NBA Playoffs 2018: Postseason Schedule, Bracket, Format and Odds
The NBA playoffs get underway on Saturday, and the big story going into the playoffs is once again the Golden State Warriors.
While the Warriors don't have homecourt advantage this time around, the big question is the health of superstar Steph Curry (sprained MCL). He will not be able to play in the opening round against the San Antonio Spurs, and there are no guarantees that he will play in the second round if the Warriors advance.
The Houston Rockets had a brilliant regular season and gained confidence after a tremendous start and took advantage of some indifferent play by the Warriors as well as that team's injuries. The Rockets go into the playoffs with quite a bit of momentum, and now they get a chance to prove themselves on the biggest stage.
If that is going to happen, the Rockets are going to have to win four best-of-seven playoff series, and that would include a Western Conference Final series with the Warriors if both teams win their first two rounds. Can the Rockets keep the Warriors from reaching the NBA Finals for the fourth straight season?
Even though Curry begins the postseason on the sidelines, the Warriors are still the favorites to win the title.
They are plus-145 favorites to win their third title in four years, while the Rockets are the plus-160 second choice.
Here is a look at the odds for all 16 playoff teams, according to OddsShark.
2017-18 NBA Championship Odds
Golden State Warriors, +135
Houston Rockets, +160
Cleveland Cavaliers, +650
Toronto Raptors, +850
Philadelphia 76ers, +1500
Oklahoma City Thunder, +2500
Portland Trail Blazers, +3300
Utah Jazz, +4500
San Antonio Spurs,+6000
Boston Celtics, +7000
Minnesota Timberwolves, +9000
Washington Wizards, +10000
New Orleans Pelicans, +10000
The Warriors and Spurs will get the playoffs started Saturday afternoon. Four playoff games will be contested on Saturday and four more series will get started on Sunday.
The first-round series will be played over a two-week period, and the second-round series will also be played over two weeks, starting on April 30.
The conference finals are expected to start May 15 and 16, although they could get underway as early as the May 13 if the second round ends early.
The NBA Finals will begin May 31.
NBA Playoff Schedule
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 8 Washington Wizards
Game 1: Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors: April 14 at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 2: Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors: April 17 at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Game 3: Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards: April 20 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Game 4: Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards: April 22 at 6 p.m. ET on TNT
*Game 5: Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors: April 25 at TBD
*Game 6: Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards: April 27 at TBD
*Game 7: Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors: April 29 at TBD
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Milwaukee Bucks
Game 1: Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics: April 15 at 1 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 2: Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics: April 17 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 3: Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks: April 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 4: Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks: April 22 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC
*Game 5: Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics: April 24 at TBD
*Game 6: Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks: April 26 at TBD
*Game 7: Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics: April 28 at TBD on TNT
No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Miami Heat
Game 1: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers: April 14 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 2: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers: April 16 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 3: Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat: April 19 at 7 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 4: Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat: April 21 at 2:30 p.m. ET on TNT
*Game 5: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers: April 24 at TBD
*Game 6: Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat: April 26 at TBD
*Game 7: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers: April 28 at TBD on TNT
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Indiana Pacers
Game 1: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers: April 15 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Game 2: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers: April 18 at 7 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 3: Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers: April 20 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 4: Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers: April 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT
*Game 5: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers: April 25 at TBD
*Game 6: Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers: April 27 at TBD
*Game 7: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers April 29 at TBD
*If necessary
Western Conference
No. 1 Houston Rockets vs. No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets: April 15 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 2: Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets: April 18 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 3: Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves: April 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 4: Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves: April 23 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT
*Game 5: Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets: April 25 at TBD
*Game 6: Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves: April 27 at TBD
*Game 7: Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets: April 29 at TBD
No. 2 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs
Game 1: San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors: April 14 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC
Game 2: San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors: April 16 at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 3: Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs: April 19 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 4: Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs: April 22 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
*Game 5: San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors: April 24 at TBD
*Game 6: Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs: April 26 at TBD
*Game 7: San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors: April 28 at TBD on TNT
No. 3 Portland Trail Blazers vs. No. 6 New Orleans Pelicans
Game 1: New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers: April 14 at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 2: New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers: April 17 at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 3: Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans: April 19 at 9 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Game 4: Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans: April 21 at 5 p.m. ET on TNT
*Game 5: New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers: April 24 at TBD
*Game 6: Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans: April 26 at TBD
*Game 7: New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers: April 28 at TBD on TNT
No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
Game 1: Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder: April 15 at 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 2: Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder: April 18 at 8 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Game 3: Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz: April 21 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz: April 23 at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT
*Game 5: Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder: April 25 at TBD
*Game 6: Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz: April 27 at TBD
*Game 7: Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder: April 29 at TBD
Live Streams: NBA on TNT, WatchESPN, ABC
The Eastern Conference matchups include the top-seeded Toronto Raptors meeting the eighth-seeded Washington Wizards, the second-seeded Boston Celtics taking on the seventh-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers facing the sixth-seeded Miami Heat and the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers playing the fifth-seeded Indiana Pacers.
The Cavaliers will once against command attention. LeBron James has taken his team to the NBA Finals for seven straight years, and he will try to do it for an eighth straight year with the Cavs.
While his team has struggled throughout much of the regular season, James has had a wonderful campaign, averaging 27.5 points and 9.1 assists per game. Additionally, the Cavs are relatively healthy going into the playoffs after battling injuries most of the season.
The depth on the team could play a key role for the Cavaliers in terms of the number of players that head coach Tyronn Lue puts into his primary rotation.
"You usually go nine," Lue said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. "I think we've been nine in the past, but I think it's going to be important to go 10 for us."
In the Western Conference, the top-seeded Rockets will take on the eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, second-seeded Golden State will meet the Spurs, the third-seeded Portland Trailblazers will face the sixth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans and the No. 4 seed Oklahoma City Thunder will play the No. 5 seed Utah Jazz.
The big question facing the Warriors is the health of Curry. His MCL sprain will keep him out of the San Antonio series, and the usually powerful Warriors are just 14-11 without Curry. That could leave the team quite vulnerable against the Spurs.
The Warriors have plenty of star power without Curry, as Kevin Durant averaged 26.4 points and 6.1 assists per game, while Klay Thompson is averaging 20.0 points per game, and he can make big shots when the Warriors need them most.
LaMarcus Aldridge is averaging 23.5 points per game, while Paul Gasol and Patty Mills are averaging in double figures. Manu Ginobili is averaging 8.9 points per game, but he will almost certainly play a key role in the late stages of close games.
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