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2022 NBA Playoff Bracket: Matchups, Dates, Times

Here’s what you need to know heading into the NBA postseason.

Zach Koons

The 2022 NBA postseason officially gets underway Saturday, beginning with the first-round series in each conference.

This year’s playoff field promises to be entertaining with last season’s NBA Finals representatives, the Bucks and the Suns, leading the way as some of the preliminary favorites. However, a number of up-and-coming teams are poised to burst onto the scene in a major way over the next few weeks.

Here’s what you need to know heading into the postseason:

What are the play-in tournament matchups?


For the second year in a row, the NBA has implemented a play-in tournament that will allow four teams from each conference to duke it out for the final two playoff spots in the East and the West. Here’s what the matchups are for this year’s play-in tournament:

Eastern Conference

  • No. 7 Nets vs. No. 8 Cavaliers
  • No. 9 Hawks vs. No. 10 Hornets

Western Conference

  • No. 7 Timberwolves vs. No. 8 Clippers
  • No. 9 Pelicans vs. No. 10 Spurs 

What is the schedule of the play-in tournament games?

The play-in tournament starts with the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchups, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed for the first round of the playoffs. The loser will play the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchup to determine which team will claim the eighth spot in the playoff field.

Here is the play-in tournament schedule:

Tuesday, April 12
Cavaliers vs. Nets, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Clippers vs. Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)

Wednesday, April 13
Hornets vs. Hawks, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Spurs vs. Pelicans, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Friday, April 15
Hawks vs. Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Pelicans vs. Clippers, 10 p.m. (TNT)

What are the first-round playoff matchups?

Six teams from each conference solidified their spots in the first round of the playoffs after the end of the regular season. 

In the East, the No. 7 seed Nets clinched a spot with their victory over the Cavaliers on Tuesday, while the No. 8 seed Hawks clinched the final playoff spot with a victory of their own over Cleveland on Friday night. 

In the West, the No. 7 seed Timberwolves clinched their playoff spot with a victory over the Clippers on Tuesday, while the Pelicans used a strong fourth quarter to knock off the Clippers on Friday and earn the No. 8 seed.

Eastern Conference:

  • No. 1 Heat vs. No. 8 Hawks
  • No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Nets
  • No. 3 Bucks vs. No. 6 Bulls
  • No. 4 76ers vs. No. 5 Raptors

Western Conference:

  • No. 1 Suns vs. No. 8 Pelicans
  • No. 2 Grizzlies vs. No. 7 Timberwolves
  • No. 3 Warriors vs. No. 6 Nuggets
  • No. 4 Mavericks vs. No. 5 Jazz

When are the first round playoff games?

The NBA has finalized the schedule for each first-round series. Here’s when each opening round Game 1 will take place, starting on Saturday, April 16.

Saturday, April 16
Game 1: Jazz vs. Mavericks, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 1: Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 1: Raptors vs. 76ers, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 1: Nuggets vs. Warriors, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)

Sunday, April 17
Game 1: Hawks vs. Heat, 1 p.m. (TNT)
Game 1: Nets vs. Celtics, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 1: Bulls vs. Bucks, 6:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 1: Pelicans vs. Suns, 9 p.m. (TNT)

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Zach Koons
ZACH KOONS

Zach Koons is a programming editor at Sports Illustrated who frequently writes about Formula One. He joined SI as a breaking/trending news writer in February 2022 before joining the programming team in 2023. Koons previously worked at The Spun and interned for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He currently hosts the "Bleav in Northwestern" podcast and received a bachelor's in journalism from Northwestern University.

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