Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press The Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors earned valuable days off after clinching their respective conference semifinal series in five and six games. The top-seeded Bucks await the winner of Sunday's Game 7 between the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Golden State's Western Conference Finals opponent will be the victor of Game 7 between Denver and Portland, which is the first of two series-deciding games Sunday. The Warriors have three days off before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals Tuesday, while the Bucks start the Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday after six days off. Dates and TV Info for NBA Conference Finals Video Play Button Videos you might like Golden State Trying to Get Healthy The Warriors finished off their series with the Houston Rockets without Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins on the floor. Of course, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala are solid players in their own right, and they proved that in Friday's Game 6 victory. Between now and the first tip of the Western Conference Finals, the focus will be on Golden State's injured duo. Marc Stein of the New York Times reported Cousins is on course to return to the active roster if he maintains the progress he has made working back from a torn quad. According to ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski, Durant suffered a mild right calf strain and will be re-evaluated next week. The good news for the Warriors is they will not have to rush Cousins or Durant back on to the floor if they keep playing like they did in Game 6. Easing both stars back into the lineup is the ideal strategy, and if they prove they are able to perform on the court, they could be key contributors in the NBA Finals. Brogdon Working Back to 100 Percent Milwaukee is dealing with its own injury woes with the Eastern Conference Finals on the horizon. Malcolm Brogdon has been working his way back to 100 percent, but he is not guaranteed of a starting spot when Wednesday rolls around. Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters that Brogdon needs more game action to recover from a minor plantar fascia tear, per ESPN.com's Malika Andrews. "He needs more game minutes, more game action," Budenholzer said. "We plan to continue to increase Malcolm's workload and minutes. To say exactly how it's going to play out—the next step will be him playing a little bit more in Game 1." Brogdon does not have to be rushed into the starting five for Game 1 because the Bucks have received plenty of impressive performances from other role players. Nikola Mirotic, who has started in place of Brogdon, George Hill, Ersan Ilyasova and Pat Connaughton all reached double digits in the series-clinching Game 5 win over Boston. If the supporting cast behind Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to thrive, the Bucks will be in great shape to advance to the NBA Finals. Unfortunately not all the injury news is positive in Milwaukee, as Pau Gasol underwent surgery for a stress fracture in his foot Thursday, per the team's official website. Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from NBA.com.<doc-sep>Sam Forencich/Getty Images And then there were four. Of the 30 teams in the NBA's 2018-19 race for the crown, 26 have been sent to their summer vacations. In the East, only the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors are still standing. In the West, it's the defending champion Golden State Warriors against the resilient Portland Trail Blazers. If this round is anything like the last, hoop heads are in for a treat. Let's look ahead at the scheduling and broadcast information for the conference finals, before examining the latest buzz. 2019 Conference Finals Schedule Eastern Conference Game 1: Wednesday, May 15, Raptors at Bucks, 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT Game 2: Friday, May 17, Raptors at Bucks, 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT Video Play Button Videos you might like Game 3: Sunday, May 19, Bucks at Raptors, 7 p.m. ET on TNT Game 4: Tuesday, May 21, Bucks at Raptors, 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT *Game 5: Thursday, May 23, Raptors at Bucks, 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT *Game 6: Saturday, May 25, Bucks at Raptors, 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT *Game 7: Monday, May 27, Raptors at Bucks, 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT *if necessary Western Conference Game 1: Tuesday, May 14, Blazers at Warriors, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN Game 2: Thursday, May 16, Blazers at Warriors, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN Game 3: Saturday, May 18, Warriors at Blazers, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN Game 4: Monday, May 20, Warriors at Blazers, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN *Game 5: Wednesday, May 22, Blazers at Warriors, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN *Game 6: Friday, May 24, Warriors at Blazers, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN *Game 7: Sunday, May 26, Blazers at