NBA Playoffs 2012 Schedule: First Round Matchups, Dates, Times And Where To Watch

The Dallas Mavericks will face a tough test defending their title as the seventh in the Western Conference first round against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team many feel can win it all. The Thunder beat the Mavericks 3-1 in their regular season series matchups. Nevertheless, the former may be without the services of Sixth Man of the Year favorite James Harden, who suffered a concussion because of a vigorous elbow thrown by Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace on Apr. 22.

Also in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Clippers are looking to make some noise after a five-year playoff absence. They will face the Memphis Grizzlies, who made some noise of their own last postseason by knocking out the one-seeded San Antonio Spurs, followed by going all the way to Game 7 with the Thunder in the conference semis. This time around, though, the Grizzlies will have Rudy Gay healthy to play alongside Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol in an effort to stop Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and company.

The No. 7 seed Knicks, led by Carmelo Anthony (L), will look to upset LeBron James and the No. 2 seed Heat in the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs that gets underway on Saturday. (Reuters/Mike Segar)

As for the Eastern Conference, all eight teams that made last year's playoffs return, and aside from the top seed Chicago Bulls and second seed Miami Heat, all are differently seeded. The marquee matchup looks to be the Heat against the seventh seeded New York Knicks, who have played winning basketball under interim head coach Mike Woodson.  Carmelo Anthony, who scored a whopping 29.8 points per game in April will duel MVP candidate LeBron James to try and pull off the upset, which some believe the Knicks have the talent to do.

Whichever team wins that matchup will face the winner of the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic in the semifinals. The Pacers have become the team no one is talking about despite being the third seed in comparison to last postseason when they were eighth and gave the top-seeded Bulls a run for their money. And if there is any team the Pacers want to face, it's probably the Bulls, not the Magic, the Heat or the Knicks.

Here are the first round matchups, dates, times and where to watch, courtesy of the NBA:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Chicago vs. Philadelphia

Game 1 -              Sat. April 28, Philadelphia at Chicago, 1 p.m., TNT

Game 2 -              Tue. May 1, Philadelphia at Chicago, 8 p.m., TNT

Game 3 -              Fri. May 4, Chicago at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., ESPN

Game 4 -              Sun. May 6, Chicago at Philadelphia, 1 p.m., ABC

Game 5 *             Tue. May 8, Philadelphia at Chicago, TBD

Game 6 *             Thu. May 10, Chicago at Philadelphia, TBD

Game 7 *             Sat. May 12, Philadelphia at Chicago, TBD, TNT

* if necessary

Miami vs. New York

Game 1 -              Sat. April 28, New York at Miami, 3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN Radio

Game 2 -              Mon. April 30, New York at Miami, 7 p.m., TNT

Game 3 -              Thu. May 3, Miami at New York, 7 p.m., TNT

Game 4 -             Sun. May 6, Miami at New York, 3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN Radio

Game 5 *             Wed. May 9, New York at Miami, TBD

Game 6 *             Fri. May 11, Miami at New York, TBD

Game 7 *             Sun. May 13, New York at Miami, TBD

* if necessary

Indiana vs. Orlando

Game 1 -              Sat. April 28, Orlando at Indiana, 7 p.m., ESPN

Game 2 -              Mon. April 30, Orlando at Indiana, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV

Game 3 -              Wed. May 2, Indiana at Orlando, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV

Game 4 -              Sat. May 5, Indiana at Orlando, 2 p.m., ESPN

Game 5 *             Tue. May 8, Orlando at Indiana, TBD

Game 6 *             Fri. May 11, Indiana at Orlando, TBD

Game 7 *             Sun. May 13, Orlando at Indiana, TBD

* if necessary

Boston vs. Atlanta

Game 1 -              Sun. April 29, Boston at Atlanta, 7 p.m., TNT

Game 2 -              Tue. May 1, Boston at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV

Game 3 -              Fri. May 4, Atlanta at Boston, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2

Game 4 -              Sun May 6, Atlanta at Boston, 7 p.m., TNT

Game 5 *             Tue. May 8, Boston at Atlanta, TBD

Game 6 *             Thu. May 10, Atlanta at Boston, TBD

Game 7 *             Sat. May 12, Boston at Atlanta, TBD, TNT

* if necessary

WESTERN CONFERENCE - FIRST ROUND

San Antonio vs. Utah

Game 1 -              Sun. April 29, Utah at San Antonio, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN

Game 2 -              Wed. May 2, Utah at San Antonio, 7 p.m., TNT

Game 3 -              Sat. May 5, San Antonio at Utah, 10 p.m., TNT

Game 4 -              Mon. May 7, San Antonio at Utah, TBD

Game 5 *             Wed. May 9, Utah at San Antonio, TBD

Game 6 *             Fri. May 11, San Antonio at Utah, TBD

Game 7 *             Sun. May 13, Utah at San Antonio, TBD

* if necessary

Oklahoma City vs. Dallas

Game 1 -              Sat. April 28, Dallas at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m., ESPN

Game 2 -              Mon. April 30, Dallas at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m., TNT

Game 3 -              Thu. May 3, Oklahoma City at Dallas, 9:30 p.m., TNT

Game 4 -              Sat. May 5, Oklahoma City at Dallas, 7:30 p.m., TNT/ESPN Radio

Game 5 *             Mon. May 7, Dallas at Oklahoma City, TBD

Game 6 *             Thu. May 10, Oklahoma City at Dallas, TBD

Game 7 *             Sat. May 12, Dallas at Oklahoma City ,TBD, TNT

* if necessary

L.A. Lakers vs. Denver

Game 1 -              Sun. April 29, Denver at L.A. Lakers, 3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN Radio

Game 2 -              Tue. May 1, Denver at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., TNT

Game 3 -              Fri May 4, L.A. Lakers at Denver, 10:30 p.m., ESPN

Game 4 -              Sun. May 6, L.A. Lakers at Denver, 9:30 p.m., TNT

Game 5 *             Tue. May 8, Denver at L.A. Lakers, TBD

Game 6 *             Thu. May 10, L.A. Lakers at Denver, TBD

Game 7 *             Sat. May 12, Denver at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TNT

* if necessary

Memphis vs. L.A. Clippers

Game 1 -              Sun. April 29, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, 9:30 p.m., TNT

Game 2 -              Wed. May 2, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, 9:30 p.m., TNT

Game 3 -              Sat. May 5, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, 4:30 p.m., ESPN

Game 4 -              Mon. May 7, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, TBD

Game 5 *             Wed. May 9, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, TBD

Game 6 *             Fri. May 11, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, TBD

Game 7 *             Sun. May 13, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, TBD

* if necessary

All times are Eastern

R - ESPN radio