The 2024 NBA playoffs was the ongoing postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) season. The playoffs began on April 20 and concluded with the 2024 NBA Finals in June.
Overview[]
Updates to playoff appearances[]
- The Boston Celtics entered the playoffs for the tenth consecutive, currently the longest such streak in the NBA. They also won the Maurice Podoloff Trophy for clinching the best record in the NBA for the first time since 2008.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and also clinched the number one seed in the Western Conference for the first time since 2013.
- The Milwaukee Bucks entered the playoffs for the eighth consecutive.
- The Philadelphia 76ers entered the playoffs for the seventh consecutive.
- The Denver Nuggets entered the playoffs for the sixth consecutive.
- The Miami Heat entered the playoffs for the fifth consecutive.
- The Phoenix Suns entered the playoffs for the fourth consecutive.
- The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the playoffs for the third consecutive.
- The Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers entered the playoffs for the second consecutive.
- The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans returned to the playoffs after missing the postseason the previous year.
- The Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers entered the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
- The Sacramento Kings missed the playoffs after making the postseason the previous year.
- The Golden State Warriors missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
- The Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
- The Brooklyn Nets missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
- The Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive.
- The Charlotte Hornets missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive, currently the longest active playoff drought in the NBA.
Notable occurrences[]
- This is the first playoffs to not feature Chris Paul since 2010.[1]
- With an average age of 23.9 years old, the Oklahoma City Thunder became the youngest team to earn the 1-seed in NBA history.[2]
- The Thunder also became the seventh different Western Conference 1-seed in the last seven years, the longest stretch in the West since the 16-team format began in 1984.[3]
- The Boston Celtics finished first in the Eastern Conference standings by 14 games, which is the largest margin between No. 1 and No. 2 in either conference since 1976.[4]
First round[]
- All home teams in the first-round matchups won game 1 for the first time since 2013.
- The Knicks' game 2 comeback against the 76ers marked just the fourth time in the play-by-play era (dating to the 1996–97) that a team won a playoff game after trailing by at least five points in the last 30 seconds.[5] The Knicks were also the first team to win in regulation, as the other three teams completed their comeback in overtime.[6]
- The Miami Heat's 23 three-pointers made in game 2 against the Celtics are the most ever by a team in a road playoff win in NBA history. This is also the Heat's franchise record for most threes made in a single playoff game.[7][8]
- In game 3 against the Knicks, Joel Embiid became the first player in NBA history to score 50 points on fewer than 20 shots in a playoff game.[9]
- The Minnesota Timberwolves swept the Phoenix Suns, marking the 48th year in a row that a sweep occurred. The last time a sweep did not occur was in 1976. This was the 184th series sweep in NBA playoffs history.
- The series also marked the Timberwolves' first playoff series win since 2004 and the first sweep of a best-of-7 series in Minnesota men's professional sports history.[10]
- Kevin Durant was swept in a playoff series for the second time in his career, with both instances occurring in the first round.[11]
- For the first time in playoff history, there were four 40+ point scorers on the same day, as Devin Booker, Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, and Kyrie Irving all scored 40+ points on April 28.[12]
- Jamal Murray became the fourth player in NBA history to hit two go-ahead shots inside the final five seconds in the same postseason, and is the only player to do so in the same series.[13]
- This marks the second time LeBron James was eliminated in the first round. The last time he was eliminated in the first round was against the Suns in 2021.[14]
- The 76ers became the first team in the play-by-play era (since 1996–97) to win a playoff game when trailing by at least six points in the final 25 seconds of regulation.[15]
- The Bucks became the first team in NBA history to win a playoff game without their top two leading scorers from the regular.[15]
- The Celtics became the first team in postseason history to score 100+ points and hold their opponents to under 90 points in three straight playoff games.[16]
- The Pacers win over the Bucks marks their first playoff series win since 2014.
- Jalen Brunson became the third player in NBA history with four consecutive playoff games of 35+ points and 5+ assists in a single postseason, joining LeBron James and Michael Jordan.[17]
- The Cavaliers–Magic series was the first of the 2024 playoffs to have a game 7, making it the 25th consecutive NBA postseason to feature a game 7. The last time a game 7 did not occur in the playoffs was 1999. This was the 151st game 7 in NBA playoffs history.
