When do the 2023 NBA Playoffs start?
There is just about a month left of the regular NBA season with the play-in tournament starting on April 11 and the Playoffs on April 15.
With just a month left in the NBA regular season, it’s time to start thinking about which teams will qualify for the postseason. The last day of the regular season is on Sunday, April 9. Then, it’s time for the play-in tournament and playoffs. The top six seeds in the Western and Eastern conferences will have an automatic spot in the playoffs while the Nos. 7-10 will fight for a spot via the play-in tournament.
When is the NBA play-in tournament?
The 2023 NBA play-in tournament begins on Tuesday, April 11 and ends Friday, April 14. The play-in tournament is the way in which the last teams in the playoffs are decided. It’s a single-elimination tournament - first, the no. 7 ranked team plays the no. 8 ranked team, and the no. 9 plays the no. 10. The winner of the no. 7 vs no. 8 game becomes the no. 7 seed. The loser of the no. 7 vs no. 8 game plays the winner of the no. 9 vs no. 10 game to determine the no. 8 seed. The winners of the seventh and eighth seeds will earn their spot in the playoffs.
When are the NBA Playoffs?
The First Round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs begins on Saturday, April 15. If the series finishes in four games, the Conference semifinals will be from Saturday, April 29 to Sunday, April 30. If not, they will be from Monday, May 1 to Tuesday, May 2. The Conference Finals will be from Tuesday, May 16 to Wednesday, May 17. If they finish in four games, the dates would move up to Sunday, May 14 to Monday, May 15.
When are the NBA Finals?
The 2023 NBA Finals will begin on Thursday, June 1 (regardless of how many games are played in the Conference Finals).
- Thursday, June 1: NBA Finals 2023 Game 1
- Sunday, June 4: NBA Finals 2023 Game 2
- Wednesday, June 7: NBA Finals 2023 Game 3
- Friday, June 9: NBA Finals 2023 Game 4
- Monday, June 12: NBA Finals 2023 Game 5 (if necessary)
- Thursday, June 15: NBA Finals 2023 Game 6 (if necessary)
- Sunday, June 18: NBA Finals 2023 Game 7 (if necessary)
NBA standings 2023: Eastern Conference
(through games played on March 7)
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee Bucks | 47-18 | |
| 2 | Boston Celtics | 45-21 | 2.5 |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | 43-22 | 4 |
| 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 41-26 | 7 |
| 5 | New York Knicks | 39-28 | 9 |
| 6 | Brooklyn Nets | 37-28 | 10 |
| 7 | Miami Heat | 35-31 | 12.5 |
| 8 | Atlanta Hawks | 32-33 | 15 |
| 9 | Toronto Raptors | 32-24 | 15.5 |
| 10 | Washington Wizards | 31-34 | 16 |
| 11 | Chicago Bulls | 29-36 | 18 |
| 12 | Indiana Pacers | 29-37 | 18.5 |
| 13 | Orlando Magic | 27-39 | 20.5 |
| 14 | Charlotte Hornets | 21-46 | 27 |
| 15 | Detroit Pistons | 15-51 | 32.5 |
NBA standings 2023: Western Conference
(through games played on March 7)
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver Nuggets | 49-19 | |
| 2 | Sacramento Kings | 38-26 | 7.5 |
| 3 | Memphis Grizzlies | 38-26 | 7.5 |
| 4 | Phoenix Suns | 36-29 | 10 |
| 5 | Dallas Mavericks | 34-32 | 12.5 |
| 6 | Golden State Warriors | 34-32 | 12.5 |
| 7 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 34-33 | 13 |
| 8 | Los Angeles Clippers | 34-33 | 13 |
| 9 | Los Angeles Lakers | 32-34 | 14.5 |
| 10 | New Orleans Pelicans | 31-34 | 15 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 31-34 | 15 |
| 12 | Portland Trail Blazers | 31-34 | 15 |
| 13 | Utah Jazz | 31-35 | 15.5 |
| 14 | San Antonio Spurs | 16-49 | 30 |
| 15 | Houston Rockets | 15-50 | 31 |