The NBA Playoffs have reached the highly anticipated Conference Semi-Final stage, and Australian basketball fans are in for a treat as ESPN brings a jam-packed schedule with eight live games in just six days.
The slate features highly anticipated showdowns, including the Lakers-Warriors and Celtics-76ers face-offs.
On Wednesday, May 3, ESPN commences the action-packed NBA Conference Semi Finals schedule with a live double-header. At 9:30am AEST, the Miami Heat take on the New York Knicks, with growing optimism surrounding the Knicks’ potential for a championship run this season.
The Heat’s Jimmy Butler has been instrumental in their playoff campaign, and Miami will rely on him once more to gain an advantage over New York. The Heat already surprised fans by winning 4-1 against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.
Following at 12pm AEST is the highly anticipated playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. Basketball enthusiasts can’t wait for the clash between superstars LeBron James and Steph Curry. Despite a shaky season, the Lakers have regained momentum, defeating the #2 ranked Memphis Grizzlies 4-2.
However, they now face the defending NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors, in their quest for glory. The Warriors fought a seven-game battle to defeat Sacramento in the first round.
On Thursday, May 4, the focus shifts to the Eastern Conference’s blockbuster showdown between the #2 ranked Boston Celtics and the #3 ranked Philadelphia 76ers. With the elimination of the Milwaukee Bucks, the Eastern Conference is wide open, and the winner of the Philadelphia-Boston series will likely be the favorite.
The Celtics, driven by last season’s NBA Finals defeat, will face the undefeated 76ers, who swept the Brooklyn Nets in their first-round series.
The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns will also compete in the Conference Semi Finals, with both Game Three and Game Four airing live on ESPN this week. The Nuggets topped the Western Conference during the regular season and are heavy favorites to win the West. However, the #4 ranked Phoenix Suns stand in their way.
Both teams had impressive first-round playoff series, with the Nuggets defeating the Timberwolves and the Suns eliminating the Clippers.
On Saturday, May 6, another massive NBA Conference Semi Final double-header takes place on ESPN, featuring Celtics-76ers at 9:40am AEST and Nuggets-Suns at 12pm AEST.
The complete schedule for this week’s NBA Conference Semi Final games can be found below:
- Wednesday, May 3: 9:30am AEST, Miami Heat vs New York Knicks, ESPN
- Wednesday, May 3: 12pm AEST, Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors, ESPN
- Thursday, May 4: 10am AEST, Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics, ESPN
- Friday, May 5: 11am AEST, Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors, ESPN
- Saturday, May 6: 9:40am AEST, Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers, ESPN
- Saturday, May 6: 12pm AEST, Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns, ESPN
- Sunday, May 7: 10:30am AEST, Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN
- Monday, May 8: 10am AEST, Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns, ESPN
