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The NBA released their 2008 playoff bracket Thursday after the final game of the season concluded.

In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers are the top seed, followed by the New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz.

The Lakers will play the eighth-seed Denver Nuggets in the first round, while the Hornets will face the seventh-seeded Dallas Mavericks. The defending NBA champion Spurs will face the sixth-seeded Phoenix Suns. The Jazz will play the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets.

In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics hold the league’s best record, hence have received the top seed. Following the Celtics are the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Celtics will play the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks, while the Pistons will play the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. The Magic will play the sixth-seeded Toronto Raptors. The Cavs will open the playoffs against the Washington Wizards for the third straight year.

The playoffs begin Saturday at 12:30pm with the Cavs-Wizards Game 1. The Suns will play Game 1 with the Spurs at 3pm, followed by the Mavericks vs. the Hornets at 7pm. The playoff coverage ends at 9:30pm with the Jazz and the Rockets.

All playoff games on Saturday will be broadcasted on ESPN, except for the Suns-Spurs, which will be on ABC.

For the remainder of the playoff brackets and schedule, please scroll down:

Eastern Conference Playoff Bracket

#1 Boston Celtics vs. #8 Denver Nuggets

Gm. 1:Sun., April 20: at Boston, 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 2:Wed., April 23: at Boston, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 3:Sat., April 26: at Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Gm. 4:Mon., April 28: at Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 5*:Wed., April 30: at Boston, TBD (TBD)

Gm. 6*:Fri., May 2: at Atlanta, TBD (TBD)

Gm. 7*:Sun., May 4: at Boston, TBD (TBD)

* if necessary

#2 Detroit Pistons vs. #7 Philadelphia 76ers

Gm. 1:Sun., April 20: at Detroit, 6 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 2:Wed., April 23: at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)

Gm. 3:Fri., April 25: at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Gm. 4:Sun., April 27: at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 5*:Tue., April 29: at Detroit, TBD (TBD)

Gm. 6*:Thu., May 1: at Philadelphia, TBD (TBD)

Gm. 7*:Sat., May 3: at Detroit, TBD (TNT)

* if necessary

#3 Orlando Magic vs. #6 Toronto Raptors

Gm. 1:Sun., April 20: at Orlando, 12:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 2:Tue., April 22: at Orlando, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)

Gm. 3:Thu., April 24: at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)

Gm. 4:Sat., April 26: at Toronto, 3 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 5*:Mon., April 28: at Orlando, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)

Gm. 6*:Thu., May 1: at Toronto, TBD (TBD)

Gm. 7*:Sat., May 3: at Orlando, TBD (TNT)

* if necessary

#4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #5 Washington Wizards

Game 1: Sat. Apr. 19: at Cleveland, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 2: Mon. Apr. 21: at Cleveland, 7 p.m. (TNT)

Game 3: Thu. Apr. 24: at Washington, 8 p.m. (TNT)

Game 4: Sun. Apr. 27: at Washington, 1 p.m. (ABC)

Game 5*: Wed. Apr. 30: at Cleveland, TBD (TBD)

Game 6*: Fri. May 2: at Washington, TBD (TBD)

Game 7*: Sun. May 4: at Cleveland, TBD (TBD)

* if necessary

Western Conference Playoff Bracket

#1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #8 Denver Nuggets

Gm. 1:Sun., April 20: at L.A., 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Gm. 2:Wed., April 23: at L.A., 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 3:Sat., April 26: at Denver, 5:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 4:Mon., April 28: at Denver, 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 5*:Wed., April 30: at L.A., TBD (TBD)

Gm. 6*:Fri., May 2: at Denver, TBD (TBD)

Gm. 7*:Sun., May 4: at L.A., TBD (TBD)

* if necessary

#2 New Orleans Hornets vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks

Gm. 1:Sat., April 19: at New Orleans, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Gm. 2:Tue., April 22: at New Orleans, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 3:Fri., April 25: at Dallas, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Gm. 4:Sun., April 27: at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 5*:Tue., April 29: at New Orleans, TBD (TBD)

Gm. 6*:Thu., May 1: at Dallas, TBD (TBD)

Gm. 7*:Sat., May 3: at New Orleans, TBD (TNT)

* if necessary

#3 San Antonio Spurs vs. #6 Phoenix Suns

Gm. 1:Sat., April 19: at S.A., 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Gm. 2:Tue., April 22: at S.A., 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 3:Fri., April 25: at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Gm. 4:Sun., April 27: at Phoenix, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

Gm. 5*:Tue., April 29: at S.A., TBD (TBD)

Gm. 6*:Thu., May 1: at Phoenix, TBD (TBD)

Gm. 7*:Sat., May 3: at S.A., TBD (TNT)

* if necessary

#4 Utah Jazz vs. #5 Houston Rockets

Gm. 1:Sat., April 19: at Houston, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Gm. 2:Mon., April 21: at Houston, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 3:Thu., April 24: at Utah, 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Gm. 4:Sat., April 26: at Utah, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Gm. 5*:Tue., April 29: at Houston, TBD (TBD)

Gm. 6*:Fri., May 2: at Utah, TBD (TBD)

Gm. 7*:Sun., May 4: at Houston, TBD (TBD)

* if necessary

Via transworldnews.com

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