NBA postseason guide: Schedule, stories, betting odds, how to watch and more

The NBA postseason has arrived. The playoffs technically won't start until Saturday. But the play-in tournament starts Tuesday, with an elimination game between Miami and Charlotte set to get things started in the six-game, eight-team event. Phoenix and Portland play Tuesday night to decide the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference. On Wednesday, Orlando goes to Philadelphia to decide the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, followed by an elimination game between Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers. The play-in ends Friday with two games to decide which teams will take on the No. 1 seeds — Oklahoma City in the West, Detroit in the East.

Stories of note

— Play-in tournament preview: the first 4 games — It's playoff time, LeBron's favorite time of year — Tyrese Haliburton still has challenging road back — Heat equipment manager needs organ transplants — Natalie Sago the 3rd female ref picked for playoffs — Stephen Curry aims to lead a surprise playoff run — All eyes on Giannis' future ... after Doc steps down — Zion Williamson promises ‘a different summer’ — The view from Vegas says the West is the best

Tuesday's schedule

7:30 p.m. EDT — Miami at Charlotte (Prime Video) 10 p.m. EDT — Portland at Phoenix (Prime Video)

Wednesday's schedule

7:30 p.m. EDT — Orlando at Philadelphia (Prime Video) 10 p.m. EDT — Golden State at LA Clippers (Prime Video)

Friday's schedule

7:30 p.m. EDT — Miami-Charlotte winner at Orlando-Philadelphia loser (Prime Video) 10 p.m. EDT — Golden State-LA Clippers winner at Portland-Phoenix loser (Prime Video)

Saturday's schedule

1 p.m. EDT — Game 1, Toronto at Cleveland (Prime Video) 3:30 p.m. EDT — Game 1, Minnesota at Denver (Prime Video) 6 p.m. — Game 1, Atlanta at New York (Prime Video) 8:30 p.m. — Game 1, Houston at LA Lakers (ABC)

Sunday’s games

1 p.m. EDT — Game 1, Orlando-Philadelphia winner at Boston (ABC) 3:30 p.m. EDT — Game 1, TBD at Oklahoma City (ABC) 6:30 p.m. EDT — Game 1, TBD at Detroit (NBC/Peacock) 9 p.m. EDT — Game 1, Portland-Phoenix winner at San Antonio (NBC/Peacock)

Betting odds

Oklahoma City (+125) is favored to win the NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. The Thunder are followed by San Antonio (+450), Boston (+550), Denver (+1000), Cleveland (+1600) and New York (+2000). Detroit, the No. 1 seed in the East, is +2000. The Los Angeles Lakers were +2500 before Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves got hurt; they’re +25000 now.

Key dates

— Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: NBA play-in tournament. — Saturday and Sunday: NBA playoff series openers. — May 2, 3 or 4: Conference semifinals begin. — May 10: NBA draft lottery. — May 10-17: NBA draft combine. — May 17 or 19: Eastern Conference finals begin on ESPN and ABC. — May 18 or 20: Western Conference finals begin on NBC and Peacock. — June 3: Game 1, NBA Finals on ABC. (Other finals dates: June 5, June 8, June 10, June 13, June 16 and June 19).

Steph still No. 1

Stephen Curry has never changed teams since joining the NBA. Never changed numbers, either. He's been No. 30 for the Golden State Warriors for the last 17 seasons, and it seems logical that if someone wanted a Warriors No. 30 jersey they would have one by now. And yet, his jersey is the hottest seller in the NBA. The NBA released the top-selling jerseys list for this season on Monday, based on sales from NBAStore.com, Fanatics and Fanatics partner sites — with Curry's atop the list. The rest of the top 15, after Curry: Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers, New York’s Jalen Brunson, San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, the Lakers’ LeBron James, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dallas’ Cooper Flagg, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Houston’s Kevin Durant, Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball. And as far as the best-selling team rankings, New York tops the list, followed by the Lakers, Boston, Golden State, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Chicago, Oklahoma City, Minnesota and Denver.

Players of the week

The Lakers' LeBron James and Toronto's Brandon Ingram were the final two players of the week, announced Monday by the NBA. That lifted the total to 29 different players who won that award at least once this season. James has won the weekly award 70 times — 61 from his years in the East, and now nine times in the West. James' 70 wins are by far the most in NBA history. Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are 33-time winners.

The season of Jalen (or Jaylen)

There were four players named Jalen (or Jaylen) who won player of the week this season. Jaylen Brown won three times, Jalen Johnson and Jalen Brunson each won twice and Jalen Duren won once. The Jalen/Jaylen club won player of the month in the Eastern Conference three times (Brown, Brunson and Johnson all once). The only other monthly winner in the East this season? Cade Cunningham won twice. (Interesting Cunningham fact: He won player of the month twice, despite winning player of the week only once.)

Numbers watch

— There has been at least one game decided by five points or fewer in each of the first six play-in tournaments. In 31 total play-in games entering Tuesday, 11 have seen a team win by no more than five points. — The average margin of victory in the NBA this regular season was 13.3 points, the biggest in league history (and is certain to finish as a record). The previous mark was 12.7 points, set last season. This is the fourth time in the last five years that the point-differential-in-wins record fell.

Stats of the day

— Miami's Tyler Herro (155 points entering Tuesday) is 12 away from passing Washington's Trae Young (166) as the all-time play-in tournament scoring leader. Golden State's Stephen Curry (33.8 per game) is the play-in scoring leader per game, among those with more than one game played in the tournament's history. — The play-in tournament scoring record is 50 points, by Jayson Tatum in a Boston win over Washington in 2021. — The play-in rookie scoring record is held by Ja Morant, who scored 35 for Memphis inside the bubble in 2020. \\\_ AP NBA: