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NBA playoffs 2024: Conference semifinals news, schedule, scores and highlights

Here's what you need to know about the conference semifinals, including the latest scores, news and schedules.

Angels beat Rangers 9-3 to give Ron Washington win in his 1st game as visiting manager in Texas

— Zach Neto and Taylor Ward homered, Tyler Anderson pitched two-hit ball over seven innings and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Rangers 9-3 on Friday night to give Ron Washington a victory in his first game as a visiting manager in Texas.

Nootbaar, Winn hit 2-run homers, Cardinals drop Red Sox below .500 with 10-6 win

— Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn hit two-run homers, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat Boston 10-6 on Friday night to drop the Red Sox below .500 for the first time since the season’s opening week.

Hotel fire alarm a good omen as Panthers oust B's

"In my career, the number of times that something got messed up at the hotel ... it's like a guaranteed win," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after a 2-1 victory over Boston earned Florida a spot in the Eastern Conference finals.

Matt Waldron strikes out 10 as Padres silence Braves' bats in 3-1 win

— Matt Waldron struck out a career-high 10 and the San Diego Padres bounced back after being swept in their last series, beating the Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Friday night.

The NBA playoffs' conference semifinals roll on. One team has advanced, but there's still plenty at stake in the other matchups. 

The No. 1 seed Boston Celtics are on their way to the Eastern Conference finals after eliminating the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. They now await the winners of the other East series between the No. 2 seed New York Knicks and the No. 6 seed Indiana Pacers.

In the West, the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder take on the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks. The other West clash pits the No. 2 seed and defending NBA Finals champion Denver Nuggets against the No. 3 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.

Each team must win their best-of-7 series to advance. All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-7, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary). 

We'll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2024 NBA Finals, which tip off on June 6 on ABC and the ESPN app.

MORE: First-round news and scores |   Offseason guides

EASTERN CONFERENCE

  

Boston Celtics (1) eliminate the Cleveland Cavaliers (4), 4-1

Game 1: Celtics 120, Cavaliers 95 Game 2: Cavaliers 118, Celtics 94 Game 3: Celtics 106, Cavaliers 93 Game 4: Celtics 109, Cavaliers 102 Game 5: Celtics 113, Cavaliers 98 

Sources: Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis expected out for start of ECF Celtics fend off Cavs, return to Eastern Conference finals Bickerstaff's Cavs future in question after Game 5 loss; Mitchell, too Sources: Celtics assistant Charles Lee to become Hornets coach Marks: What the eliminated Cavaliers need to do this offseason

 

New York Knicks (2) tied with the Indiana Pacers (6), 3-3

Game 1: Knicks 121, Pacers 117 Game 2: Knicks 130, Pacers 121 Game 3: Pacers 111, Knicks 106 Game 4: Pacers 121, Knicks 89 Game 5: Knicks 121, Pacers 91 Game 6: Pacers 116, Knicks 103 Game 7: Sunday, May 19 at New York (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Pacers force Game 7 after blowout win over Knicks Borden: Behind the 'Go NY Go' song pumping up the Knicks' Garden Kweon: The will and weariness of Thibodeau and his Knicks squad Windhorst: The growing Tyrese Haliburton-Jalen Brunson rivalry

WESTERN CONFERENCE

  

Dallas Mavericks (5) lead the Oklahoma City Thunder (1), 3-2

Game 1: Thunder 117, Mavericks 95 Game 2: Mavericks 119, Thunder 110 Game 3: Mavericks 105, Thunder 101 Game 4: Thunder 100, Mavericks 96 Game 5: Mavericks 104, Thunder 92 Game 6: Saturday, May 18 at Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, May 20 at Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

Luka Doncic focuses on game, not refs, as Mavs take Game 5 Lowe: How Mavericks' surprisingly good defense is befuddling the Thunder MacMahon: Kyrie is still standing in a postseason dominated by young stars Shelburne: How Chet Holmgren became a perfect fit in OKC's budding dynasty Pelton: Why OKC's championship window is wide open for years to come

 

Denver Nuggets (2) tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves (3), 3-3

Game 1: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 99 Game 2: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 80 Game 3: Nuggets 117, Timberwolves 90 Game 4: Nuggets 115, Timberwolves 107 Game 5: Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 97 Game 6: Timberwolves 115, Nuggets 70 Game 7: Sunday, May 19 at Denver (8 p.m. ET, TNT)

Timberwolves hammer Nuggets by 45 to set up Game 7 Nuggets' Jamal Murray hopeful elbow feels better by Game 7 McMenamin/Williams: The 'wild' chess match between Nuggets, Timberwolves Lopez: How Nickeil Alexander-Walker became an X-factor for the Timberwolves Holmes: The forgotten Serbian legend who paved the way for Jokic and other stars