2017 NBA Playoffs: Key dates, schedule, matchups and news

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April 13, 2017, 7:37 PM ET
3 min read

— -- Are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors on a collision course for their third straight NBA Finals showdown, or is an upset brewing along the way? We've got you covered for each series all postseason long.

More: Schedule?| Matchups?| Vote: Who wins??| Odds | Upsets?? Insider

Key playoff dates

April 15: First round begins
May 1: Conference semifinals begin
May 16: Conference Finals begin (could move to May 14 or 15)
May 16: NBA draft lottery
June 1: NBA Finals begin

FIRST ROUND CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

(1) Boston Celtics vs.
(8) Chicago Bulls

  • BPI series projection: Celtics-Bulls
  • Pelton: Does Celtics-Bulls have upset potential?? Insider
  • Forsberg: Top-seeded Celtics hungry for more
  • Horford: Celtics have special group
  • Friedell:?Bulls know they're in for a challenge vs. the Celtics
  • Vote: Who will advance -- Celtics or Bulls?

    • (2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs.
    (7) Indiana Pacers

  • BPI series projection: Cavs-Pacers
  • Pelton: Can Indy even take LeBron to five games? Insider
  • Lue: Better days ahead after Cavs' rocky finish
  • Silver: Are Cavs underrated or overrated?
  • Pelton: Can LeBron, Cavs flip switch for playoffs? Insider
  • Levy: The MVP case for LeBron
  • Lowe: Paul George and the future of the Pacers
  • Engelmann: Myles Turner deserves Most Improved award
  • Vote:?Who will advance -- Cavaliers or Pacers?

    • (3) Toronto Raptors vs.
    (6) Milwaukee Bucks

  • BPI series projection: Raptors-Bucks
  • Pelton: Don't expect Greek Freak, Bucks to rattle Raptors? Insider
  • Stein's Most Improved Player: Greek Freak
  • Herring: The Raptors used the trade deadline to get ready for LeBron
  • Windhorst: DeRozan takes on Kobe mantle
  • Vote: Who will advance -- Raptors or Bucks?

    • (4) Washington Wizards vs.
    (5) Atlanta Hawks

  • BPI series projection: Wizards-Hawks
  • Pelton: Hawks hold edge in experience, but will it matter?? Insider
  • Windhorst: Is it finally John Wall's time?
  • Haberstroh: The Wizards' alternate reality
  • Wagner: Bradley Beal finally the player he was meant to be
  • Spears: Dwight Howard sets the record straight
  • Vote: Who will advance -- Wizards or Hawks?

    • (1) Golden State Warriors vs.
    (8) Portland Trail Blazers

  • BPI series projections: Warriors-Blazers
  • 5 on 5: Key questions in Warriors-Blazers matchup? Insider
  • Pelton: Historic upset not in the cards for Blazers? Insider
  • Stein's Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green
  • Pelton: Will Kevin Durant be the same player? Insider
  • Strauss: Stephen Curry-Kevin Durant partnership faces postseason test
  • Vote: Who will advance -- Warriors or Blazers?

    • (2) San Antonio Spurs vs.
    (7) Memphis Grizzlies

  • BPI series projection: Spurs-Grizzlies
  • Pelton: Upset-minded Grizz have proven they can hang with Spurs? Insider
  • Paine: The MVP case for Kawhi Leonard
  • Lowe: The 2017 Marc Gasol All-Stars
  • Vote: Who will advance -- Spurs or Grizzlies?

    • (3) Houston Rockets vs.
    (6) Oklahoma City Thunder

  • BPI series projection: Rockets-Thunder
  • Pelton: Can Westbrook outduel Harden, score upset?? Insider
  • The leader inside OKC's Russell Westbrook
  • Stein's MVP: Russell Westbrook
  • Young: Westbrook's epic tale of triple-double triumph
  • Watkins:?Rockets finish regular season smoothly, now get ready for playoffs
  • Herring: The MVP case for James Harden
  • Stein's Coach of the Year: Mike D'Antoni
  • Keown: The driving force of Russell Westbrook
  • Vote: Who will advance -- Rockets or Thunder?

    • (4) LA Clippers vs.
    (5) Utah Jazz

  • BPI series projection: Clippers-Jazz
  • Pelton: Home-court huge for Clippers vs. Jazz? Insider
  • MacMahon: The making of Rudy Gobert
  • Haberstroh: DeAndre Jordan's big Whoop
  • Vote: Who will advance -- Clippers or Jazz?