How to Watch the NBA Playoffs on DISH

The First Round of the NBA Playoffs had it all. From dominant sweeps to nail-biting Game 7s, blowouts to buzzer-beaters, the full spectrum of basketball was on display in the eight series. Now we’re onto the Conference Semifinals, which features a mix of battle-tested former champions and young teams on the rise. Here’s a preview of every series, plus how to watch the remainder of the NBA Playoffs with DISH.

Here’s a look at the full Conference Semifinals schedule, along with betting odds and players to watch. To watch the most NBA Playoff games with DISH, subscribe to America's Top 120 to watch games on TNT (channel 138), ESPN (channel 140), and ABC (check your local guide).

 

Eastern Conference Semifinals

 (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (4) Indiana Pacers

• Game 1: Pacers 121, Cavaliers 112

• Game 2: Pacers 120, Cavaliers 119

• Game 3: Cavaliers 126, Pacers 104

• Game 4: Pacers 129, Cavaliers 109

• Game 5: Pacers 114, Cavaliers 103

Pacers win 4-1

In their four-game sweep of the Heat, the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t have to break a sweat: According to ESPN, their 122-point differential over the four games was the largest in NBA history. But after their Game 1 home loss to the Pacers, it’s fair to wonder if their opening series might have been a little too easy. With All-Star guard Darius Garland out of the Cavs’ lineup for a third straight game, Indiana led for most of the game, with six players finishing in double figures. Tyrese Haliburton was the star of the show, as he paced Indiana with 22 points and 13 assists. The Pacers are a deep and fearless team, and they’ve already snatched home court advantage away from Cleveland. We wouldn’t be surprised if this goes the distance, or if Indiana comes out on top.

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) New York Knicks

• Game 1: Knicks 108, Celtics 105 (OT)

• Game 2: Knicks 91, Celtics 90

• Game 3: Celtics 115, Knicks 93

• Game 4: Knicks 121, Celtics 113

• Game 5: Celtics 127, Knicks 102

• Game 6: Celtics at Knicks (Fri. May 16, 8 ET, ESPN)

• Game 7: Knicks at Celtics (Mon. May 19, 8 ET, TNT)*

One might assume that these Atlantic Division rivals have a rich playoff history. Surprisingly, this is just the third playoff series between the two teams since 1990, and the first since the Knicks knocked off the Celtics in six games in the First Round of the 2013 playoffs. New York will try to emulate that squad, as they face a tall order knocking off the defending champions, who beat them all four times they met in the regular season. A lot of that was thanks to the stifling defense Jrue Holiday played on Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson, and with an injured Holiday sitting out the final three games of the First Round series against Orlando, Brunson – who scored 30 or more five times in their opening round series against the Pistons – could be primed to explode. But the Celtics have plenty of scoring options, so the Knicks will need to find some answers at the defensive end of the court if they want to survive and advance.

 

Western Conference Semifinals

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (4) Denver Nuggets

• Game 1: Nuggets 121, Thunder 119

• Game 2: Thunder 149, Nuggets 106

• Game 3: Nuggets 113, Thunder 104 (OT)

• Game 4: Thunder 92, Nuggets 87

• Game 5: Thunder 112, Nuggets 105

• Game 6: Thunder at Nuggets (Thu. May 15, 8:30 ET, ESPN)

• Game 7: Nuggets at Thunder (Sun. May 18, TBD, TBD)*

The Nuggets-Clippers series came down to Game 7, but Denver’s dominant performance in the close-out game gives them momentum heading into their series against the top team in the league. Their blowout against the Clippers wasn’t just notable for the scoreline, but how the Nuggets won: With meaningful contributions from role players like Michael Porter Jr. and Russell Westbrook, the Nuggets became the first team in NBA history to get 15+ points from six different players in a Game 7. They’ll need to keep it up to get past the Thunder, who are the deepest team in the NBA. These teams split their regular season series, and each team has an MVP front-runner - Nikola Jokić for the Nuggets and presumptive MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the Thunder. That alone makes this a must-watch series.