- Donovan Mitchell scored 52.1% of the Cavaliers' points in game 6, the most by a player with an opportunity to clinch a playoff series in NBA history.[18]
- Mitchell recorded his third 50-point playoff game, tying Allen Iverson for the third-most 50+ point games in playoff history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan.[19]
- The Cavaliers won a playoff series without LeBron James for the first time since 1993.
Conference semifinals[]
- This is the first conference semifinals without LeBron James, Kevin Durant, or Stephen Curry since 2005.[14]
- This is the first Western Conference semifinals without a team from California since 2005.
- Anthony Edwards joined Kobe Bryant as the only players aged 22 or younger to have consecutive 40-point playoff games.[20]
- Jalen Brunson became the first player in NBA history to record 40+ points and 5+ assists in four straight playoff games.[21]
- The Cavaliers' 24-point win over the Celtics in game 2 was the biggest in the playoffs by a double-digit underdog since 1991.[22]
- This is the third straight year in which there have been no series sweeps in the conference semifinals.
- Jayson Tatum became the second player since 1973 to lead both teams in a playoff series in total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks after LeBron James did it in the 2016 NBA Finals.
- Kyrie Irving set a record of 14-0, win-loss record in close out NBA playoffs games.[23]
- Jason Kidd is now has 4-0, win-loss record in Game Sixes in NBA Playoffs, as a Mavericks head coach.
- The Timberwolves’ 45-point lead in Game 6 against the Nuggets is the largest margin of victory against a defending champion in NBA playoff history.[24] It was also the second largest margin of victory in playoff history by a team facing elimination, surpassed only by the Minneapolis Lakers' 58-point victory over the St. Louis Hawks in the 1956 NBA Playoffs.
- The Pacers set an NBA playoff record for shooting percentage, making 67.1% of their shots in Game 7 against the Knicks.[25]
- The Pacers also set the highest a shooting percentage of 76.3% in a half, making 29-out-of-38 shots in the first half. This is also that was the highest in the postseason in 25 years since 1997, when the NBA began keeping detailed play-by-play for all four quarters.[26]
- The Timberwolves overcame a 20-point deficit to win Game 7 against the Nuggets, which is the largest Game 7 comeback in NBA playoffs history.[27]
- With the defending champion Nuggets losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 2024 playoffs marked the fifth straight year where the defending champion was eliminated before the conference finals.
- With the defending champion Nuggets losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves, this is the first time in NBA history with different champions in a 6 year span since 1975-1980.
Conference finals[]
- Neither the first-seeded team nor the second-seeded team made the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2022.
- The Mavericks returns to the Western Conference finals after missing the playoffs last year.[23]
- The Pacers advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 10 years, since 2014.[26]
- The Timberwolves advance to the Western Conference finals after 20 years, the first time since 2004.[27]
Format[]
Eight teams from each conference participate in the playoffs. The top six teams in each conference, based on winning percentage, directly qualify for the playoffs; the seeding order of those teams is also based on winning percentage. If two or more teams had the same record, standard NBA tiebreaker rules are used.
The NBA Board of Governors adopted a format starting in 2021 to have a play-in tournament involving the teams ranked 7th through 10th in each conference. The 7th place team and 8th place team participate in a "double-chance" game, with the winner advancing to the playoffs as the 7-seed. The loser then plays the winner of the elimination game between the 9th place and 10th place teams to determine the playoff's 8-seed. The NBA's regular playoff format then proceeds as normal.[28]
Each conference's bracket is fixed with no reseeding. All rounds are a best-of-seven series; a series ends when one team wins four games, and that team advances to the next round. All rounds, including the NBA Finals, are in a 2–2–1–1–1 format with regards to hosting. In the conference playoffs, home-court advantage goes to the higher-seeded team (number one being the highest). For the NBA Finals, home-court advantage goes to the team with the better regular record, and, if needed, ties are broken based on head-to-head record, followed by intra-conference record.
Playoff qualifying[]
On March 14, 2024, the Boston Celtics became the first team to clinch a playoff spot.[29] While noted in the below tables, division titles have no bearing on seeding.[30]
Seeds 7 and 8 in each conference were determined via the first-stage play-in tournament, held April 16–19.
