The 2020 NBA Playoffs begin on Monday, August 17th with the first round featuring 16 teams, like we’re used to seeing. The NBA season restart went smoothly in the bubble in Orlando with 22 teams competing to make it into the postseason. The bubble wraps up this coming weekend, with the first round of the playoffs starting on August 17th.
At the top of the bracket are the No. 1 seeds — the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. Both are the respective favorites to make it out of each conference and into the NBA Finals. We know 15 of the 16 playoff teams. The 8 seed in the West is on track to be determined with a play-in series this Saturday or Sunday.
Below is a look at the updated NBA Playoff bracket for 2020. Any team with an asterisk (*) could still move over the remaining games of the seeding schedule. The game dates and times will be announced following the close of the potential play-in series this weekend.
Wed update: The 76ers lost to the Raptors and are now locked into the No. 6 seed, and a first round matchup with the Celtics.
Wed update: The Thunder and Rockets are locked into the 4-5 seeds in the West after the Sixers win.
Wed update: The Thunder and Clippers pick up wins and the only West matchup not locked is 1-8.
Eastern Conference Bracket
(1) Milwaukee Bucks(8) Orlando Magic
(2) Toronto Raptors
(7) Brooklyn Nets
(3) Boston Celtics
(6) Philadelphia 76ers
(4) Miami Heat
(5) Indiana Pacers
Western Conference Bracket
(1) Los Angeles Lakers(8) Portland Trail Blazers/Phoenix Suns/Memphis Grizzlies*
(2) Los Angeles Clippers
(7) Dallas Mavericks
(3) Denver Nuggets
(6) Utah Jazz
(4) Houston Rockets
(5) Oklahoma City Thunder