NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 15: (L) Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks drives against (R) LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden on April 15, 2012 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
The matchups for the first round of the 2012 NBA playoffs are officially set. The Miami Heat meet the New York Knicks in the headline series of the quarterfinals.
With the final games of the 2012 NBA regular season finishing up on Thursday night, the 2012 NBA playoff matchups for the first round are officially set.
In the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls earned the No. 1 seed in the conference and home court throughout the NBA playoffs by virtue of finishing with 50 wins and the league's best record -- despite not having Derrick Rose for long stretches of the season -- and will play the No. 8-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. But the No. 2 Miami Heat will be playing what will undoubtedly be the most-discussed Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series, matching up with the No. 7-seeded New York Knicks in a revival of the rivalry that made many memories in the late 1990s. The Indiana Pacers are the No. 3 seed and will meet the Dwight Howard-less No. 6-seeded Orlando Magic in the first round. The No. 4-seeded Boston Celtics will not have home court advantage against the No. 5 Atlanta Hawks, who finished with a better record.
The San Antonio Spurs snagged the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and will take on the No. 8-seeded Utah Jazz. In the No. 2 vs. No. 7 clash, the second-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks in a rematch of the 2011 Western Conference Finals. The No. 3-seeded Los Angeles Lakers will take on the No. 6-seeded Denver Nuggets, and the No. 4-seeded Memphis Grizzlies will meet the No. 5-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.
Here's the full listing of the 2012 NBA playoffs matchups. Teams with home court advantage are listed first.
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 8 Philadelphia 76ers
No. 2 Miami Heat vs. No. 7 New York Knicks
No. 3 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 6 Orlando Magic
No. 5 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 4 Boston Celtics
Western Conference
No. 1 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 8 Utah Jazz
No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks
No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 Denver Nuggets
No. 4 Memphis Grizzlies vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
For more on the 2012 NBA playoffs, stay with SB Nation's NBA hub.
There are 0 Comments. Add Yours.
Shortcuts to mastering the comment thread. Use wisely.
C - Next Comment
X - Mark as Read
R - Reply
Z - Mark Read & Next
Shift + C - Previous
Shift + A - Mark All Read
Comment Settings
Live comment alert: Hide it!
Comments for this post are closed.