Eastern Conference[]
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play-in berth | Playoff berth | Division title | Best record in conference |
Best record in NBA | |||
| 1 | Boston Celtics | 64–18 | — | March 14[29] | March 20[31] | March 24[32] | April 3[33] |
| 2 | New York Knicks | 50–32 | — | April 10[34] | — | — | — |
| 3 | Milwaukee Bucks | 49–33 | — | April 7[35] | April 14[36] | — | — |
| 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 48–34 | — | April 12[37] | — | — | — |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | 47–35 | — | April 14[38] | April 14[38] | — | — |
| 6 | Indiana Pacers | 47–35 | — | April 14[39] | — | — | — |
| 7 | Philadelphia 76ers | 47–35 | April 14[39] | April 17[40] | — | — | — |
| 8 | Miami Heat | 46–36 | April 14[39] | April 19[41] | — | — | — |
Chicago (39–43) and Atlanta (36–46) also secured play-in berths but did not advance to the playoffs.[41][42]
Western Conference[]
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play-in berth | Playoff berth | Division title | Best record in conference |
Best record in NBA | |||
| 1 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 57–25 | — | March 31[43] | April 14[39] | April 14[39] | — |
| 2 | Denver Nuggets | 57–25 | — | March 31[44] | — | — | — |
| 3 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 56–26 | — | April 1[45] | — | — | — |
| 4 | Los Angeles Clippers | 51–31 | — | April 9[46] | April 9[46] | — | — |
| 5 | Dallas Mavericks | 50–32 | — | April 9[46] | April 10[47] | — | — |
| 6 | Phoenix Suns | 49–33 | — | April 14[39] | — | — | — |
| 7 | Los Angeles Lakers | 47–35 | April 10[48] | April 16[49] | — | — | — |
| 8 | New Orleans Pelicans | 49–33 | April 14[39] | April 19[41] | — | — | — |
Sacramento (46–36) and Golden State (46–36) also secured play-in berths but did not advance to the playoffs.[41][50]
References[]
- ↑ Escarpio, Max. "2024 To Mark First NBA Playoffs Without This Player Since 2010". https://athlonsports.com/nba/2024-first-nba-playoffs-without-chris-paul-since-2010-golden-state-warriors.
- ↑ Sweet, Randall (April 15, 2024). "OKC Thunder Enter Postseason as Youngest One Seed in NBA History". https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/news/okc-thunder-oklahoma-city-nba-playoffs-youngest-one-seed-nba-history.
- ↑ "Starting 5, April 15: The bracket’s set. Here's what to know (now)". April 15, 2024. https://www.nba.com/news/nba-starting-5-april-15-2024.
- ↑ Goss, Nick (April 15, 2024). "Celtics hit some amazing milestones, set franchise records in". Yahoo Sports. https://sports.yahoo.com/celtics-hit-amazing-milestones-set-172112560.html.
- ↑ "Philadelphia 76ers blow lead in final minute in Game 2 loss to New York Knicks". https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/tyrese-maxey-sixers-vs-knicks-nba-playoffs/.
- ↑ Williams, Brianna. "Knicks' comeback win over 76ers shocks social media". https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40002883/new-york-knicks-philadelphia-76ers-game-2-social-media-weighs-in.
- ↑ "Team Game Stats Finder – Pro Basketball". StatHead.com. April 24, 2024. https://stathead.com/tiny/MdvUp.
- ↑ Jimmy Golen (April 24, 2024). "Heat set franchise playoff record with 23 3-pointers in Game 2 win". NBA.com. https://www.nba.com/news/heat-franchise-playoff-record-3-pointers.
- ↑ "Joel Embiid scores 50 points to lead 76ers past Knicks 125-114 to cut deficit to 2-1". https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401655107.
- ↑ Edwards and Towns lead Timberwolves into the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs for 1st time since 2004, NY1, April 29, 2024
- ↑ Bailey, Andy. "Does Kevin Durant Need to Salvage His Legacy?". https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10119098-does-kevin-durant-need-to-salvage-his-legacy.
- ↑ "Starting 5, April 29: Jalen Brunson's record, Wolves' sweep highlight historic Sunday". https://www.nba.com/news/nba-starting-5-april-29-2024.
