NBA Playoffs 2022: everything you need to know about the first round

The NBA playoffs are already underway, and it’s shaping up to be an open race for the 2022 title.

The Phoenix Suns had the best regular season record in the league: eight games ahead of the second-place Memphis Grizzlies. Devin Booker, Chris-Paul and the defending Western Conference champions are on a mission to redeem themselves after last season’s six-game Finals loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Many Western contenders stand in the way of the Suns, including Ja Morant and the Grizzlies, the favorite for MVP Nikola Jockic and the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors, who are back in the playoffs for the first time since reaching the Finals in 2019.

In the East, the defending champion Bucks are the third seed in a cramped conference: The top-seeded Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers finished separated by just two games in the final regular-season standings.

And the Brooklyn Nets, who needed the play-in tournament to clinch the seventh seed, have the star power to rock the postseason.

Here’s all the info you need for each first-round matchup, including schedules, news and series-by-series analysis.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Game 1: Heat 115, Hawks 91
Game 2: Atlanta vs. Miami | Tuesday, April 19 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Miami vs. Atlanta | Friday April 22 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN Sports)
Game 4: Miami vs. Atlanta | Sunday, April 24 (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
5* game: Atlanta vs. Miami | Tuesday April 26 (TBD)
Set 6*: Miami vs. Atlanta | Thursday April 28 (TBD)
Game 7*: Atlanta vs. Miami | Saturday April 20 (TBD, TNT)

*if necessary

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Miami showed its credentials as number one in the East and comfortably beat Atlanta 115-91. Great production from Robinson (27, 8/9 3-pointers) and Butler (21). Gallinari added 17 on the visit.

Game 1: Celtics 115, Nets 114
Game 2: Brooklyn vs. Boston | Wednesday, April 20 (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: boston vs. Brooklyn | Saturday April 23 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Sports)
Game 4: boston vs. Brooklyn | Mon., April 25 (TBD)
5* game: Brooklyn vs. Boston | Wednesday April 27 (TBD)
Set 6*: boston vs. Brooklyn | Friday April 29 (TBD)
Game 7*: Brooklyn vs. Boston | Sunday May 1 (TBD)

*if necessary

Celtics, the first obstacle for Irving and Durant on their way to the title

Why Kyrie Irving could be the Nets’ X factor in the playoffs

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Tatum had the last ball and scored the two points to give his team the victory by 115 to 114. The forward was the top scorer with 31 points and Al Horford added a double-double. In Brooklyn, Irving excelled at 39.

Game 1: Bucks 93, Bulls 86
Game 2: Chicago vs. Milwaukee | Wednesday, April 20 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Milwaukee vs. Chicago | Friday April 22 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN3)
Game 4: Milwaukee vs. Chicago | Sunday April 24 (1 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN3)
5* game: Chicago vs. Milwaukee | Wednesday April 27 (TBD)
Set 6*: Milwaukee vs. Chicago | Friday April 29 (TBD)
Game 7*: Chicago vs. Milwaukee | Sunday May 1 (TBD)

*if necessary

Giannis and the Bucks on a mission to beat the Bulls fast

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Milwaukee beat Chicago 93-86 and made it 1-0 in the playoff series. Antetokounmpo appears with 27 points and 16 rebounds, well accompanied by López with 18 points. In the visit, Vucevic added 24 plus 17 recoveries.

Game 1: 76ers 131, Raptors 111
Game 2: 76ers 112, Raptors 97
Game 3: Philadelphia vs. Toronto | Wednesday, April 20 (8 pm ET, NBATV)
Game 4: Philadelphia vs. Toronto | Saturday, April 23 (2 p.m. ET, TNT)
5* game: Toronto vs. Philadelphia | Mon April 25 (TBD)
Set 6*: Philadelphia vs. Toronto | Thursday April 28 (TBD)
Game 7*: Toronto vs. Philadelphia | Saturday April 30 (TBD, TNT)

*if necessary

• Tyrese Maxey looks like a veteran and leads the Sixers to victory

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With 31 points and 11 rebounds from the Cameroonian, Philadelphia took a 2-0 lead in the series. In addition, Maxey made a key contribution of 23 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. In Toronto, OG Anunoby was the leading scorer with 26.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Game 1: Suns 110, Pelicans 99
Game 2: New Orleans vs. phoenix | Tuesday, April 19 (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: phoenix vs. New Orleans | Friday April 22 (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Sports)
Game 4: phoenix vs. New Orleans | Sunday, April 24 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
5* game: New Orleans vs. phoenix | Tuesday April 26 (TBD)
Set 6*: phoenix vs. New Orleans | Thursday April 28 (TBD)
Game 7*: New Orleans vs. phoenix | Saturday April 30 (TBD, TNT)

*if necessary

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The experienced point guard had 30 points and 10 assists in Phoenix’s 110-99 win over the Pelicans (1-0 series). In the winner, Booker scored 25 while Valanciunas added 18 plus 25 rebounds in New Orleans.

Game 1: Timberwolves 130, Grizlies 117
Game 2: Minnesotavs. memphis | Tuesday, April 19 (8:30 p.m. ET, NBATV)
Game 3: Memphis vs. Minnesota | Thursday, April 21 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4: Memphis vs. Minnesota | Saturday April 23 (10 p.m. ET, ESPN Sports)
5* game: Minnesotavs. memphis | Tue., April 26 (TBD)
Set 6*: Memphis vs. Minnesota | Friday April 29 (TBD)
Game 7*: Minnesotavs. memphis | Sunday May 1 (TBD)

*if necessary

• Anthony Edwards dazzles with 36 points in his first playoffs

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The Minnesota cast outscored the Grizzlies 130-117 to take a 1-0 lead in the NBA Playoffs series. Great job from Edwards (36) and Towns (29) for the win. Ja Morant finished with 32 points.

Game 1: Warriors 123, Nuggets 107
Game 2: Warriors 126, Nuggets 106
Game 3: Golden State vs. Denver | Thursday, April 21 (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4: Golden State vs. Denver | Sunday April 24 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN3)
5* game: Denver vs. Golden State | Wednesday April 27 (TBD)
Set 6*: Golden State vs. Denver | Friday April 29 (TBD)
Game 7*: Denver vs. Golden State | Sunday May 1 (TBD)

*if necessary

• Warriors give a blow of authority against Nuggets

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The point guard closed his magical night with 34 points jumping off the bench, while Poole confirmed his great moment and contributed 29 points and 8 assists in the 126-106 victory. Facu Campazzo entered in the last quarter and added 2 rebounds and 1 assist.

Game 1: Jazz 99, Mavericks 93
Game 2: Mavericks 110, Jazz 104
Game 3: Dallas vs. Utah | Thursday, April 21 (9 p.m. ET, NBATV)
Game 4: Dallas vs. Utah | Saturday, April 23 (4:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
5* game: Utah vs. Dallas | Monday April 25 (TBD)
Set 6*: Dallas vs. Utah | Thursday April 28 (TBD)
Game 7*: Utah vs. Dallas | Saturday, April 30 (TBD, TNT)

*if necessary

• Jazz take the lead in Game 1 of their series against the Mavs

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Dallas made up for the absence of its best man, Luka Doncic, and a physically more dominant Utah lineup with a strategy based on speed and good shooting behind the 3-point line to tie the series at 1-1.