League releases day schedule for NBA playoffs Game 1s

The time has come. (Getty Images)

The NBA Thursday released the days for when which matchups would host their first games of the 2012 NBA playoffs. Specific times will be set once all the matchups are set. To see what's left to determine, check out our NBA Playoff Picture.

Western Conference

Utah at San Antonio Sunday, April 29

Dallas/OR/Denver at Oklahoma City Saturday, April 28

Denver/OR/Dallas at L.A. Lakers Sunday, April 29

L.A. Clippers at Memphis Sunday, April 29

OR Memphis at L.A. Clippers Sunday, April 29


Eastern Conference

Philadelphia/OR/New York at Chicago Saturday, April 28

New York/OR/Philadelphia at Miami Saturday, April 28

Orlando at Indiana Saturday, April 28

Boston at Atlanta Sunday, April 29

OR Atlanta at Boston Sunday, April 29


You can bet that the Lakers will play in the Sunday mid-day slot, as that's been theirs for the past several seasons, and is a high-ratings marker for them. Chicago has kicked off the playoffs the past three years, so expect them to open up against the 8th seed on Saturday around noon or 1 p.m. EST. The Heat played in the second spot Saturday last year, so we might expect the same.

The league will bury Indiana-Orlando and Spurs-Jazz in the deepest bowels of the ratings gamut. So expect the Saturday dinner-time for Orlando-Indiana and the Sunday late-night game for San Antonio, but those are just educated guesses.

As soon as the official schedule is released, we'll update it for you. Playoffs are here, ladies and gentlemen.