NBA playoffs 2024: Conference semifinals news, schedule, scores and highlights

The NBA playoffs’ conference semifinals are underway. Expect plenty of drama after a thrilling start to the postseason.

The Boston Celtics, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and top overall seed, battle the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers. In the other East series, the No. 2 seed New York Knicks renew their old rivalry with the No. 6 seed Indiana Pacers.

In the West, the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder take on the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks. The other West clash pits the No. 2 seed and defending NBA Finals champion Denver Nuggets against the No. 3 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.

The four teams from each conference face off in a best-of-7 series to advance. All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-7, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary).

We’ll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2024 NBA Finals, which tip off on June 6 on ABC and the ESPN app.

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EASTERN CONFERENCE

Game 1: Celtics 120, Cavaliers 95
Game 2: Cavaliers 118, Celtics 94
Game 3: Celtics 106, Cavaliers 93
Game 4: Celtics 109, Cavaliers 102
Game 5: Wednesday, May 15 at Boston (7:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 17 at Cleveland (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 19 at Boston

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Jayson Tatum drops 33 to put Celtics on brink of ECF berth

Jayson Tatum scores a game-high 33 points for the Celtics as they win Game 5 on the road in Cleveland.

Game 1: Knicks 121, Pacers 117
Game 2: Knicks 130, Pacers 121
Game 3: Pacers 111, Knicks 106
Game 4: Pacers 121, Knicks 89
Game 5: Tuesday, May 14 at New York (8:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 6: Friday, May 17 at Indiana (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 19 at New York (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

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Tyrese Haliburton’s 35 pushes Pacers past Knicks in Game 3

Tyrese Haliburton’s 35-point effort helps the Pacers outlast the Knicks in a thrilling Game 3 win.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Game 1: Thunder 117, Mavericks 95
Game 2: Mavericks 119, Thunder 110
Game 3: Mavericks 105, Thunder 101
Game 4: Thunder 100, Mavericks 96
Game 5: Wednesday, May 15 at Oklahoma City (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 6: Saturday, May 18 at Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, May 20 at Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

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Jalen Williams throws down emphatic two-handed jam

Jalen Williams works around his defender and flushes down a slam to extend the Thunder’s lead late in the 4th quarter.

Game 1: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 99
Game 2: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 80
Game 3: Nuggets 117, Timberwolves 90
Game 4: Nuggets 115, Timberwolves 107
Game 5: Tuesday, May 14 at Denver (10:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 6: Thursday, May 16 at Minnesota (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 19 at Denver

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Jokic’s bucket seals Nuggets’ win in Game 4

Nikola Jokic catches the inbounds pass and speeds to the rim for a layup that seals the Nuggets’ win in Game 4.