- ↑ Botkin, Brad. "Nuggets-Lakers Game 5: Jamal Murray adds to playoff legacy with second game-winner to send L.A. home". https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nuggets-lakers-game-5-jamal-murray-adds-to-playoff-legacy-with-second-game-winner-to-send-l-a-home/.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Martin, Angelina. "LeBron playoff exit ends amazing streak that also involves Steph, KD". https://sports.yahoo.com/lebron-playoff-exit-ends-amazing-054431496.html.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Starting 5, May 1: Maxey’s heroics keep Sixers alive". https://www.nba.com/news/starting-5-may-1-maxeys-heroics-keep-sixers-alive.
- ↑ "NBA Starting 5, May 2: Luka powers Mavs to 3-2 lead, Celtics move on". https://www.nba.com/news/nba-starting-5-may-2-2024.
- ↑ "Starting 5, May 3: Knicks & Pacers advance, meet next round". https://www.nba.com/news/nba-starting-5-may-3-2024.
- ↑ Andrews, Kendra. "Magic 'stay the course,' survive Mitchell's 50-point game". https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40078724/magic-survive-donovan-mitchell-50-point-game-force-game-7.
- ↑ "Starting 5, May 4: Mavs advance, Magic force Game 7". https://www.nba.com/news/starting-5-may-4-mavs-advance-magic-force-game-7.
- ↑ "Starting 5, May 5: Ant-Man’s mile high playoff-high + Game 7 in the ‘Land". https://www.nba.com/news/starting-5-may-5-ant-mans-mile-high-playoff-high-game-7-in-the-land.
- ↑ Botte, Peter. "Jalen Brunson made history in brilliant Knicks performance". https://nypost.com/2024/05/07/sports/jalen-brunsons-brilliant-knicks-performance-also-made-history/.
- ↑ "Mitchell's 29 points help Cavaliers blow out Celtics 118-94, tie series at 1 game apiece". https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/mitchells-29-points-help-cavaliers-blow-out-celtics-118-94-tie-series-at-1-game-apiece/.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 "P.J. Washington’s free throws finish rally as Mavs beat Thunder 117-116 to reach West finals". NBA.com. May 19, 2024. https://www.nba.com/news/thunder-mavericks-recap-game-6-2024-west-semifinals.
- ↑ Restrepoa, Andy (May 17, 2024). "What’s the biggest loss the Denver Nuggets have ever had in a game?". en.as.com. https://en.as.com/nba/whats-the-biggest-loss-the-denver-nuggets-have-ever-had-in-a-game-n/.
- ↑ Windhorst, Brian. "Scorching-hot Pacers set playoff mark in Game 7 rout of Knicks". https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40181122/scorching-hot-pacers-set-playoff-mark-game-7-rout-knicks.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Pacers set NBA playoff shooting mark, oust Knicks in Game 7 to reach Eastern Conference finals". NBA.com. May 20, 2024. https://www.nba.com/news/knicks-pacers-game-7-recap-2024-east-semifinals.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Down 20, Timberwolves storm back in Game 7 to end Nuggets' reign". NBA.com. May 20, 2024. https://www.nba.com/news/knicks-pacers-game-7-recap-2024-east-semifinals.
- ↑ Reynolds, Tim (July 12, 2022). "NBA adopts Play-In Tournament on full-time basis". Associated Press. Las Vegas: Warner Bros. Discovery Sports. https://www.nba.com/news/nba-adopts-play-in-tournament-on-full-time-basis.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Geagan, Matt. "Celtics become first team to clinch spot in NBA playoffs". CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/celtics-clinch-nba-playoff-spot-first-team-tatum-brown-mazzulla-porzingis-white-holiday/.
- ↑ Moore, Matt (September 9, 2015). "5 Things to Know: NBA division winners not guaranteed playoff spot". CBS Sports. https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/5-things-to-know-nba-division-winners-not-guaranteed-playoff-spot/.
- ↑ "Celtics open big lead, hold on to beat Bucks without Giannis, 122-119". March 20, 2024. https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401585626.
- ↑ Mckeone, Liam (March 25, 2024). "Boston Celtics Clinch No. 1 Seed in Eastern Conference". https://www.si.com/nba/2024/03/25/celtics-playoff-seed-clinch.
- ↑ "Celtics clinch NBA's best record with runaway win against OKC". https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39871028/celtics-clinch-nba-best-record-runaway-win-okc.
