected Playoff Matchups

Projected 2015 NBA Playoff Matchups
East
Team 1Team 2
(1) Atlanta Hawks(8) Indiana Pacers
(2) Cleveland Cavaliers(7) Boston Celtics
(3) Toronto Raptors(6) Milwaukee Bucks
(4) Chicago Bulls(5) Washington Wizards
West
Team 1Team 2
(1) Golden State Warriors(8) Oklahoma City Thunder
(2) San Antonio Spurs(7) Dallas Mavericks
(3) Los Angeles Clippers(6) Memphis Grizzlies
(4) Portland Trail Blazers(5) Houston Rockets
Author's projections

So, these projections call for a bit of an explanation. Let's begin with the East.

Apr 13, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks in the third quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Hawks are locked into the No. 1 seed. They've been dominating the East throughout the season and will have home-court advantage in the playoffs. Their projected opponent, however, has recently changed, as the Nets slipped out of the top eight and Indiana got hot at the right time.

Another Nets loss will ensure the Pacers find their way into the postseason, and while Brooklyn's final game of the season is against the 25-56 Orlando Magic, it doesn't look capable of beating anyone following two dismal performances. Indiana gets the No. 8 seed.

Darren Hauck/Associated Press

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a lock for the No. 2 seed, and if the Boston Celtics can win one of their remaining two games, they won't have to worry about dropping down to No. 8. Boston doesn't have it easy with games against the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks remaining, but with a current four-game winning streak, the Celtics are playing well enough to get it done and claim the No. 7 seed.

Toronto needs a win over Boston to move back into the No. 3 spot, but they won't get it. Instead, the Raptors will win their final game of the season against the Charlotte Hornets while the Chicago Bulls drop their final game to the Hawks, allowing Toronto to move to No. 3 in the East. The Milwaukee Bucks won't be moving out from the No. 6 seed anytime soon.

We've already discussed the reason why the Bulls will drop to the No. 4 seed, and with the Washington Wizards already locked into the No. 5 seed, this one doesn't need much of an explanation.

On to the West.

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

The Golden State Warriors are your No. 1 seed for the 2015 NBA playoffs after an incredible regular season. Interestingly enough, they'll be facing the Thunder in the postseason. With the Pelicans set to take on the San Antonio Spurs and the Thunder getting a favorable matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, this scenario gives Oklahoma City the No. 8 seed following a win and a New Orleans loss.

David Goldman/Associated Press/Associated Press

With a San Antonio victory over the Pelicans, the Spurs will hang on to the No. 2 seed no matter the outcome of the Los Angeles Clippers final game of the season. The Dallas Mavericks will be retaining the No. 7 seed, giving us our second matchup in the West.

Since the Spurs landed the No. 2 seed, that means the Clippers will enter the postseason as the West's No. 3 team. Los Angeles will play the loser of the battle for the No. 5 seed between the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets. Houston owns a one-game advantage, and with a remaining contest against the sub-.500 Utah Jazz, the Rockets will keep the No. 5 seed, relegating Memphis to face the Clippers with the No. 6 seed.

The Portland Trail Blazers are locked into the No. 4 seed, and with the Rockets expected to win their final game of the season, they will take the No. 5 seed and give us our final playoff matchup.