NBA Playoff Schedule 2015: Updated Bracket Dates, TV Network List and More
Three teams kick back and soak in the Monday action of the 2015 NBA playoffs while the rest scrap for their lives.
If only it were so simple, right? The Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are through to the conference semifinals, but all feature issues—chief among them an injury to Kevin Love.
On the floor Monday, the Milwaukee Bucks will hope for more late-game heroics by Jerryd Bayless, and the Portland Trail Blazers will hope to just find a pulse to stave off elimination.
Below, let's look at the updated playoff bracket and more.
2015 NBA Playoffs Updated Bracket Dates and Results
| Sunday, April 19 | (8) Brooklyn Nets at (1) Atlanta Hawks | Hawks, 99-92 | TNT |
| Wednesday, April 22 | (8) Brooklyn Nets at (1) Atlanta Hawks | Hawks, 96-91 | NBA TV |
| Saturday, April 25 | (1) Atlanta Hawks at (8) Brooklyn Nets | Nets 91-83 | TNT |
| Monday, April 27 | (1) Atlanta Hawks at (8) Brooklyn Nets | TBD | TBD |
| Wednesday, April 29* | (8) Brooklyn Nets at (1) Atlanta Hawks | TBD | TBD |
| Friday, May 1* | (1) Atlanta Hawks at (8) Brooklyn Nets | TBD | TBD |
| Sunday, May 3* | (8) Brooklyn Nets at (1) Atlanta Hawks | TBD | TBD |
| Sunday, April 19 | (7) Boston Celtics at (2) Cleveland Cavaliers | Cavaliers, 113-100 | TV |
| Tuesday, April 21 | (7) Boston Celtics at (2) Cleveland Cavaliers | Cavaliers, 99-91 | ABC |
| Thursday, April 23 | (2) Cleveland Cavaliers at (7) Boston Celtics | Cavaliers 103-95 | TNT |
| Sunday, April 26 | (2) Cleveland Cavaliers at (7) Boston Celtics | Cavaliers 101-93 | TNT |
| Saturday, April 18 | (6) Milwaukee Bucks at (3) Chicago Bulls | Bulls, 103-91 | ESPN |
| Monday, April 20 | (6) Milwaukee Bucks at (3) Chicago Bulls | Bulls, 91-82 | TNT |
| Thursday, April 23 | (3) Chicago Bulls at (6) Milwaukee Bucks | Bulls 113-106 | NBA TV |
| Saturday, April 25 | (3) Chicago Bulls at (6) Milwaukee Bucks | Bucks 92-90 | TNT |
| Monday, April 27* | (6) Milwaukee Bucks at (3) Chicago Bulls | TBD | TBD |
| Thursday, April 30* | (3) Chicago Bulls at (6) Milwaukee Bucks | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, May 2* | (6) Milwaukee Bucks at (3) Chicago Bulls | TBD | TNT |
| Saturday, April 18 | (5) Washington Wizards at (4) Toronto Raptors | Wizards, 93-86 | ESPN |
| Tuesday, April 21 | (5) Washington Wizards at (4) Toronto Raptors | Wizards, 117-106 | NBA TV |
| Friday, April 24 | (4) Toronto Raptors at (5) Washington Wizards | Wizards 106-99 | ESPN 2 |
| Sunday, April 26 | (4) Toronto Raptors at (5) Washington Wizards | Wizards 125-94 | TNT |
| Saturday, April 18 | (8) New Orleans Pelicans at (1) Golden State Warriors | Warriors, 106-99 | ABC |
| Monday, April 20 | (8) New Orleans Pelicans at (1) Golden State Warriors | Warriors, 97-87 | TNT |
| Thursday, April 23 | (1) Golden State Warriors at (8) New Orleans Pelicans | Warriors 123-119 | TNT |
| Saturday, April 25 | (1) Golden State Warriors at (8) New Orleans Pelicans | Warriors 109-98 | ESPN |
| Saturday, April 18 | (7) Dallas Mavericks at (2) Houston Rockets | Rockets, 118-108 | ESPN |
| Tuesday, April 21 | (7) Dallas Mavericks at (2) Houston Rockets | Rockets, 111-99 | TNT |
| Friday, April 24 | (2) Houston Rockets at (7) Dallas Mavericks | Rockets 130-128 | ESPN |
| Sunday, April 26 | (2) Houston Rockets at (7) Dallas Mavericks | Mavericks 121-109 | TNT |
| Tuesday, April 28* | (7) Dallas Mavericks at (2) Houston Rockets | TBD | TBD |
| Thursday, April 30* | (2) Houston Rockets at (7) Dallas Mavericks | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, May 2* | (7) Dallas Mavericks at (2) Houston Rockets | TBD | TNT |
| Sunday, April 19 | (6) San Antonio Spurs at (3) Los Angeles Clippers | Clippers, 107-92 | TNT |
| Wednesday, April 22 | (6) San Antonio Spurs at (3) Los Angeles Clippers | Spurs, 111-107 | TNT |
| Friday, April 24 | (3) Los Angeles Clippers at (6) San Antonio Spurs | Spurs 100-73 | ESPN |
| Sunday, April 26 | (3) Los Angeles Clippers at (6) San Antonio Spurs | Clippers 114-105 | ABC |
