2024 NBA Playoff Bracket: Predictions, odds and schedule for NBA Conference Finals

For the first time in a long time, there are no NBA games tonight. Instead, the final four teams will rest up and prepare for what is sure to be a thrilling set of Conference Finals.

On one side, we have the heavy favorite Boston Celtics taking on this year's Cinderella story in the Indiana Pacers. As of right now though, it appears the Pacers are the team of destiny. After losing the NBA's in-season tournament finals, perhaps the Pacers are fated to return to the actual finals now.

In the West, the Dallas Mavericks shocked the world by taking out the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder but now face arguably an even tougher test as the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to take down MVP Nikola Jokic and the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets. Luka Doncic and the Mavericks have now reached the Western Conference Finals in two of the last three years, but until the team can win the NBA Finals, the narrative that Doncic cannot succeed in the playoffs will subsist.

Here's the full Conference Finals schedule.

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Updated 2024 NBA Playoff Bracket:

Eastern Conference:

First Round:

• No. 1 Boston Celtics def. No. 8 Miami Heat, 4-1

• No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers def. No. 5 Orlando Magic, 4-3

• No. 6 Indiana Pacers def. No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks, 4-2

• No. 2 New York Knicks def. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2

Conference Semis:

• No. 1 Boston Celtics def. No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-1

• No. 6 Indiana Pacers def. No. 2 New York Knicks, 4-3

Western Conference:

First Round:

• No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder def. No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans, 4-0

• No. 5 Dallas Mavericks def. No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers, 4-2

• No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves def. No. 6 Phoenix Suns, 4-0

• No. 2 Denver Nuggets def. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1

Conference Semis:

• No. 5 Dallas Mavericks def. No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-2

• No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves def. No. 2 Denver Nuggets, 4-3

NBA Conference Finals schedule:

*all times Eastern

No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers

Game 1: Tuesday at Boston, 8 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2

Game 2: Thursday at Boston, 8 p.m., ESPN

Game 3: Saturday at Indiana, 8:30 p.m., ABC

Game 4: Monday, May 27 at Indiana, 8 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2

Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 29 at Boston, 8 p.m., ESPN

Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 31 at Indiana, 8 p.m., ESPN

Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, June 2 at Boston, 8 p.m., ESPN

No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks

Game 1: Wednesday at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Game 2: Friday at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Game 3: Sunday at Dallas, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Game 4: Tuesday, May 28 at Dallas, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, May 30 at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Game 6 (if necessary): Saturday, June 1 at Dallas, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, June 3 at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Conference Finals Predictions:

Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today: Celtics in five, Timberwolves in six

Zillgitt writes, "The Timberwolves have discovered an adequate amount of offense in the playoffs, so with their No. 1 defense, it's going to come down to how well they can defend Doncic who was on the Game 6 conference semifinals injury report with a sprained right knee and left ankle soreness."

Nick Goss, NBC Sports: Celtics in five

Despite Goss noting that Porzingis would be unavailable for the Celtics to start the series, Goss believes Boston will make quick work of the Pacers, writing "The Celtics have the edge in talent, depth and experience. They also have home court advantage. The Pacers should not be taken lightly, but it's hard to imagine them playing the type of defense that will be required to pull off a shocking upset."

Kyle Irving, Sporting News: Celtics in six

Irving writes, "Porzingis' availability will be a major factor in how many games this series lasts. If he can return after the first two games, Boston could win in five games. With the looming uncertainty around his health, it feels safer to say Celtics in six."

Since this prediction was released, it was revealed that Porzingis would miss the start of the Eastern Conference Finals. How much time he will end up missing is still unclear.

Stephen Noh, Sporting News: Timberwolves in seven

Noh writes, "This series is going to be a dogfight between two great teams. Minnesota is as well-equipped as anyone to slow down Luka's pick-and-rolls while also having another quality defender to throw at Irving. That should give the Timberwolves the edge in this series."

NBA Conference Finals odds:

Odds to win NBA Championship:

According to BetMGM, the Boston Celtics are the heavy favorites to win the 2024 NBA title.

• Boston Celtics (-150)

• Minnesota Timberwolves (+260)

• Dallas Mavericks (+500)

• Indiana Pacers (+3000)

Odds to win Eastern/Western Conference:

Eastern Conference:

• Boston Celtics (-900)

• Indiana Pacers (+600)

Western Conference:

• Minnesota Timberwolves (-185)

• Dallas Mavericks (+150)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 NBA Playoff Bracket: Conference Finals predictions and odds