NBA playoffs 2023: First round news, scores and highlights (2024)

The first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs is now complete.

This year's playoffs saw a number of surprises in the first round, none bigger than the 8-seed Miami Heat -- who emerged from the NBA's play-in tournament -- knocking off the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, who led the NBA with 58 wins in the regular season. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers became the second play-in team to advance when they defeated the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies with a resounding 40-point victory in Game 6.

The Golden State Warriors entered the playoffs as the defending champions, and stayed alive in the playoffs with a convincing win against the Sacramento Kings on the road.

Relive all of our first-round coverage right here.

MORE: Ongoing 2023 playoffs coverage

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Miami Heat (8) defeat Milwaukee Bucks (1), 4-1

Game 1: Heat 130, Bucks 117
Game 2: Bucks 138, Heat 122
Game 3: Heat 121, Bucks 99
Game 4: Heat 119, Bucks 114
Game 5: Heat 128, Bucks 126 (OT)

• Pelton: Did Heat just pull off biggest playoff upset ever?

• Antetokounmpo says Bucks' early exit 'not a failure'

• Butler, Heat oust top-seeded Bucks in OT stunner

• Lowe: How the Heat are crushing the Bucks

• Butler has 56 to lead Heat in Gm. 4 | Social reaction

Boston Celtics (2) defeat Atlanta Hawks (7), 4-2

Game 1: Celtics 112, Hawks 99
Game 2: Celtics 119, Hawks 106
Game 3: Hawks 130, Celtics 102
Game 4: Celtics 129, Hawks 121
Game 5: Hawks 119, Celtics 117
Game 6: Celtics 128, Hawks 120

• Celtics finish off series with urgent finish

• Harvey: Young's heroics cap frantic final minutes

• Young hits go-ahead 3 to keep Hawks alive

• Murray cites history with ref: 'A lot' led to bump

• Gutierrez: 'Unfinished business' is fueling these Celtics

Philadelphia 76ers (3) defeat Brooklyn Nets (6), 4-0

Game 1: 76ers 121, Nets 101
Game 2: 76ers 96, Nets 84
Game 3: 76ers 102, Nets 97
Game 4: 76ers 96, Nets 88

• Embiid 'probably 50 percent' for start of second round

• 76ers complete sweep of Nets without Embiid

• Doc Rivers: 'NBA must stop teams from goading star players

• Friedell: Mikal Bridges is answer to Nets' failed superteam experiment

• 76ers 'get it right' after Doc Rivers' timeout, down Nets in Game 2

New York Knicks (5) defeat Cleveland Cavaliers (4), 4-1

Game 1: Knicks 101, Cavaliers 97
Game 2: Cavaliers 107, Knicks 90
Game 3: Knicks 99, Cavaliers 79
Game 4: Knicks 102, Cavaliers 93
Game 5: Knicks 106, Cavaliers 95

• Knicks claim first playoff series victory since 2013

• Knicks' Julius Randle still playing through ankle injury

• Knicks' defense muscles up on Cavs in Game 3 romp at MSG

• The connection that ended the Knicks' star point guard drought

• Friedell: How the Cavs are emerging from the shadow of LeBron

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Denver Nuggets (1) defeat Minnesota Timberwolves (8), 4-1

Game 1: Nuggets 109, Timberwolves 80
Game 2: Nuggets 122, Timberwolves 113
Game 3: Nuggets 120, Timberwolves 111
Game 4: Timberwolves 114, Nuggets 108
Game 5: Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 109

• Nuggets finish off Wolves in 5 behind Jokic's triple-double

• Wolves' Anderson (eye) ruled out for G5 in Denver

• Edwards: Avoiding sweep was personal for me

• Nuggets roll in Game 3, focused on finishing sweep of Wolves

• Murray puts up 40 as Nuggets hold off Wolves

Los Angeles Lakers (7) defeat Memphis Grizzlies (2), 4-2

Game 1: Lakers 128, Grizzlies 112
Game 2: Grizzlies 103, Lakers 93
Game 3: Lakers 111, Grizzlies 101
Game 4: Lakers 117, Grizzlies 111 (OT)
Game 5: Grizzlies 116, Lakers 109
Game 6: Lakers 125, Grizzlies 85

• Lakers pound Grizzlies by 40 in Game 6 clincher

• LeBron on shaky night: 'I'll be better in Game 6'

• Bane doubles down, vows Grizz will see Game 7

• LeBron's first 20-20 game helps put Lakers up 3-1

• Morant shines in 45-point return, but Grizzlies lose Game 3

Golden State Warriors (6) defeat Sacramento Kings (3), 4-3

Game 1: Kings 126, Warriors 123
Game 2: Kings 114, Warriors 106
Game 3: Warriors 114, Kings 97
Game 4: Warriors 126, Kings 125
Game 5: Warriors 124, Kings 116
Game 6: Kings 118, Warriors 99
Game 7: Warriors 120, Kings 100

• Friedell: The key to Stephen Curry and the Warriors' magic

• Shelburne: How Draymond and Klay rescued the Warriors

• Warriors get needed road win: 'We had the belief'

• Goldsberry: Four factors that will decide Warriors-Kings

• Dubs survive unfortunate Curry blunder, tie series

Phoenix Suns (4) defeat LA Clippers (5), 4-1

Game 1: Clippers 115, Suns 110
Game 2: Suns 123, Clippers 109
Game 3: Suns 129, Clippers 124
Game 4: Suns 112, Clippers 100
Game 5: Suns 136, Clippers 130

• Booker goes off for 47 points as Suns eliminate Clippers

• Suns laud 'resilient' Westbrook

• Chris Paul's strong fourth quarter gives Suns 3-1 lead

• 'Frustrated' Leonard misses Game 3 loss to Suns

• Booker leads charge as Suns heat up, even series