NBA Playoffs 2019 Preview: Schedule, Brackets, Game Times

With the NBA regular season finally coming to an end, the long-awaited playoffs can finally begin.

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It took until the final game of the season for the bracket to be determined, with the Detroit Pistons claiming the final spot in the East. The Pistons are a team stuck in the rebuilding process but have made progress with another return to the postseason. They are led by veteran and former All-Star power forward Blake Griffin and the premier big man himself, Andre Drummond.

Detroit may not be going too far in the playoffs: their first-round opponent are the No. 1-seed Milwaukee Bucks, led by MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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With Antetokounmpo looking to dominate from down-low and engage in the post, this series looks to start and end with who will be able to control the paint.

The kickoff of the Western Conference features the Golden State Warriors, who have won the last two championships back to back and look to begin another dominant postseason run as they face off against Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers are a well-rounded team, not really depending on any one star but they run their offense through sixth-man Lou Williams.

The Warriors look to dominate this matchup, leading with five healthy All-Stars and the best record in the West once again. Led by Kevin Durant and Steph Curry, this one might be over before it gets started.

This postseason gives us the chance to see some of our favorite rivalries in the NBA. In the West, we have Oklahoma City Thunder facing off against the Portland Trial Blazers. Russell Westbrook from OKC has been known for butting heads with other players for a while and Damian Lillard is no different. Westbrook has made comments about Lillard in the past, voicing his opinion that his teammate and current MVP candidate Paul George should have made the All – Star team before he did. He even got into a bit of trash talk with Lillard before and said to him, “I’ve been busting your a— for years.” We look forward to seeing a good grudge match between these two, and a series with a lot of emotion.

For now, the rest of the playoff spots have been decided and we’re locked in for an incredible end to the season.

First-round NBA playoff series schedule:

Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Detroit Pistons (8)

Game 1: Pistons at Bucks, Sunday, April 14 7pm
Game 2: Pistons at Bucks, Wednesday, April 17, 8 p.m.
Game 3: Bucks at Pistons, Saturday, April 20, 8 p.m.
Game 4: Bucks at Pistons, Monday, April 22, 8 p.m.

Toronto Raptors (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)

Game 1: Magic at Raptors, Saturday, April 13, 5 p.m.
Game 2: Magic at Raptors, Tuesday, April 16, 8 p.m.
Game 3: Raptors at Magic, Friday, April 19, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Raptors at Magic, Sunday, April 21, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)

Game 1: Nets at 76ers, Saturday, April 13, 2:30 p.m.
Game 2: Nets at 76ers, Monday, April 15, 8 p.m.
Game 3: 76ers at Nets, Thursday, April 18, 8 p.m.
Game 4: 76ers at Nets, Saturday, April 20, 3 p.m.

Boston Celtics (4) vs. Indiana Pacers (5)

Game 1: Pacers at Celtics, Sunday, April 14, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Pacers at Celtics, Wednesday, April 17, 7 p.m.
Game 3: Celtics at Pacers, Friday, April 19, 8:30 p.m.
Game 4: Celtics at Pacers, Sunday, April 21, 1 p.m.

Western Conference:
Golden State Warriors (1) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (8)

Game 1: Clippers at Warriors, Saturday, April 13, 8 p.m.
Game 2: Clippers at Warriors, Monday, April 15, 10:30 p.m.
Game 3: Warriors at Clippers, Thursday, April 18, 10:30 p.m.
Game 4: Warriors at Clippers, Sunday, April 21, 3:30 p.m.

Denver Nuggets (2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7)

Game 1: Spurs at Nuggets, Saturday, April 13, 10:30 p.m.
Game 2: Spurs at Nuggets, Tuesday, April 16, 9 p.m.
Game 3: Nuggets at Spurs, Thursday, April 18, 9 p.m.
Game 4: Nuggets at Spurs, Saturday, April 20, 5:30 p.m.

Portland Trail Blazers (3) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (6)

Game 1: Thunder at Trail Blazers, Sunday, April 14, 3:30 p.m.
Game 2: Thunder at Trail Blazers, Tuesday, April 16, 10:30 p.m.
Game 3: Trail Blazers at Thunder, Friday, April 19, 9:30 p.m.
Game 4: Trail Blazers at Thunder, Sunday, April 21, 9:30 p.m.

Houston Rockets (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5) 

Game 1: Jazz at Rockets, Sunday, April 14, 9:30 p.m.
Game 2: Jazz at Rockets, Wednesday, April 17, 9:30 p.m.
Game 3: Rockets at Jazz, Saturday, April 20, 10:30 p.m.
Game 4: Rockets at Jazz, Monday, April 22, 10:30 p.m.

Article by Elijah Fulton

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