The first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs is now behind us, after the Los Angeles Clippers closed out their series with the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
The Clips’ reserves helped them pull away in the fourth quarter for an 82-72 victory that sent them into the second round for the first time since 2006. They face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals, beginning Tuesday.
The Clippers’ advancement gives the city of Los Angeles two teams in the second round, with the Lakers also having closed out a seven-game series over the weekend to move on. They kick off their Western Conference semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
There’s a chance the two L.A. teams could meet in the Western Conference Finals, and what a fun series that would be. But the more likely scenario has both the Clippers and Lakers falling in this next round, and the Spurs and Thunder battling for the Western Conference title.
Both Eastern Conference semifinal series are already under way, with the Boston Celtics taking a 1-0 lead on the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Miami Heat up 1-0 on the Indiana Pacers.
Here’s a look at the rest of the schedule for the conference semifinals:
NBA PLAYOFFS
Second Round
All Times Eastern
Monday, May 14
Game 2: Philadelphia at Boston, 7 p.m. (TNT), Celtics lead 1-0
Game 1: L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, May 15
Game 2: Indiana at Miami, 7 p.m. (TNT), Heat lead 1-0
Game 1: L.A. Clippers at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, May 16
Game 3: Boston at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2: L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Thursday, May 17
Game 3: Miami at Indiana, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2: L.A. Clippers at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, May 18
Game 4: Boston at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 3: Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, May 19
Game 3: San Antonio at L.A. Clippers, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 4: Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers, 10: 30 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, May 20
Game 4: Miami at Indiana, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 4: San Antonio at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
Monday, May 21
Game 5: Philadelphia at Boston, TBD (TNT)*
Game 5: L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City, TBD (TNT)*
Tuesday, May 22
Game 5: Indiana at Miami, TBD (TNT)*
Game 5: L.A. Clippers at San Antonio, TBD (TNT)*
Wednesday, May 23
Game 6: Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers, TBD (ESPN)*
Game 6: Boston at Philadelphia, TBD (ESPN)*
Thursday, May 24
Game 6: Miami at Indiana, TBD (TV TBD)*
Friday, May 25
Game 6: San Antonio at L.A. Clippers, TBD (ESPN)*
Saturday, May 26
Game 7: Philadelphia at Boston, TBD (TV TBD)*
Game 7: Indiana at Miami, TBD (TV TBD)*
Sunday, May 27
Game 7: L.A. Clippers at San Antonio, TBD (TNT)*
Game 7: L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City, TBD (TNT)*
* — if necessary
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Adam Sparks has followed the NBA since the early 1980s, and has written about the Portland Trail Blazers and the league as a freelancer since 2009.
Sources:
NBA Playoff bracket
NBA Playoffs Schedule
