2024 NBA Playoffs

First Round of Playoffs

Eastern Conference

Boston Celtics (#1) vs Miami Heat (#8)

Celtics won 4 – 1

Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Game 1114 (W)94
Game 2101111 (W)
Game 3104 (W)84
Game 4102 (W)88
Game 5118 (W)84

Highlights:

  • The Celtics became the first team in postseason history to score 100+ points and hold opponents to under 90 in three straight playoff games (Games 3-5).
  • Jayson Tatum recorded his first playoff triple-double in Game 1 with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
  • Miami set a franchise playoff record with 23 three-pointers in their Game 2 victory.
New York Knicks (#2) vs Philadelphia 76ers (#7)

Knicks won 4 – 2

New York KnicksPhiladelphia 76ers
Game 1111 (W)104
Game 2104 (W)101
Game 3114125 (W)
Game 497 (W)92
Game 5106112 (W – OT)
Game 6118 (W)115

Highlights:

  • In Game 2, the Knicks pulled off a remarkable comeback, one of only four times in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97) that a team won a playoff game after trailing by at least 5 points in the last 30 seconds.
  • Jalen Brunson made history by becoming just 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.
Milwaukee Bucks (#3) vs Indiana Pacers (#6)

Pacers won 4 – 2

Milwaukee BucksIndiana Pacers
Game 1109 (W)94
Game 2108125 (W)
Game 3118121 (W – OT)
Game 4113126 (W)
Game 5115 (W)92
Game 698120 (W)

Highlights:

  • The Bucks made history in Game 1 as the first team in NBA history to win a playoff game without their top two regular-season leading scorers (Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard).
  • The Pacers’ victory marked their first playoff series win since 2014, ending a 10-year drought.
Cleveland Cavaliers (#4) vs Orlando Magic (#5)

Cavaliers won 4 – 3

Cleveland CavaliersOrlando Magic
Game 197 (W)83
Game 296 (W)86
Game 383121 (W)
Game 489112 (W)
Game 5104 (W)103
Game 696103 (W)
Game 7106 (W)94

Highlights:

  • The Cavaliers won their first playoff series without LeBron James since 1993, ending a 30-year drought.
  • This was the only first-round series in 2024 to reach Game 7.
  • The series featured extreme home-court advantage, with the home team winning the first six games by an average margin of 22.3 points.

Western Conference

Oklahoma City Thunder (#1) vs New Orleans Pelicans (#8)

Thunder won 4 – 0

Oklahoma City ThunderNew Orleans Pelican
Game 1117 (W)95
Game 2124 (W)92
Game 3106 (W)85
Game 497 (W)89

Highlights:

  • At an average age of 23.9 years, the Thunder were the youngest #1 seed in NBA history.
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showcased his MVP-caliber play, highlighted by 38 points on 13-of-24 shooting in the close-out Game 4.
  • This was Oklahoma City’s first playoff series win since 2016.
Denver Nuggets (#2) vs LA Lakers (#7)

Nuggets won 4 – 1

Denver NuggetsLA Lakers
Game 1114 (W)103
Game 2101 (W)99
Game 3105112 (W)
Game 4108 (W)106
Game 5108 (W)106

Highlights:

  • The defending champions continued their recent playoff dominance over the Lakers, eliminating them for the second consecutive year.
  • Games 2, 4, and 5 were all decided by just two points, showcasing the Nuggets’ clutch execution.
Minnesota Timberwolves (#3) vs Phoenix Suns (#6)

Timberwolves won 4 – 0

Minnesota TimberwolvesPhoenix Suns
Game 1120 (W)95
Game 2105 (W)93
Game 3126 (W)109
Game 4122 (W)116

Highlights:

  • Minnesota completed the first playoff sweep in franchise history.
  • This series featured one of the most surprising outcomes of the playoffs, as the Timberwolves completely dominated a Suns team with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
  • The Wolves held the high-powered Suns under 117 points in all four games, showcasing their elite defense.
LA Clippers (#4) vs Dallas Mavericks (#5)

Mavericks won 4 – 2

LA ClippersDallas Mavericks
Game 1109 (W)97
Game 29396 (W)
Game 390101 (W)
Game 4116 (W)111
Game 593123 (W)
Game 6101114 (W)

Highlights:

  • In Game 5, the Mavericks delivered a shocking 30-point blowout (123-93) on the road, completely changing the series momentum.
  • Kyrie Irving showed his clutch ability in Game 2, scoring 19 of his 21 points in the final 14 minutes to secure a crucial road win.
  • This series victory set the stage for Dallas’s unexpected run to the NBA Finals.

Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference

Boston Celtics (#1) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (#4)

Celtics won 4-1

Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Game 1120 (W)95
Game 294118 (W)
Game 3106 (W)93
Game 4109 (W)102
Game 5113 (W)98

Highlights:

  • In Game 2, Cleveland delivered a stunning 24-point win (118-94), which was the biggest playoff victory by a double-digit underdog since 1991.
  • Jayson Tatum made history in the series, becoming only the second player since 1973 (joining LeBron James in the 2016 Finals) to lead both teams in a playoff series in total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

New York Knicks (#2) vs Indiana Pacers (#6)

Pacers won 4 – 3

New York KnicksIndiana Pacers
Game 1121 (W)117
Game 2130 (W)121
Game 3106111 (W)
Game 489121 (W)
Game 5121 (W)91
Game 6103116 (W)
Game 7109130 (W)

Highlights:

  • In the decisive Game 7, Indiana became the first road team to win in the series, breaking the pattern where the home team had won every game.
  • The series featured extreme swings, with four games decided by 30+ points (Games 4, 5, 6, and 7).
  • This victory sent the Pacers to their first Conference Finals since 2014.

Western Conference

Oklahoma City Thunder (#1) vs Dallas Mavericks (#5)

Mavericks won 4 – 2

Oklahoma City ThunderDallas Mavericks
Game 1117 (W)95
Game 2110119 (W)
Game 3101105 (W)
Game 4100 (W)96
Game 592104 (W)
Game 6116117 (W)

Highlights:

  • In the series-clinching Game 6, Dereck Lively II (20 years, 96 days old) became the youngest player in NBA history to record 10+ points and 15+ rebounds in a playoff game.
  • This upset victory over the West’s top seed continued the Mavericks’ surprising playoff run after missing the playoffs entirely the previous season.
Denver Nuggets (#2) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (#3)

Timberwolves won 4 – 3

Denver NuggetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Game 199106 (W)
Game 280106 (W)
Game 3117 (W)90
Game 4115 (W)107
Game 5112 (W)97
Game 670115 (W)
Game 79098 (W)

Highlights:

  • Game 6 featured a historic 45-point victory (115-70) by Minnesota, which was the largest margin of victory against a defending champion in playoff history.
  • In the decisive Game 7, Minnesota overcame a 20-point deficit to win, the largest Game 7 comeback in NBA playoffs history.
  • This marked the fifth straight year the defending champion was eliminated before the conference finals.
  • The Nuggets’ elimination confirmed there would be unique NBA champions across a six-year span for the first time since 1975-1980.

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference

Boston Celtics (#1) vs Indiana Pacers (#6)

Celtics won 4 – 0

Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Game 1133 (W – OT)128
Game 2126 (W)110
Game 3114 (W)111
Game 4105 (W)102

Highlights:

  • In Game 1, the Celtics made franchise history as three players (Tatum, Brown, and Holiday) each scored 25+ points in a Conference Finals game for the first time.
  • This was Boston’s third straight trip to the Conference Finals and sixth in eight seasons, showcasing their dynasty-level consistency.

Western Conference

Minnesota Timberwolves (#3) vs Dallas Mavericks (#5)

Mavericks won 4 – 1

Minnesota TimberwolvesDallas Mavericks
Game 1105108 (W)
Game 2108109 (W)
Game 3107116 (W)
Game 4105 (W)100
Game 5103124 (W)

Highlights:

  • In Game 4, Kyrie Irving’s close-out game perfection ended as he lost for the first time in 15 career playoff close-out opportunities.
  • Luka Dončić made history by becoming the first player to lead all players in points, rebounds, and assists entering the NBA Finals.
  • The Mavericks became just the second #5 seed in NBA history to make the Finals, joining the 2019-20 Miami Heat.

NBA Finals

Boston Celtics (#1, East) vs Dallas Mavericks (#5, West)

Celtics won 4 – 1

Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Game 1107 (W)89
Game 2105 (W)98
Game 39399 (W)
Game 4106 (W)99
Game 5106 (W)88

Highlights:

  • Boston’s playoff prize money totaled $12,059,435, the most a team had ever won from the postseason bonus money pool.
  • Boston secured their record-breaking 18th NBA Championship, surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers (17) for most in NBA history.
  • This marked the sixth different champion in six consecutive years, something that hadn’t happened since 1975-1980.
  • Jaylen Brown was named Finals MVP after averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists.
  • Luka Dončić recorded the first triple-double in Dallas franchise Finals history in Game 2 (32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists).
  • Jayson Tatum became one of the few players to win both an NBA championship and Olympic gold medal in the same year, joining Kyrie Irving (2016), LeBron James (2012), Scottie Pippen (1996, 1992), and Michael Jordan (1992).

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