The NBA playoffs begin today, and the postseason schedule will be kicked off by the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, which will tip off at 3:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ABC. It can be live streamed here.
The Knicks-Celtics matchup will pit the NBA's top scorer in 2013, Carmelo Anthony, against a defensive-minded Celtics group led by future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett and elite perimeter defender Avery Bradley.
This series is a fitting choice for the postseason opener, and will give all NBA fans an opportunity to divert their thoughts from the tragedies in Boston and escape via basketball. Celtics small forward Paul Pierce did not spout clichés when asked about whether the events that have unfolded over the past four days in Boston involving the actions of two terrorists, and said it will be on his players' minds.
I think when you go through tragedy as a city you kind of look for something to cling on, and really I believe that the city of Boston lives and dies with our sports teams and they're going to be watching closely. And you know there's just a sense of pride about the city and a sense of pride about this team to go out there and kind of play well and to do the best we can for the city in the wake of the tragedy.''
The Golden State Warriors begin their series with the Denver Nuggets at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN, and can be live streamed here. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry set the NBA record for 3-pointers in a season in 2013, and will look to shoot his sixth-seeded team to a first-round upset of the banged up Nuggets.
At 8:00 p.m., the Brooklyn Nets will host the first playoff game in the history of the Barclay's Center against the Chicago Bulls on ESPN. Bulls center and emotional leader Joakim Noah will likely miss the series as he deals with plantar fasciitis. When combined with the absence of Derrick Rose, who has missed the entire season recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the Bulls enter this series without arguably their two best players. Those looking to live stream this game can find it here.
The action will keep rolling following the Nets-Bulls game when the Los Angeles Clippers host the Memphis Grizzlies at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN. This series is a rematch of last season's thrilling seven-game set that ended with Chris Paul and the Clippers on top. Live stream this matchup here.
WESTERN CONFERENCE - FIRST ROUND
(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) Houston
Game 1 - Sun April 21, Houston at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 - Wed April 24, Houston at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 3 - Sat April 27, Oklahoma City at Houston, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/R
Game 4 - Mon April 29, Oklahoma City at Houston, TBD, TBD
Game 5 * Wed May 1, Houston at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 3, Oklahoma City at Houston, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 5, Houston at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD
• Thunder-Rockets series hub
(2) San Antonio vs. (7) L.A. Lakers
Game 1 - Sun April 21, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R
Game 2 - Wed April 24, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 - Fri April 26, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 28, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 30, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu May 2, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 4, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, TBD, TNT
• Spurs-Lakers series hub
(3) Denver vs. (6) Golden State
Game 1 - Sat April 20, Golden State at Denver, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2 - Tue April 23, Golden State at Denver, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 - Fri April 26, Denver at Golden State, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2
Game 4 - Sun April 28, Denver at Golden State, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 30, Golden State at Denver, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu May 2, Denver at Golden State, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 4, Golden State at Denver, TBD, TNT
• Nuggets-Warriors series hub
(4) L.A. Clippers vs. (5) Memphis
Game 1 - Sat April 20, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2 - Mon April 22, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 25, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4 - Sat April 27, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, 4:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 30, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 3, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 5, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, TBD, TBD
• Clippers-Grizzlies series hub
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EASTERN CONFERENCE - FIRST ROUND
(1) Miami vs. (8) Milwaukee
Game 1 - Sun April 21, Milwaukee at Miami, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 2 - Tue April 23, Milwaukee at Miami, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3 - Thu April 25, Miami at Milwaukee, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 4 - Sun April 28, Miami at Milwaukee, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Game 5 * Tue April 30, Milwaukee at Miami, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu May 2, Miami at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 4, Milwaukee at Miami, TBD, TNT
• Heat-Bucks series hub
(2) New York vs. (7) Boston
Game 1 - Sat April 20, Boston at New York, 3 p.m., ABC/R
Game 2 - Tue April 23, Boston at New York, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3 - Fri April 26, New York at Boston, 8 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 28, New York at Boston, 1 p.m., ABC/R
Game 5 * Wed May 1, Boston at New York, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 3, New York at Boston, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 5, Boston at New York, TBD, TBD
• Knicks-Celtics series hub
(3) Indiana vs. (6) Atlanta
Game 1 - Sun April 21, Atlanta at Indiana, 1 p.m., TNT
Game 2 - Wed April 24, Atlanta at Indiana, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3 - Sat April 27, Indiana at Atlanta, 7 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 - Mon April 29, Indiana at Atlanta, TBD, TBD
Game 5 * Wed May 1, Atlanta at Indiana, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 3, Indiana at Atlanta, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 5, Atlanta at Indiana, TBD, TBD
• Pacers-Hawks series hub
(4) Brooklyn vs. (5) Chicago
Game 1 - Sat April 20, Chicago at Brooklyn, 8 p.m., ESPN
Game 2 - Mon April 22, Chicago at Brooklyn, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 25, Brooklyn at Chicago, 8:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 4 - Sat April 27, Brooklyn at Chicago, 2 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Mon April 29, Chicago at Brooklyn, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu May 2, Brooklyn at Chicago, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 4, Chicago at Brooklyn, TBD, TNT
• Nets-Bulls series hub
* if necessary
All times are Eastern
NBA Schedule courtesy of NBA.com.
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