NBA Eastern Conference playoffs matchups: Is it the Cavaliers' to lose?
Game 1 schedules:
Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors, Saturday, 12:30 p.m., ESPN
Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls, Saturday, 7 p.m., ESPN
Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers, Sunday, 3 p.m., ABC
Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks, Sunday, 5:30 p.m., TNT
That settles that. On the 170th day of a 170-day NBA season, the Eastern Conference playoff matchups are finally set.
Brooklyn is in, and Indiana is out after the Nets defeated the Orlando Magic 101-88 and the Pacers lost to the Memphis Grizzlies. The eighth-seeded Nets will play the top-seeded Hawks in the first round. Had the Pacers won, they would've been in and Brooklyn out.
With their 91-85 home win against the Atlanta Hawks, the Chicago Bulls secured the third seed and will start the playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks. It's worth noting the Bulls could have lost, grabbed the fourth seed and avoided a potential conference semifinals matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Chicago's victory made the Toronto Raptors the fourth seed, and Toronto will open up the first round at home against the Washington Wizards. The Raptors swept the three-game season series.
The Cavaliers go in as the No. 2 seed and will face the Boston Celtics, which beat the Cavs in back to back games over the weekend just to get into the playoffs. Cleveland went 34-9 after starting the season 19-20.