| Tuesday, April 28* | (6) San Antonio Spurs at (3) Los Angeles Clippers | TBD | TBD |
| Thursday, April 30* | (3) Los Angeles Clippers at (6) San Antonio Spurs | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, May 2* | (6) San Antonio Spurs at (3) Los Angeles Clippers | TBD | TNT |
| Sunday, April 19 | (4) Portland Trail Blazers at (5) Memphis Grizzlies | Grizzlies, 100-86 | TNT |
| Wednesday, April 22 | (4) Portland Trail Blazers at (5) Memphis Grizzlies | Grizzlies, 97-82 | TNT |
| Saturday, April 25 | (5) Memphis Grizzlies at (4) Portland Trail Blazers | Grizzlies 115-109 | ESPN |
| Monday, April 27 | (5) Memphis Grizzlies at (4) Portland Trail Blazers | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Wednesday, April 29* | (4) Portland Trail Blazers at (5) Memphis Grizzlies | TBD | TBD |
| Friday, May 1* | (5) Memphis Grizzlies at (4) Portland Trail Blazers | TBD | TBD |
| Sunday, May 3* | (4) Portland Trail Blazers at (5) Memphis Grizzlies | TBD | TBD |
Bracket with standings available at ESPN.com.
Top Monday Matchups
Atlanta Hawks at Brooklyn Nets
So much for a sweep for the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks, right?
It was never advisable to count out the Brooklyn Nets, not with head coach Lionel Hollins pulling a miracle out of his hat, and key contributors such as Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young slowing down the tempo of contests with efficient play.
After dropping their first two games in the series, the Nets returned home for Game 3 and helped force the Hawks into a 6-of-30 mark from deep while Lopez posted 22 points and 13 boards.
"We know they're going to make adjustments, but we really feel we can compete with these guys and we have a lot of confidence right now," Lopez said after the win, per The Associated Press, via ESPN.com.
Brooklyn might be without Deron Williams Monday, but it's not the staggering headline it once was—he scored just three points in the victory, while backup Jarrett Jack ran the offense in a smooth manner, dishing eight assists.
For the Hawks, Monday is all about adjustments and responding in the face of adversity. Al Horford and Co. need to better defend down low against the likes of Lopez and Young, while sharpshooters like Kyle Korver need to push the noisy crowd out of their minds and knock down shots.
Call it a worthy test for a championship contender. If the Hawks' shots start falling again, look for them to head home with a series lead.
Prediction: Hawks 98, Nets 90
Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls
By all accounts, this series should be over and done, with the Chicago Bulls on to dance with LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Instead, Derrick Rose and the Bulls dropped Game 4 on the road thanks to a defensive lapse, which the aforementioned Bayless capitalized on to keep his team alive. For his part, Rose takes responsibility, as SportsCenter captures:
Was the mistake a minor hiccup in the grand scheme of things or some series-altering moment capable of catapulting the .500 Bucks to some history?
The latter seems outlandish, but who knows? This is a scrappy series with lots of pushing and shoving, tough-guy staredowns and bubbling tempers ripe to boil over. When emotions get the best of players, anything can happen.
It doesn't help the Bulls seem to struggle with Milwaukee's depth. Jared Dudley, O.J. Mayo and Bayless all scored double figures off the bench, helping to counteract a 10-of-18 mark from deep by the Bulls.
Things head back to Chicago Monday, where the series figures to end. It's not wise to underestimate a team like the Bucks, but at the same time, three bench players aren't likely to explode again, nor will the Bulls turn the ball over another 26 times, this time at home.
Look for Rose and Co. to take care of business at home and advance.
Prediction: Bulls 103, Bucks 98
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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