- ↑ Botte, Peter. "Knicks clinch top-6 playoff spot after Heat fall to Mavericks". https://nypost.com/2024/04/10/sports/knicks-clinch-top-6-playoff-spot-after-heat-fall-to-mavericks/.
- ↑ King, Tom (April 8, 2024). "Bucks Slump Continues With Two Weekend Losses". https://wsau.com/2024/04/08/bucks-slump-continues-with-two-weekend-losses/.
- ↑ Gamble, Luke (April 14, 2024). "Bucks win central division; clinch 3 seed in eastern conference to set matchup vs Pacers". https://www.wkow.com/sports/bucks-win-central-division-clinch-3-seed-in-eastern-conference-to-set-matchup-vs-pacers/article_18f5833e-fa9f-11ee-97e0-ef3301aa7a53.html.
- ↑ Fedor, Chris. "Cavs clinch playoff spot with 129-120 win over Indiana Pacers". https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2024/04/cavs-clinch-playoff-spot-with-129-120-win-over-indiana-pacers.html.
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Beede, Jason. "Magic clinch No. 5 seed in NBA playoffs with win vs. Bucks". https://sports.yahoo.com/magic-clinch-no-5-seed-204200190.html.
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 39.6 Botkin, Brad. "2024 NBA playoffs bracket: Postseason picture with matchups set for first round, Play-In Tournament". https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2024-nba-playoffs-bracket-postseason-picture-with-matchups-set-for-first-round-play-in-tournament/.
- ↑ Tim, Bontemps. "Sixers outduel Heat down stretch to clinch No. 7 seed in East". https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39965732/sixers-outduel-heat-stretch-clinch-no-7-seed-east.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 Kasabian, Paul. "NBA Playoff Picture 2024: Final Bracket Set After Heat, Pelicans Clinch Final Spots". https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10117745-nba-playoff-picture-2024-final-bracket-set-after-heat-pelicans-clinch-final-spots.
- ↑ Kasabian, Paul (April 18, 2024). "Trae Young Trade Eyed by NBA Fans as Hawks Eliminated from Playoffs in Loss to Bulls". https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10117438-trae-young-trade-eyed-by-nba-fans-as-hawks-eliminated-from-playoffs-in-loss-to-bulls.
- ↑ Gorman, Denis (March 31, 2024). "Thunder clinch first playoff spot since 2020, beat Knicks on Gilgeous-Alexander’s jumper". AP News. https://apnews.com/article/thunder-knicks-score-playoffs-15be05a32e74a491285bc60a56dae256.
- ↑ Brooks, Matt (March 31, 2024). "Nuggets clinch playoff spot with blowout win over Cavaliers". https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-clinch-playoff-spot-with-blowout-win-over-cavaliers.
- ↑ Buckley, Zach (April 2, 2024). "NBA Playoff Picture 2024: Timberwolves Clinch Postseason Berth; Updated Standings". https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10115267-nba-playoff-picture-2024-timberwolves-clinch-postseason-berth-updated-standings.
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 "Starting 5, April 10: Clippers, Mavs clinch; Knicks, Pelicans climb". https://www.nba.com/news/nba-starting-5-april-10-2024.
- ↑ Trigg, Dalton. "Dallas Mavs Win Southwest Division, Lock In NBA Playoff Series vs. LA Clippers: 'We're Just Getting Started'". https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/dallas-mavs-win-southwest-division-lock-in-playoff-series-los-angeles-clippers-luka-doncic-kyrie-irving-just-getting-started.
- ↑ "It's official: Lakers, Warriors headed to play-in; Clippers vs. Mavericks set for first round". https://sports.yahoo.com/official-lakers-warriors-headed-play-143254863.html.
- ↑ "Lakers hold off Pelicans for play-in win to earn playoff rematch with Nuggets". April 16, 2024. https://nypost.com/2024/04/16/sports/lakers-hold-on-for-nba-play-in-win-earn-nuggets-playoff-rematch/.
- ↑ Kasabian, Paul. "Stephen Curry, Warriors Eliminated by Kings as NBA Fans Call Out End of GSW Dynasty". https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10117176-stephen-curry-warriors-eliminated-by-kings-as-nba-fans-call-out-end-of-gsw-dynasty.