Warriors, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN *if necessary Latest Buzz Kevin Durant Still Has 'Time Ahead' In Recovery Ben Margot/Associated Press Durant's brilliant postseason was disrupted—though maybe not completely derailed as initially feared—by a calf strain suffered in Game 5 of the conference semis. As a source told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, he is out at least for Game 1 of the conference finals and unlikely to go in Game 2: While Durant's injury could have been worse, he's not exactly out of the woods, as Warriors coach Steve Kerr reminded reporters. "He hasn't even stepped on the floor yet," Kerr said on Monday. "... He still has pain. So there's time ahead of him on the rehab process." The Dubs survived their first test without the two-time Finals MVP, eliminating the Houston Rockets in a critical Game 6 behind 60 combined points from siblings in splash Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. But one look at the postseason-long stat sheet highlights Durant's incredible importance. Despite missing one game and ranking just fourth in total minutes, the 30-year-old is the team's scoring leader by a healthy margin (376 points, Curry is next with 291). He has also put together a brilliant 51.3/41.6/90.1 shooting slash, while the Warriors have fared 11.8 points better per 100 possessions with him than without. Golden State probably has enough to get by without him, but its margin for error shrinks the longer he's out. Damian Lillard: Blazers 'Know We Are Capable of Beating Them' Bart Young/Getty Images Portland's All-Star point guard may have provided a bit of bulletin-board material while trying to take down another. At his first media session, Lillard dismissed a report that he'd told a Pepsi Center ball boy the Dubs were "due" for an upset. But in correcting that claim—"I didn't say that," he remarked, "I wasn't even talking about the Warriors"—he had to go on record about his club's chances. Let's just say, the Blazers aren't backing down from this challenge. "I'm really confident," Lillard told reporters. "... We split the season series with them. We've won on their floor and on our floor. So, I think that shows we know we are capable of winning. We know we are capable of beating them. We just have to go out there and do it. Put it on the floor." Everything the 28-year-old said is technically correct. The two clubs did split their four contests, and each picked up a victory inside the other's home arena. But the playoffs are a different kind of animal. The Blazers are fighting an uphill battle, and they're doing so without Jusuf Nurkic and maybe Rodney Hood, the team's fourth-leading scorer this postseason. The Warriors might be itching to show Lillard the difference between being capable of winning a series and actually putting victories on the board.<doc-sep>Four teams remain in the NBA playoffs as both the conference final matchups have been set. The Golden State Warriors host the Portland Trail Blazers with Game 1 tipping off on Tuesday, May 14. The Milwaukee Bucks take on the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, May 15. Damian Lillard’s late-game heroics have been a big reason for the Blazers deep playoff run, but it was C.J. McCollum that willed Portland to victory in Game 7. After the game, McCollum noted that he understands it is Lillard’s team, but tried to step up when his team needed him most. “He’s the heart and soul of our team and he’s done a great job of empowering us and leading us,” McCollum said, per USA Today. “… I just kept trying to be aggressive and he seen that I had it going, so he kept making sure I was staying involved in the offense and taking shots.” NBA Playoff Schedule: Eastern & Western Conference Finals 2019 DATE GAME TIME(ET)/TV Tues., May 14 Blazers vs. Warriors Game 1 9 p.m. ESPN Wed., May 15 Raptors vs. Bucks Game 1 8:30 p.m. TNT Thurs., May 16 Blazers vs. Warriors Game 2 9 p.m. ESPN Fri., May 17 Raptors vs. Bucks Game 2 8:30 p.m. TNT Sat., May 18 Warriors vs. Blazers Game 3 9 p.m. ESPN Sun., May 19 Bucks vs. Raptors Game 3 7 p.m. TNT Mon., May 20 Warriors vs. Blazers Game 4 9 p.m. ESPN Tues., May 21 Bucks vs. Raptors Game 4 8:30 p.m. TNT Wed., May 22 Blazers vs. Warriors Game 5 9 p.m. ESPN Thurs., May 23 Raptors vs. Bucks Game 5 8:30 p.m. TNT Fri., May 24 Warriors vs. Blazers Game 6 9 p.m. ESPN Sat., May 25 Bucks vs. Raptors Game 6 8:30 p.m. TNT Sun., May 26 Blazers vs. Warriors Game 7 9 p.m. ESPN Mon., May 27 Raptors vs. Bucks Game 7 8:30 p.m. TNT NBA Finals Prediction: Warriors vs. Bucks The Bucks and Warriors both enter the conference finals somewhat rested. Portland and Toronto had to pull out Game 7’s in the closing minutes. Look for Golden State and Milwaukee to meet in the NBA finals. It has little to do with the fact they will be the more rested teams and more to do with the two squads being the best two teams throughout the season. Lillard and McCollum have enough offensive firepower to get the Blazers a couple games in the series. Golden State is also in a bit of disarray with the status of Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins up in the air. The Warriors will be able to figure it out no matter the lineup, and I expect Golden State to once again advance in six games. Milwaukee could be in for more of a fight with Toronto. Kawhi Leonard has been unguardable through two series and it will be interesting to see if the Bucks try to use Giannis Antetokounmpo on him at all during the series. Look for the Eastern Conference Finals to go seven games, but The Greek Freak to earn his first NBA finals appearance.