What Time Do The Nba Playoff Games Come On?

Wondering what time the NBA Playoff games come on tonight? Check out our handy guide for all the info you need!

What time do the NBA playoff games come on?

Depending on what day and what match-up is being played, the start time for NBA playoff games can vary.

For example, if two Western Conference teams are playing each other, the game will likely start at 9:00pm EST. If two Eastern Conference teams are playing each other, the game will likely start at 8:00pm EST.

The NBA Finals follow a similar schedule, with games typically starting at 9:00pm EST.

You can check the specific schedule for upcoming games on the NBA website.

How to watch the NBA playoffs

The NBA playoffs are upon us and it’s time to figure out how to watch all the games. If you’re a cord cutter or just don’t have cable, you can still watch the NBA playoffs games. There are several ways to do this, including using a digital antenna, subscribing to a live TV streaming service, or renting or buying individual NBA playoff games.

On TV

You can catch every game of the 2019 NBA playoffs on ESPN, ABC, TNT or NBA TV. If you have a cable or satellite subscription that includes these channels, you’re all set. You can also watch the playoffs by signing up for a streaming TV service that includes ESPN, ABC, TNT and/or NBA TV in its package, such as AT&T WatchTV, DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Hulu with Live TV, PlayStation Vue or Sling TV.

Online

There are a few ways to watch the playoffs online. You can stream them live through the NBA app, which is available on most streaming devices, or you can watch them on NBA TV. If you have a cable subscription, you can also watch many of the games through your provider’s app or website.

What channel are the NBA playoffs on?

The 2019 NBA playoffs will air on ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. Games will also be streaming live on WatchESPN and the ESPN App.

Who are the NBA playoff teams?

As the regular season comes to a close, the race to make the NBA playoffs is heating up.

Currently, the top eight teams in each conference (Eastern and Western) qualify for the playoffs. The conference seeds are determined by each team’s record.

The higher a team is seeded, the more home court advantage they have. For example, if the number one seed in each conference meets in the NBA Finals, that series would be played entirely in the higher seed’s arena.

In addition to home court advantage, seeding also determines who a team plays in the first round of the playoffs. In the first round, the number one seed in each conference plays the number eight seed, the number two seed plays the number seven seed, and so on.

So who are currently in position to make the NBA playoffs? Here are the current standings:

Eastern Conference:
1. Toronto Raptors – 64-18*
2. Boston Celtics – 58-24*
3. Philadelphia 76ers – 53-29*
4. Cleveland Cavaliers – 50-32*
5. Indiana Pacers – 48-34*
6. Miami Heat – 44-38*
7. Milwaukee Bucks – 44-38*
8. Washington Wizards – 43-39*

Western Conference:

1. Houston Rockets – 65-17*

2. Golden State Warriors – 58-24*

NBA playoff schedule

The first round of the NBA playoffs will begin on Saturday, August 15. The second round will take place on Tuesday, August 18. The Conference Finals will take place on Friday, August 21. The NBA Finals will take place on Sunday, August 23.

First round

The first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs begins on Saturday, August 15. The postseason will feature 16 teams in a single-elimination format, with the top seed in each conference receiving a bye to the second round.

The first round schedule is as follows (all times Eastern):

Saturday, August 15
Game 1: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 1: Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 1: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 1: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Sunday, August 16
Game 2: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 3 p.m.(ABC)
Game 2: Indiana Pacers vs Miami Heat, 5:30 p.m.(TNT)
Game 2: Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m.(TNT)

Monday, August 17
Game 2: Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs, 4 p

Conference semifinals

The Conference Semifinals of the 2020 NBA playoffs will begin on Saturday, September 5th. The schedule for the first round is as follows:

Eastern Conference:
Boston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors – TBD
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks – TBD

Western Conference:
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets – TBD
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers – TBD

Conference finals

The conference finals are the third round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s playoffs. The conference finals are played in a best-of-seven format, and are contested by the winners of the semifinals from each of the two conferences, with each conference’s respective winner playing each other. The two conference finalists will advance to the NBA Finals.

NBA Finals

The 2020 NBA Finals will be the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 2019–20 season and conclusion of the season’s playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat will face the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers in a best-of-seven series. This will be the NBA Finals appearance for each team.

The Lakers hold the home court advantage in the series as they had a better regular season record than the Heat. The first two games of the series will be played at Staples Center in Los Angeles, while Games 3 and 4 will be held at American Airlines Arena in Miami. If necessary, Games 5–7 will also be played at Staples Center. This is the first time since 2010 that home court advantage for the NBA Finals has been determined by regular season record instead of which team advanced furthest in the playoffs.

The 2020 NBA Finals is scheduled to begin on September 30 and end no later than October 13.