NBA on ESPN – Just four teams remain in contention for the NBA Championship and the Eastern and Western Conference Finals begin LIVE on ESPN from Wednesday May 22, as the Boston Celtics-Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves-Dallas Mavericks fight it out for a shot at the NBA crown.
Wednesday May 22 sees the start of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers at 10am AEST LIVE on ESPN.
The Celtics secured passage to the Eastern Conference Finals in five games, claiming a comfortable 4-1 series win over Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jayson Tatum remains the key man for Boston and the number two seed will be favoured to advance against the sixth seed Pacers.
Indiana needed to go to a sudden death game seven to see off the New York Knicks in an epic Conference Semi Final series.
An all-round offensive display powered the Pacers to a convincing 130-109 win in the deciding seventh game to secure the showdown with Boston.
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton led all scorers with 26 points, and was well supported by Pascal Siakam (20), Andrew Nembhard (20) and Aaron Nesmith (19).
Boston last went to the NBA Finals in 2022, losing to the Golden State Warriors.
Indiana have never won an NBA championship but hold three ABA titles. They last won the Eastern Conference Championship in 2000.
Thursday May 23 will bring Game One in the Western Conference Finals when the Minnesota Timberwolves take on the Dallas Mavericks at 10.30am AEST.
Australia’s Josh Green and Dante Exum will be carrying local hopes, having eliminated fellow Aussie Josh Giddey and the Western Conference number one seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the previous round.
Dallas secured the NBA Conference Semi Final series in six games, claiming a tense 117-116 win on Sunday AEST.
Mavs star Luka Doncic was again the focal point with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Doncic was accompanied by Derrick Jones Jr and Kyrie Irving, who scored 22 points each, in an impressive offensive display by Dallas.
The Minnesota Timberwolves stand in the way of the Mavericks after eliminating defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
Minnesota prevailed 98-90 in the deciding seventh game after a fourth quarter blitz, and the largest game seven comeback in 25 years.
The win has their fans dreaming of a long awaited NBA Championship – the Timberwolves have never won a Conference championship and have never advanced to the NBA Finals since joining the NBA in 1989.
ESPN brings every game of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals LIVE.
NBA Conference Finals on ESPN
Wednesday May 22
10am AEST, Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers, ESPN – Game One
Thursday May 23
10.30am AEST, Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks, ESPN – Game One
Friday May 24
10am AEST, Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers, ESPN – Game Two
Saturday May 25
10.30am AEST, Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks, ESPN – Game Two
Sunday May 26
10.30am AEST, Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics – Game Three
Monday May 27
10am AEST, Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves – Game Three
Tuesday May 28
10am AEST, Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics – Game Four
Wednesday May 29
10.30am AEST, Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves – Game Four
Thursday May 30
10am AEST, Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers – Game Five
ESPN and ESPN2 are available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and SKY NZ.
Media Release – ESPN
NBA on ESPN
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