Current 2009 NBA Playoff Matchups

The NBA Playoffs are finally here.

The 2008-09 regular season is history. It is time to play some playoff basketball. The seeds have been doled out and the matchups are set.

Here's a look at the eight first-round series, as well as a brief glance at how the pairs faired against each other during the regular season.

Eastern ConferenceWestern Conference
(1) Cleveland (66-16)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(8) Detroit (39-43)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Cavaliers lead 3-1
Nov. 19: at Pistons 96, Cavaliers 89
Feb. 1: Cavaliers 90 at Pistons 80
Feb. 22: at Cavaliers 99, Pistons 78
Mar. 31: at Cavaliers 79, Pistons 73
(1) Los Angeles (65-17)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0
(8) Utah (48-34)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Lakers lead 2-1
Jan. 2: at Lakers 113, Jazz 100
Feb. 11: at Jazz 113, Lakers 109
Apr. 14: at Lakers 125, Jazz 112
 
(2) Boston (62-20)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0
(7) Chicago (41-41)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Celtics lead 2-1
Oct. 31: at Celtics 96, Bulls 80
Dec. 19: at Celtics 126, Bulls 108
Mar. 17: at Bulls 127, Celtics 121
 
(2) Denver (54-28)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0
(7) New Orleans (49-33)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Tied 2-2
Nov. 27: Hornets 105 at Nuggets 101
Jan. 3: at Nuggets 105, Hornets 100
Jan. 28: at Hornets 94, Nuggets 81
Mar. 25: Nuggets 101 at Hornets 88
(3) Orlando (59-23)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0
(6) Philadelphia (41-41)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Magic lead 3-0
Nov. 6: at Magic 98, 76ers 88
Nov. 26: Magic 96 at 76ers 94
Feb. 28: Magic 106 at 76ers 100
 
(3) San Antonio (54-28)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0
(6) Dallas (50-32)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Tied 2-2
Nov. 4: Mavericks 98 at Spurs 81
Dec. 9: Spurs 133 at Mavericks 126 (OT)
Feb. 24: at Spurs 93, Mavericks 76
Mar. 4: at Mavericks 107, Spurs 102
(4) Atlanta (47-35)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0
(5) Miami (43-39)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Hawks lead 3-1
Dec. 12: Hawks 87 at Heat 73
Jan. 26: at Heat 95, Hawks 79
Feb. 27: at Hawks 91, Heat 83
Apr. 14: at Hawks 81, Heat 79
(4) Portland (54-28)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0
(5) Houston (53-29)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0     vs. Div: 0

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Rockets lead 2-1
Nov. 6: at Trail Blazers 101, Rockets 99 (OT)
Feb. 24: at Rockets 98, Trail Blazers 94
Apr. 5: at Rockets 102, Trail Blazers 88
 
Lottery Bound
(9) Indiana (36-46)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(10) Charlotte (35-47)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(11) New Jersey (34-48)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(12) Milwaukee (34-48)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(13) Toronto (33-49)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(14) NY Knicks (32-50)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(15) Washington (19-63)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(9) Phoenix (46-36)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(10) Golden State (29-53)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(11) Minnesota (24-58)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(12) Memphis (24-58)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(13) Oklahoma City (23-59)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(14) Los Angeles (19-63)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0
(15) Sacramento (17-65)
Games remaining: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
vs. +.500: 0    vs. Div: 0

In the event two or more teams are tied in the standings, a series of tiebreakers are applied to determine which team receives the higher seeding.

Two-Team Tiebreaker
1. Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division)
2. Better record in head-to-head games
3. Higher winning percentage within division (if teams are in the same division)
4. Higher winning percentage in conference games
5. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference
6. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in opposite conference
7. Higher point differential between points scored and points allowed

Three-Team Tiebreaker
1. Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division)
2. Best head-to-head winning percentage among all teams tied
3. Highest winning percentage within division (if teams are in the same division)
4. Highest winning percentage in conference games
5. Highest winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference
6. Highest point differential between points scored and points allowed

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