Four teams are left in the NBA playoffs and the picture for the conference finals is now set.
The Phoenix Suns' bid for a first NBA Finals appearance since 1993 got off to the perfect start on Sunday, with a 120-114 win at home against the LA Clippers, courtesy of Devin Booker's triple-double.
The two-time All-Star finished with 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists as the Suns overcame the absence of star point guard Chris Paul to take a one-game lead in the series.
"I don't understand why everyone's acting surprised at this point," Suns forward Jae Crowder told ESPN about his teammate. "This is his first time on this stage but he's capable. He's more than capable. He's more than ready. He prepares like no other."
Paul, who has been instrumental during the Suns' playoff run this season, missed the series opener because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
In their first-ever appearance in the Western Conference Finals, meanwhile, the Clippers were without star forward Kawhi Leonard. The two-time NBA champion has now missed three consecutive games because of a knee injury and his status ahead of Game 2 on Tuesday remains uncertain.
In the Eastern Conference, meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks reached their first conference finals in six years and only the second in half a century—the franchise was based in St. Louis in 1961—by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 103-96 in Game 7 of their playoff series on Sunday.
Atlanta became only the third team since the current playoff format was introduced in 1984 to make the conference finals, despite having a losing record at the All-Star break—the Hawks were 16-20 in February.
The Milwaukee Bucks also needed seven games to prevail in their conference semifinal matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. Milwaukee erased a 2-0 deficit earlier in the series to take Game 7, 115-111 in overtime, on Saturday.
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals tips off on Wednesday in Milwaukee and here's all you need to know to keep up with the action.
How to watch the NBA Conference Finals on TV
Coverage of the conference finals is split across TNT and ESPN, with the former broadcasting every game of the Eastern Conference Finals and the latter carrying the entirety of the Western Conference Finals.
How to watch the NBA Conference Finals online
The conference finals can be streamed live on WatchESPN and WatchTNT, as well as via fuboTV and SlingTV.
Eastern Conference Finals schedule
All times ET
- Game 1—Wednesday, June 23: Atlanta Hawks @ Milwaukee Bucks—8:30 p.m., TNT
- Game 2—Friday, June 25: Atlanta Hawks @ Milwaukee Bucks—8:30 p.m., TNT
- Game 3—Sunday, June 27: Milwaukee Bucks @ Atlanta Hawks—8:30 p.m., TNT
- Game 4—Tuesday, June 29: Milwaukee Bucks @ Atlanta Hawks—8:30 p.m., TNT
- Game 5—Thursday, July 1: Atlanta Hawks @ Milwaukee Bucks—8:30 p.m., TNT*
- Game 6—Saturday, July 3: Milwaukee Bucks @ Atlanta Hawks—8:30 p.m., TNT*
- Game 7—Monday, July 5: Atlanta Hawks @ Milwaukee Bucks—8:30 p.m., TNT*
*If necessary
Western Conference Finals schedule
All times ET
- Game 1—Sunday, June 20: Phoenix Suns 120 vs. LA Clippers 114
- Game 2—Tuesday, June 22: LA Clippers @ Phoenix Suns—9 p.m., ESPN
- Game 3—Thursday, June 24: Phoenix Suns @ LA Clippers—9 p.m., ESPN
- Game 4—Saturday, June 26: Phoenix Suns @ LA Clippers—9 p.m., ESPN
- Game 5—Monday, June 28: LA Clippers @ Phoenix Suns—9 p.m., ESPN*
- Game 6—Wednesday, June 30: Phoenix Suns @ LA Clippers—9 p.m., ESPN*
- Game 7—Friday, July 2: LA Clippers @ Phoenix Suns—9 p.m., ESPN*
*If necessary
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he was a news and business reporter at International Business Times UK. Dan has also written for The Guardian and The Observer.
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