I don’t have live access to the latest schedules right this moment, but I can share the most recent publicly available guidance and how to verify quickly.
Direct answer
- The first round of the NBA playoffs typically begins in mid-to-late April, with games running through late April or early May depending on scheduling and seeding. For the exact start date this year, please check the official NBA Playoffs schedule page or your local sports broadcaster’s listings.
How to find the latest start date quickly
- NBA official site: Look for the “Playoffs” section and the current year’s bracket and schedule.
- Major sports networks: ESPN, TNT, or Sports Illustrated typically publish the official Game 1 start date and times.
- Local listings: Your regional broadcasters (e.g., Bally Sports regional networks or local affiliates) will have the precise first-round game dates for your area.
Why this matters
- Start dates can shift due to regular-season conclusions, tiebreakers, and broadcast decisions, so the precise date changes from year to year.
If you’d like, I can check a couple of reliable sources for the exact date and provide a concise citation-backed update.
Sources
The full schedule for the first round of the NBA playoffs.
www.si.comThe 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament will take place on April 16-19. The first round of the NBA playoffs starts on April 20. Game 1 of the NBA Finals will be on June 6.
www.nba.comThe NBA announced its schedule for the opening round of the 2025 postseason Wednesday.The eighth seed in both the East and West is still up for grabs. The winner of the Sacramento Kings versus the Dallas Mavericks will play the Memphis Grizzlies in a single-elimination game for the final spot in the West; the winner of the Miami Heat versus the Chicago Bulls will face the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 8 slot in the East.Here are the schedules for all eight series:Eastern ConferenceCleveland...
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www.si.comThe NBA Playoff Schedule page provides a status of each playoff series including past scores, future game dates, and probabilities of game and series outcomes.
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www.nba.comThe 2026 NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 18 — but exact dates depend on regular-season conclusion, tiebreakers, and broadcast scheduling. Here’s everything confirmed and what to watch for.
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