 

(6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (7) Golden State Warriors

• Game 1: Warriors 99, Wolves 88

• Game 2: Wolves 117, Warriors 93

• Game 3: Wolves 102, Warriors 97

• Game 4: Wolves 117, Warriors 110

• Game 5: Wolves 121, Warriors 110

Wolves win 4-1

Like the Nuggets, the Warriors needed all seven games to get past the No. 2-seeded Rockets. They’ll now face another lower-seed to advance out of the First Round: No. 6 Minnesota, which took just five games to eliminate LeBron, Luka, and the Lakers. Last year, the Timberwolves’ second-round series against the Nuggets became an instant classic, and with superstars like Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Anthony Edwards mixing it up, this one has the same potential. The Timberwolves are currently -175 betting favorites to return to the Western Conference Finals for a second-straight year, but the Warriors have the all-time 3-point king in Steph Curry (not to mention “Playoff” Jimmy Butler), so a Golden State win wouldn’t surprise us in the least. 

 

First Round Results - Eastern Conference

(1) Cleveland vs. (8) Miami

• Game 1: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100
• Game 2: Cavaliers 121, Heat 112
• Game 3: Cavaliers 124, Heat 87
• Game 4: Cavaliers 138, Heat 83
Cavaliers win 4-0

 

(2) Boston vs. (7) Orlando

• Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86
• Game 2: Celtics 109, Magic 100
• Game 3: Magic 95, Celtics 93
• Game 4: Celtics 107, Magic 98
• Game 5: Celtics 120, Magic 89
Celtics win 4-1

 

(3) New York vs. (6) Detroit

• Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
• Game 2: Pistons 100, Knicks 94
• Game 3: Knicks 118, Pistons 116
• Game 4: Knicks 94, Pistons 93
• Game 5: Pistons 106, Knicks 103
• Game 6: Knicks 116, Pistons 113
Knicks win 4-2

 

(4) Indiana vs. (5) Milwaukee

• Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
• Game 2: Pacers 123, Bucks 115
• Game 3: Bucks 117, Pacers 101
• Game 4: Pacers 129, Bucks 103
• Game 5: Pacers 119, Bucks 118 (OT)
Pacers win 4-1

 

First Round Results - Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) Memphis

• Game 1: Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80
• Game 2: Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99
• Game 3: Thunder 114, Grizzlies 108
• Game 4: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115
Thunder win 4-0

 

(2) Houston vs. (7) Golden State

• Game 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
• Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94
• Game 3: Warriors 104, Rockets 93
• Game 4: Warriors 109, Rockets 106
• Game 5: Rockets 131, Warriors 116
• Game 6: Rockets 115, Warriors 107
• Game 7: Warriors 103, Rockets 89

Warriors win 4-3

 

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota

• Game 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
• Game 2: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85
• Game 3: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 104
• Game 4: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 113
• Game 5: Timberwolves 103, Lakers 96
Timberwolves win 4-1

 

(4) Denver vs. (5) LA Clippers

• Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
• Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
• Game 3: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83
• Game 4: Nuggets 101, Clippers 99
• Game 5: Nuggets 131, Clippers 115
• Game 6: Clippers 111, Nuggets 105
• Game 7: Nuggets 120, Clippers 101

Nuggets win 4-3

 

Who Has the Best Odds to Win the NBA Finals?

According to DraftKings, the Oklahoma City Thunder have the best odds of winning the NBA Championship, at +165. They’re followed by the Boston Celtics (+190), Cleveland Cavaliers (+700), and Lakers (+1400). The Warriors (+1600), Clippers (+2500), Knicks (+2800) and Nuggets (+4000) are next, with the remaining field all +6500 or higher longshots.

 

What Channel Has the NBA Finals on DISH?

The NBA Finals will begin on June 5, and ABC will have exclusive coverage. Check your guide for the channel number of your local ABC affiliate.