NBA playoffs underway
- The NBA postseason tipped off April 18 and first-round games continued through April 19. (espn.com) - Early odds show higher seeds favored in seven of eight first-round matchups, with Houston still favored over the Lakers despite losing Game 1. (nytimes.com) - Conference brackets are set and game times are scheduled through May 3, giving a clear roadmap for round one. (cbssports.com)
The National Basketball Association playoffs opened April 18, and by Sunday, April 19, every first-round series was on the board. (espn.com) The 16-team field was finalized after the SoFi Play-In Tournament ran from April 14 through April 17, with the first round scheduled to run as late as May 3. The league uses a best-of-seven format, and the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7. (nba.com) The bracket is now set in both conferences: Detroit, Boston, New York and Cleveland hold home court in the East, while Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers opened at home in the West. Orlando and Phoenix grabbed the final No. 8 seeds through the play-in. (espn.com) Round one is packed into a little more than two weeks, with game times announced through May 3 and multiple national TV windows each day over opening weekend. CBS Sports reported the full first-round schedule was released before the games began. (cbssports.com) The early betting picture is mostly chalk. The Athletic reported on April 19 that the higher seed was favored in seven of the eight first-round matchups. (nytimes.com) The one exception is the Western Conference 4-versus-5 series, where Houston remained favored over the Lakers even after dropping Game 1. The Athletic tied that line to injuries on the Los Angeles side, including Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. (nytimes.com) The standings produced some unusual top seeds. Detroit finished first in the East, and Oklahoma City entered the bracket as defending champion and the No. 1 seed in the West. (sports.yahoo.com) What happens over the next two weeks will decide the conference semifinal matchups, which NBA.com lists for May 4 and May 5, with some series eligible to move up to May 2 or May 3 if first-round matchups end early. (nba.com) For now, the shape of the postseason is simple: eight series, a fixed bracket, and almost no room between games before the field is cut from 16 teams to eight. (nba.com)