<doc-sep>The Milwaukee Bucks won’t know their Eastern Conference Finals opponent until Thursday night at the earliest, but they do know when they’ll be playing. If the Raptors win Game 6 and eliminate the 76ers, the series will begin Monday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. Central Time, the NBA announced Thursday. If the 76ers win and force a Game 7 on Sunday, March 12, the series will begin Wednesday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m., regardless of which team advances. The No. 1-seeded Bucks would host both games. Milwaukee wrapped up a five-game series win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night after sweeping the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. Check out the league’s full conference finals schedule here.<doc-sep>
John Leyba/Associated Press Following two Game 7 showdowns on Sunday, the conference finals matchups are now set in NBA. In the Western Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers knocked off the Denver Nuggets to advance to their first conference finals since 2000, where they'll face the defending champion Golden State Warriors. In the East, the Toronto Raptors held off the the Philadelphia 76ers, advancing to the conference finals for just the second time in franchise history. The Raptors will face the Milwaukee Bucks. Western Conference Finals (all games at 9 p.m. ET) Game 1: Tuesday, May 14 at GSW Game 2: Thursday, May 16 at GSW Game 3: Saturday, May 18 at POR Game 4: Monday, May 20 at POR Game 5: Wednesday, May 22 at GSW (if necessary) Video Play Button Videos you might like Game 6: Friday, May 24 at POR (if necessary) Game 7: Sunday, May 26 at GSW (if necessary) The key storyline entering the Western Conference Finals is the health of the Golden State Warriors, who limped through the semifinals with Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins on the sideline. Cousins, who is recovering from a torn quad, is on pace to return to the active roster in time for the conference finals, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times. Durant's absence, however, is a little less clear. According to ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski, Durant is dealing with a mild strain on his right calf and will be re-evaluated next week. While missing either player isn't ideal, the Warriors have plenty of experience without the two All-Stars. Cousins appeared in just 30 games this season, so Golden State should be fully prepared to play without him if necessary. Losing Durant for an extended period would be a more significant blow, but the team has experience in recent years without him. Durant sat out just four games this season, but he missed a combined 34 games over the previous two years. If both Durant and Cousins should miss time during the conference finals, expect Steph Curry to pick up the slack. According to Rotogrinders, Curry generated a usage rate of 39.4 percent when both Durant and Cousins were off the floor this season, an increase of 10 percentage points from when he shared the court with one or both injured teammates. Eastern Conference Finals Game 1: Wednesday, May 15 at MIL (8:30 p.m. ET) Game 2: Friday, May 17 at MIL (8:30 p.m. ET) Game 3: Sunday, May 19 at TOR (7 p.m. ET) Game 4: Tuesday, May 21 at TOR (8:30 p.m. ET) Game 5: Thursday, May 23 at MIL ((8:30 p.m. ET, if necessary) Game 6: Saturday, May 25 at TOR (8:30 p.m. ET, if necessary) Game 7: Monday, May 27 at MIL (8:30 p.m. ET, if necessary) It's already been a historic season for the Milwaukee Bucks, as the team is returning to the conference finals for the first time since they were carried by Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson in 2001. That squad lost in seven games to Allen Iverson and the 76ers. The franchise will be seeking its first Finals appearance since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar suited up for the Bucks in 1974. Unfortunately, injuries are also part of the storyline in this matchup. Milwaukee's Malcolm Brogdon took the court for the first time since March 15 in the Bucks' series-clinching Game 5 victory over the Boston Celtics. Brogdon, working his way back from a plantar fascia tear, came off the bench and played 16 minutes in his return to the court. When healthy, Brogdon started every game for the Bucks this year, but his role for the conference finals remains undecided: While Brogdon isn't the driving force behind the Bucks' success, his return could be critical in this series. With him on the court this season, Milwaukee had a +11.2 differential between their offensive and defensive rating (an estimate of points produced per 100 possessions), according to Basketball-Reference. When Brogdon was off the court, that number dropped to +6.3. Brogdon's ability to impact both sides of the court could be the factor that helps push Milwaukee back to the NBA Finals.