NBA playoff schedule 2020: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels for every series
Sporting News
1 day ago
Despite all the uncertainty surrounding the 2019-20 season, the NBA finds itself in a (somewhat) normal position: 16 teams fighting for a shot at the title.
The first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs is set to begin Aug. 17 inside the league's "bubble" at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. The postseason should end no later than Oct. 13, as long as teams can avoid a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak within the campus. The environment has proven to be safe thus far, so there is optimism a champion will be crowned in the near future.
Below you'll find everything to know about watching the 2020 NBA playoffs, including postseason matchups and series-by-series TV schedules.
MORE: Watch select NBA playoff games live with fuboTV (7-day trial)
NBA playoff bracket 2020
The 2020 NBA playoffs will follow the typical format with full best-of-seven series all the way through the NBA Finals.
© Provided by Sporting News
nba-playoff-bracket-081720-ftr
How to watch NBA playoff games
- TV: ESPN, ABC, TNT, NBA TV
- Stream: Watch ESPN | Watch TNT | fuboTV (free trial)
- Live scores: SN Scoreboard
The 2020 NBA playoffs broadcasts will once again be split between ESPN and TNT. First- and second-round games are scattered across both networks, including several primetime matchups on ABC.
ESPN owns exclusive broadcast rights to the Eastern Conference finals, and TNT covers the Western Conference finals. Every game during the NBA Finals will be shown exclusively on ABC.
The primary outlets for live-streaming 2020 NBA playoff games are Watch ESPN and Watch TNT, both available on desktop and by downloading the mobile app. You can also stream games live by signing up for fuboTV, which offers a free seven-day trial.
NBA playoffs schedule, results
Eastern Conference second round results
(1) Bucks vs. (5) Heat
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Aug. 31 | Heat 115, Bucks 104 (Miami leads 1-0) | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Sept. 2 | Game 2 | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 4 | Game 3 | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 6 | Game 4 | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 8 | Game 5* | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 10 | Game 6* | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 12 | Game 7* | TBD | TBD |
*if necessary
(2) Raptors vs. (3) Celtics
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Aug. 30 | Celtics 112, Raptors 94 (Boston leads 1-0) | 1 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sept. 1 | Game 2 | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 3 | Game 3 | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 5 | Game 4 | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 7 | Game 5* | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 9 | Game 6* | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 11 | Game 7* | TBD | TBD |
*if necessary
Eastern Conference first round results
(1) Bucks vs. (8) Magic
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Aug. 18 | Magic 122, Bucks 110 (Orlando leads 1-0) | 1:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 20 | Bucks 111, Magic 96 (Series tied 1-1) | 6 p.m. | ESPN |
| Aug. 22 | Bucks 121, Magic 107 (Milwaukee leads 2-1) | 1 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 24 | Bucks 121, Magic 106 (Milwaukee leads 3-1) | 1:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Aug. 29 | Bucks 118, 104 (Milwaukee wins series 4-1) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
(2) Raptors vs. (7) Nets
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Aug. 17 | Raptors 134, Nets 110 (Toronto leads 1-0) | 4 p.m. | ESPN |
| Aug. 19 | Raptors 104, Nets 99 (Toronto leads 2-0) | 1:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Aug. 21 | Raptors 117, Nets 92 (Toronto leads 3-0) | 1:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Aug. 23 | Raptors 150, Nets 122 (Toronto wins series 4-0) | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
(3) Celtics vs. (6) 76ers
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Aug. 17 | Celtics 109, 76ers 101 (Boston leads 1-0) | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Aug. 19 | Celtics 128, 76ers 101 (Boston leads 2-0) | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 21 | Celtics 102, 76ers 94 (Boston leads 3-0) | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 23 | Celtics 110, 76ers 106 (Boston wins series 4-0) | 1 p.m. | ABC |
(4) Pacers vs. (5) Heat
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Aug. 18 | Heat 113, Pacers 101 (Miami leads 1-0) | 4 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 20 | Heat 109, Pacers 100 (Miami leads 2-0) | 1 p.m. | ESPN |
