NBA Playoffs 2018: Schedule, Game Times and Predictions for 1st-Round Bracket
Eight teams will complete the NBA postseason's playoff unveiling on Sunday.
LeBron James will look to continue his first-round dominance while Chris Paul and James Harden take the first step toward shattering unflattering playoff narratives. That's just half the day's action.
Although Kyrie Irving's knee surgery severely dampens their title chances, the Boston Celtics at least have an opportunity to defend their home court against the Milwaukee Bucks. Out west, drastically different offseasons led the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz to an identical record (48-34) and perhaps the most evenly contested series.
Let's take a look at the first-round schedule, per NBA.com, and dive into an intriguing matchup from each conference.
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
Prediction: Rockets in five
No. 2 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs
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
Prediction: Warriors in five
No. 3 Portland Trail Blazers vs. No. 6 New Orleans Pelicans
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
Prediction: Blazers in seven
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
Prediction: Jazz in seven
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 8 Washington Wizards
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
Prediction: Raptors in five
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
Prediction: Celtics in seven
No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Miami Heat
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
Prediction: 76ers in six
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
Prediction: Cavaliers in five
*If necessary
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Without Irving, defense is Boston's meal ticket to the second round.
No Eastern Conference squad relinquished fewer points per game than the Celtics (100.4), who also led the NBA in defensive rating (101.5). That unit, however, also took a hit when guard Marcus Smart tore a tendon in his right thumb.
On March 11, the last time Irving or Smart played, Boston boasted a 46-21 record and plus-4.3 net rating. The Celtics have since gone 9-6 with a plus-1.1 net rating and No. 22-ranked 50.7 effective field-goal percentage.
In 16 games pressed into starting duty, Terry Rozier registered 15.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per contest. Per ESPN.com's Chris Forsberg, the 24-year-old isn't counting out his injury-depleted squad:
"It sucks to see your brothers go down—Smart, [Daniel] Theis, Kyrie, [Gordon] Hayward—but, like I said, it's not over. It's not going to be an easy road for our opponents. They still have to go through us. We're ready."
While the depleted No. 2 seed must rely on depth, the Bucks wield a game-changing star in Giannis Antetokounmpo, who averaged 33.5 points with a 53.9 field-goal percentage in four regular-season contests against the Celtics. The MVP candidate could conceivably carry his club to his upset.
Then again, they're also the only playoff team with a negative average point differential (-0.3). According to ESPN.com's Kevin Pelton, no team with a minus scoring margin has won a playoff series since the Brooklyn Nets in 2014.
Milwaukee's inconsistencies offset Boston's inexperience concerns, so look for the Celtics to defend their way into the second round in a lengthy and slow-paced series.
Utah Jazz vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Acquiring Paul George and Carmelo Anthony produced a one-win improvement for the Thunder, whose playoff status remained unresolved a week ago. The Jazz, on the other hand, only dropped from 51 to 48 wins after losing Hayward.
Now they meet in a series poised to last six or seven games.
Those high-scale additions could finally yield results for Oklahoma City if George replicates past postseason success. The forward has averaged 24.4 points and 7.8 rebounds over the last three playoff runs.
He'll prove just as vital on the other end when guarding rookie Donovan Mitchell, who led Utah with 20.5 points per game. Courtesy of The Oklahoman's Brett Dawson, George is not shying away from the challenge:
If he succeeds, Utah could be in trouble. Sporting a 50.6 effective field-goal percentage, the 21-year-old is not always a beacon of efficiency. Yet Mitchell also needs to assume the added volume with Ricky Rubio and Ruby Gobert ill-equipped to pile up points.
Offense, of course, isn't Utah's calling card. Its 101.6 defensive rating narrowly trailed Boston for the NBA's top spot, which it convincingly earned with a 96.0 second-half rating. With Defensive Player of the Year candidate Gobert guarding the rim, only the 76ers surrendered fewer points in the paint.
As noted by FiveThirtyEight's Chris Herring, a typically aggressive Russell Westbrook attacked the basket significantly less often when opposing Gobert. He still led the Thunder to three head-to-head victories with 22.8 points per contest, but they had the services of defensive specialist Andre Roberson each time.
Star power gives Oklahoma City an aesthetic upper hand, but the league's second-lowest assist rating will help Utah to stymie a stagnant offense and pull off a seven-game triumph.
All advanced stats courtesy of NBA.com.
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