Tell your friends. After 82 games for every NBA team, the playoff matchups are now set. Well, some of them.
The Play-In Tournament — 8-to-10 seeds
Game 1: Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat (Apr. 11)
- The winner advances to the seventh seed and will face the Boston Celtics in a best-of-seven series in the NBA Playoffs.
- The loser plays the winner of the Chicago Bulls at the Toronto Raptors.
Game 2: Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors (Apr. 12)
- The winner advances to the final Play-In game against the loser of Atlanta at Miami.
- The loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
Game 3: Winner of Bulls at Raptors at the loser of Hawks at Heat
- The inner advances to the eighth seed and will face the Milwaukee Bucks in a best-of-seven series in the NBA Playoffs.
- The loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
The Playoffs
1-seed Milwaukee Bucks vs. Play-In Tournament 8-seed
- Milwaukee will face any of the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors or Chicago Bulls in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs.
- The Bucks will play the first two games at home, and will host Game 7 if necessary.
2-seed Boston Celtics vs. Play-In Tournament 7-seed
- Boston will face either the Miami Heat or Atlanta Hawks in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs.
- The Celtics will play the first two games at home, and will host Game 7 if necessary.
3-seed Philadelphia 76ers vs. 6-seed Brooklyn Nets
- This series is locked in, and the 76ers will play the first two games at home, and will host Game 7 if necessary.
4-seed Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5-seed New York Knicks
- This series is locked in, and the Cavaliers will play the first two games at home, and will host Game 7 if necessary.
How the bracket looks
If all higher seeds advance.
Milwaukee Bucks:
- First Round: vs. 8-seed Heat/Hawks/Raptors/Bulls
- Second Round: vs. 4-seed Cavaliers
- East Finals: vs. 2-seed Celtics
Boston Celtics:
- First Round: vs. 7-seed Heat/Hawks
- Second Round: vs. 3-seed 76ers
- East Finals: at 1-seed Bucks
Toronto Raptors:
- First Round: at 1-seed Bucks
- Second Round: at 4-seed Cavaliers
- East Finals: at 2-seed Celtics