| Aug. 22 | Heat 124, Pacers 115 (Miami leads 3-0) | 3:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 24 | Heat 99, Pacers 87 (Miami wins series 4-0) | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
Western Conference first round results
(1) Lakers vs. (8) Trail Blazers
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Aug. 18 | Trail Blazers 100, Lakers 93 (Portland leads 1-0) | 9 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 20 | Lakers 111, Trail Blazers 88 (Series tied 1-1) | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
| Aug. 22 | Lakers 116, Trail Blazers 108 (Los Angeles leads 2-1) | 8:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Aug. 24 | Lakers 135, Trail Blazers 115 (Los Angeles leads 3-1) | 9 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 29 | Lakers 131, Trail Blazers 122 (Los Angeles wins series 4-1) | 9 p.m. | TNT |
(2) Clippers vs. (7) Mavericks
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Aug. 17 | Clippers 118, Mavericks 110 (Los Angeles leads 1-0) | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
| Aug. 19 | Mavericks 127, Clippers 114 (Series tied 1-1) | 9 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 21 | Clippers 130, Mavericks 122 (Los Angeles leads 2-1) | 9 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 23 | Mavericks 135, Clippers 133 (Series tied 2-2) | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Aug. 25 | Clippers 154, Mavericks 111 (Los Angeles leads 3-2) | 9 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 30 | Clippers 111, Mavericks 97 (Los Angeles wins series 4-2) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Jazz
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Aug. 17 | Nuggets 135, Jazz 125 (Denver leads 1-0) | 1:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Aug. 19 | Jazz 124, Nuggets 105 (Series tied 1-1) | 4 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 21 | Jazz 124, Nuggets 87 (Utah leads 2-1) | 4 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 23 | Jazz 129, Nuggets 127 (Utah leads 3-1) | 9 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 25 | Nuggets 117, Jazz 107 (Utah leads 3-2) | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 30 | Nuggets 119, Jazz 107 (Series tied 3-3) | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Sept. 1 | Game 7 | 8:30 p.m. | ABC |
(4) Rockets vs. (5) Thunder
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Aug. 18 | Rockets 123, Thunder 108 (Houston leads 1-0) | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 20 | Rockets 111, Thunder 98 (Houston leads 2-0) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Aug. 22 | Thunder 119, Rockets 107 (Houston leads 2-1) | 6 p.m. | ESPN |
| Aug. 24 | Thunder 117, Rockets 114 (Series tied 2-2) | 4 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 29 | Rockets 114, Thunder 80 (Houston leads 3-2) | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Aug. 31 | Thunder 104, Rockets 100 (Series tied 3-3) | 9 p.m. | TNT |
| Sept. 2 | Game 7 | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
More From:
-
NHL playoff games today: Full TV schedule to watch Monday's 2020 Stanley Cup playoff games
Sporting News
-
NHL playoff bracket 2020: Updated TV schedule, scores, results for the Stanley Cup playoffs
-
NHL playoff schedule 2020: Updated bracket, dates, times, TV channels for every Round 2 series
Sporting News
![image beacon](https://web.vortex.data.msn.com/collect/v1/t.gif?name=%27Ms.Webi.PageView%27&ver=%272.1%27&appId=%27JS%3AMSN%27&ext-app-env=%27prod%27&ext-javascript-libver=%274.0.0-beta-10%27&ext-user-localId=%27t%3A386497B46E006FD21708988C6F936EDF%27&*baseType=%27Ms.Content.PageView%27&*isJs=False&*title=%27%27&*isLoggedIn=False&*isManual=True&*serverImpressionGuid=%2763d05fa2-fc48-40ad-91d1-6a1a81c51255%27&-ver=%271.0%27&-impressionGuid=%2763d05fa2-fc48-40ad-91d1-6a1a81c51255%27&-pageName=%27article%27&-uri=%27http%253A%252F%252Fwww.msn.com%252Fen-xl%252Fsports%252Fnba%252Fnba-playoff-schedule-2020-full-bracket-dates-times-tv-channels-for-every-series%252Far-BB181Tu4%253Fli%253DBB12IW4j%27&-referrerUri=%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msn.com%2Fen-xl%27&-pageTags=%27{"pg.t"%3A"article"%2C"pg.p"%3A"prime"%2C"pg.c"%3A""%2C"ex"%3A""%2C"rid"%3A"63d05fa2fc4840ad91d16a1a81c51255"%2C"clid"%3A"386497B46E006FD21708988C6F936EDF"%2C"clidType"%3A"muid"%2C"di"%3A"19855"%2C"partner"%3A"Sporting%2BNews"%2C"publcat"%3A"DAZN%2BMedia%2BChannels%2BLimited"%2C"cvs"%3A"Browser"%2C"subcvs"%3A"sports"%2C"entityId"%3A"BB181Tu4"%2C"entitySrc"%3A"ar"%2C"provid"%3A"BBYGZJv"%2C"dpt"%3A"basketball_nba"%2C"sdpt"%3A""%2C"ar"%3A"0"%2C"dgk"%3A"downlevel.pc"%2C"imd"%3A"0"%2C"parentId"%3A"BB12IW4j"%2C"pgIdx"%3A""%2C"pgTot"%3A""%2C"anoncknm"%3A""%2C"afd"%3A""%2C"issso"%3A"0"%2C"aadState"%3A"0"}%27&-behavior=0&-market=%27en-xl%27){kind=small}