NBA
Which teams have qualified for the conference semifinals? 2024 NBA Playoffs round 2 bracket
Three of the four semifinalists are known in the Western Conference, although the second-round picture is less clear in the East.
The first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs is nearing its conclusion, with three of the eight conference semifinal qualifiers already known, all in the west, which includes one of the second-round match-ups.
Western Conference semifinals bracket
Despite a freak injury to head coach Chris Finch, Western Conference No. 3 seed the Minnesota Timberwolves completed a sweep against the Phoenix Suns, progressing to their conference semifinals for the first time in 20 years.
There, they will face No.2 the Denver Nuggets, who had threatened to go 4-0 against LA Lakers but ultimately won in five. Each game in the series was closely contested, but Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Co consigned LeBron James to only the second first-round elimination in his long career.
The Oklahoma City Thunder sealed their place in the second round after sweeping the New Orleans Pelicans, whose poor end to the regular season continue in the playoffs. Zion Williamson’s absence did little to help Willie Green’s team, who put up a fight in Games 1 and 4 but were comfortably beaten in the middle two match-ups.
The Thunder will next face one of the LA Clippers or the Dallas Mavericks, who have each won two of their opening four first-round games.
West Conference semifinals
- Oklahoma City Thunder - LA Clippers/Dallas Mavericks (2-2 in first round)
- Minnesota Timberwolves - Denver Nuggets
Eastern Conference semifinals bracket
The picture in the Eastern Conference isn’t quite as clear, with all four places in the semifinals still up for grabs. However, the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks look set for a second-round meeting, leading 3-1 in their respective first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers.
No. 1 seed the Boston Celtics are also in a strong position to reach the next round, 3-1 up in their series against the Miami Heat. The winners will face either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Orlando Magic, who are tied at 2-2 after four games.
Eastern Conference semifinals
- Boston Celtics/Miami Heat (3-1) - Cleveland Cavaliers/Orlando Magic (2-2)
- Milwaukee Bucks/Indiana Pacers (1-3) - New York Knicks/Philadelphia 76ers (3-1)
When do the 2024 NBA Playoffs conference semifinals start?
The Timberwolves against the Nuggets is the only second-round match-up that has been confirmed. That will begin in Minnesota on Saturday 4 May (time still to be announced), which is the day before potential deciders in the Celtics-Heat, Magic-Cavaliers and Clippers-Mavericks first-round series.