A conflict at the United Center has resulted in some unusual changes to the NBA playoff schedule.
Because Game 7 of the Wild/Blackhawks NHL playoff series is scheduled for next Sunday at United Center, Game 4 of the Bulls/Heat NBA playoff series will have to take pace on Monday, May 13. The game would have otherwise aired on Sunday, presumably on ABC; the network will televise Spurs/Warriors Game 4 instead.
With Heat/Bulls Game 4 moving to May 13, Game 4 between the Knicks and Pacers will take place on Tuesday, May 14 — adding in an extra off-day after Saturday’s Game 3. The teams will already have three off-days between Games 2 and 3.
The scheduling adjustments could result in a unique doubleheader on Thursday, May 16. TNT would air Pacers/Knicks Game 5 (which should have aired on Wednesday night), while Spurs/Warriors Game 6 would air on ESPN.
Game 6 of Knicks/Pacers would take place on Saturday, May 18, a night when the NBA did not originally have any games scheduled.
The NBA apparently held off on announcing the full second round schedule in the hopes that the Wild would be eliminated quickly by the Blackhawks. The adjusted schedule was not made public until shortly after Minnesota won Game 3 in overtime.
