NBA Playoffs 2018: Schedule and Viewing Guide

The 2018 NBA Playoffs get underway this afternoon. Below is the series schedule for each of the first round matchups.

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 8 Washington Wizards

Series Schedule

Game 1: Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors: April 14 at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 2: Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors: April 17 at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV

Game 3: Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards: April 20 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Game 4: Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards: April 22 at 6 p.m. ET on TNT

*Game 5: Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors: April 25 at TBD

*Game 6: Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards: April 27 at TBD

*Game 7: Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors: April 29 at TBD

 

No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Milwaukee Bucks

Series Schedule

Game 1: Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics: April 15 at 1 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 2: Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics: April 17 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 3: Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks: April 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 4: Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks: April 22 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC

*Game 5: Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics: April 24 at TBD

*Game 6: Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks: April 26 at TBD

*Game 7: Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics: April 28 at TBD

 

No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Miami Heat

Series Schedule

Game 1: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers: April 14 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 2: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers: April 16 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 3: Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat: April 19 at 7 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 4: Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat: April 21 at 2:30 p.m. ET on TNT

*Game 5: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers: April 24 at TBD

*Game 6: Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat: April 26 at TBD

*Game 7: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers: April 28 at TBD

 

No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Indiana Pacers

 

Series Schedule

Game 1: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers: April 15 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC

Game 2: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers: April 18 at 7 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 3: Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers: April 20 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 4: Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers: April 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT

*Game 5: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers: April 25 at TBD

*Game 6: Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers: April 27 at TBD

*Game 7: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers  April 29 at TBD

 

Western Conference

No. 1 Houston Rockets vs. No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves

 

Series Schedule

Game 1: Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets: April 15 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 2: Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets: April 18 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 3: Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves: April 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 4: Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves: April 23 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT

*Game 5: Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets: April 25 at TBD

*Game 6: Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves: April 27 at TBD

*Game 7: Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets: April 29 at TBD

 

No. 2 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs

 

Series Schedule

Game 1: San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors: April 14 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC

Game 2: San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors: April 16 at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 3: Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs: April 19 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 4: Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs: April 22 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC

*Game 5: San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors: April 24 at TBD

*Game 6: Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs: April 26 at TBD

*Game 7: San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors: April 28 at TBD

 

No. 3 Portland Trail Blazers vs. No. 6 New Orleans Pelicans

 

Series Schedule

Game 1: New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers: April 14 at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 2: New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers: April 17 at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 3: Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans: April 19 at 9 p.m. ET on NBA TV

Game 4: Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans: April 21 at 5 p.m. ET on TNT

*Game 5: New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers: April 24 at TBD

*Game 6: Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans: April 26 at TBD

*Game 7: New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers: April 28 at TBD

No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz

 

Series Schedule

Game 1: Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder: April 15 at 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 2: Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder: April 18 at 8 p.m. ET on NBA TV

Game 3: Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz: April 21 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz: April 23 at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT

*Game 5: Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder: April 25 at TBD

*Game 6: Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz: April 27 at TBD

*Game 7: Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder: April 29 at TBD

 

*If necessary

 

All games can be streamed on the WatchESPN and WatchTNT apps.

How Professional Athletes are Bringing Awareness to Mental Illness

“It was like my body was trying to say to me, You’re about to die. I ended up on the floor in the training room, lying on my back, trying to get enough air to breathe.”

In an article for The Players’ Tribune, Cleveland Cavalier and All-Pro forward Kevin Love describes his first time experiencing a panic attack. The experience led him setting up a meeting with a therapist, something that he never imagined himself doing. He goes on to write that talking about his personal struggles out loud helped him cope with his emotions. “In the short time I’ve been meeting with the therapist, I’ve seen the power of saying things out loud in a setting like that.”

Love says in the article that fellow NBA player, Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan’s comments about depression inspired him to speak out on the issue. DeRozan had recently opened up about his personal battles in an interview with The Toronto Star. In the interview DeRozan says, “I stay standoffish in a sense, in my own personal space, to be able to cope with whatever it is you’ve got to cope with.”

Love and DeRozan’s willingness to open up about their struggles helps to eliminate the stigma associated mental health. Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience mental illness per year, but many are hesitant to talk about it. Many choose not to address it out of fear of appearing weak. That is where the bravery of Love, DeRozan, and other athletes could lead to change.

Once Love and DeRozan’s stories went viral on social media and through other news outlets, a large number of people gained the courage to talk about mental issues that they were experiencing. Even other athletes such as Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. decided to share their struggles.

In an interview for a Wizards Tipoff podcast, Oubre Jr. said “A lot of people are coming out with things about mental health. I feel as if, yeah man I’ve suffered through a lot of things in my life. I’ve been through a lot of things.” The Washington forward is no stranger to traumatic events. His family was forced to relocate to Houston, TX, after their home in New Orleans was destroyed by the historically catastrophic Hurricane Katrina.

Professional athletes are looked up to as heroes, seemingly immune to the issues that regular people go through. By shedding light on their mental illnesses, others may be inspired to open up about the topic without feeling as awkward and embarrassed. With mood disorders being the third most common cause of hospitalizations in the United States, it is important now more than ever to bring awareness to the issue and end the stigma associated with it.

24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (775) 784-8090 or 1 (800) 273-8255

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1 (800) 273-8255

Blake Griffin Trade Ignites Twitter

The face of the Los Angeles Clippers for the past 7 years will have a new home.

The Clippers have traded 2009 first-overall pick Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons. The Clippers also included forward Brice Johnson in the trade.

In return the Clippers will receive: guard Avery Bradley, forward Tobias Harris, center Boban Marjanovic, a 2018 first round pick, and a 2019 second-round pick.

The trade is surprising considering the Clippers signed Griffin to a five-year, $171-million contract extension last July.

The deal naturally shocked NBA fans, and they went to Twitter to voice their thoughts.

Let me just say again, I cannot believe @blakegriffin32 has been dealt to the @DetroitPistons – that's just cold. #stilltrippin

— Liz Habib (@LizHabib) January 30, 2018

Think the pistons gave up way too much for Blake Griffin

— Drake Harris (@drizzygetbusy12) January 30, 2018

Welcome to Detroit bro @blakegriffin32

— Sean Don (@BigSean) January 30, 2018

No longer a foe, now a true friend of the crown. Welcome to Detroit @blakegriffin32!… https://t.co/sKC3VszMdw

— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) January 30, 2018

Griffin was among reacted to the trade by posting a GIF on his account shortly after the news broke.

pic.twitter.com/1uoIZ0Sxcc

— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin32) January 30, 2018

“We are serious about winning, and this is a major move to improve our team,” Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement. “Blake Griffin is one of the NBA’s elite players, and when you get an opportunity to add that kind of talent, you take it.”

Griffin is averaging 22.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists this season.