NBA Playoffs bracket 2026: Updated schedule, TV channels, scores for every round of postseason games originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The NBA Playoffs are officially here. After 82 games of grinding through the regular season, the marathon has finally turned into a sprint, as the 2025-26 postseason field is set to narrow through the high-stakes crucible of the Play-In Tournament.
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons have completed a historic resurgence to claim the top seed, while the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers have secured their spots and are resting up for a deep run. In the West, the defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder have locked up the No. 1 seed, with the San Antonio Spurs right behind them.
With the first round officially tipping off on Saturday, April 18, the margin for error has vanished, and the quest for the Larry O’Brien Trophy is finally underway.
Here’s everything you need to know for the 2026 NBA playoffs, from schedule to streaming information.
NBA playoffs bracket 2026
Click here for the 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News and see below for series schedules and scores.
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Where to watch NBA Playoffs 2026: TV channels, live streams
- TV channels: ABC | ESPN | NBC
- Live streams: DIRECTV | ESPN app | Peacock | Prime Video
NBA Playoff action is spread across ABC, ESPN, NBC and Prime Video, though the NBA Finals remain the exclusive domain of ABC. Fans have a wide range of streaming options to catch the postseason, including Prime, the ESPN app, and Peacock, with each service carrying specific games depending on their broadcast rights.
All games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBC are also available via DIRECTV Stream.
Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
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NBA Playoffs 2026: Updated schedule, scores for every round
Eastern Conference first round
(1) Pistons vs. (8) Magic – Orlando leads 2-1
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101 | — | — |
| Wed., April 22 | Game 2: Pistons 98, Magic 83 | — | — |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 3: Magic 113, Pistons 105 | — | — |
| Mon., April 27 | Game 4 at Orlando | 8 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 at Detroit | TBD | TBD |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6 at Orlando* | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7 at Detroit* | TBD | TBD |
* if necessary
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Sixers – Boston leads 2-1
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1: Celtics 123, Sixers 91 | — | — |
| Tue., April 21 | Game 2: Sixers 111, Celtics 97 | — | — |
| Fri., April 24 | Game 3: Celtics 108, Sixers 100 | — | — |
| Sun., April 26 | Game 4 at Philadelphia | 7 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Tue., April 28 | Game 5 at Boston | 7 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Thu., April 30 | Game 6 at Philadelphia* | TBD | TBD |
| Sat., May 2 | Game 7 at Boston* | TBD | TBD |
* if necessary
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks – Tied 2-2
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1: Knicks 113, Hawks 102 | — | — |
| Mon., April 20 | Game 2: Hawks 107, Knicks 106 | — | — |
| Thu., April 23 | Game 3: Hawks 109, Knicks 108 | — | — |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 4: Knicks 114, Hawks 98 | — | — |
| Tue., April 28 | Game 5 at New York | 8 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Thu., April 30 | Game 6 at Atlanta | TBD | TBD |
| Sat., May 2 | Game 7 at New York* | TBD | TBD |
* if necessary
(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors – Cleveland leads 2-1
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1: Cavs 126, Raptors 113 | — | — |
| Mon., April 20 | Game 2: Cavs 115, Raptors 105 | — | — |
| Thu., April 23 | Game 3: Raptors 126, Cavs 104 | — | — |
| Sun., April 26 | Game 4 at Toronto | 1 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 at Cleveland | TBD | TBD |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6 at Toronto* | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7 at Cleveland* | TBD | TBD |
* if necessary
Western Conference first round
(1) Thunder vs. (8) Suns – Oklahoma City leads 3-0
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1: Thunder 119, Suns 84 | — | — |
| Wed., April 22 | Game 2: Thunder 120, Suns 107 | — | — |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 3: Thunder 121, Suns 109 | — | — |
| Mon., April 27 | Game 4 at Phoenix | 9:30 p.m. | Peacock |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 at Oklahoma City* | 9:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6 at Phoenix* | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7 at Oklahoma City* | TBD | TBD |
* if necessary
(2) Spurs vs. (7) Trail Blazers – San Antonio leads 2-1
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1: Spurs 111, Blazers 98 | — | — |
| Tue., April 21 | Game 2: Blazers 106, Spurs 103 | — | — |
| Fri., April 24 | Game 3: Spurs 120, Blazers 108 | — | — |
| Sun., April 26 | Game 4 at Portland | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Tue., April 28 | Game 5 at San Antonio | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Thu,. April 30 | Game 6 at Portland* | TBD | TBD |
| Sat., May 2 | Game 7 at San Antonio* | TBD | TBD |
* if necessary
(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Timberwolves – Minnesota leads 3-1
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1: Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105 | — | — |
| Mon., April 20 | Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114 | — | — |
| Thu., April 23 | Game 3: Timberwolves 113, Nuggets 96 | — | — |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 4: Timberwolves 112, Nuggets 96 | — | — |
| Mon., April 27 | Game 5 at Denver | 10:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Thu., April 30 | Game 6 at Minnesota* | TBD | TBD |
| Sat., May 2 | Game 7 at Denver* | TBD | TBD |
* if necessary
(4) Lakers vs. (5) Rockets – Los Angeles leads 3-0
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1: Lakers 107, Rockets 98 | — | — |
| Tue., April 21 | Game 2: Lakers 101, Rockets 94 | — | — |
| Fri., April 24 | Game 3: Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT) | — | — |
| Sun., April 26 | Game 4 at Houston | 9:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 at Los Angeles* | 10 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6 at Houston* | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7 at Los Angeles* | TBD | TBD |
* if necessary
Play-In Tournament
| Date | Game |
|---|---|
| Tue., April 14 | Hornets 127, Heat 126 (OT) |
| Trail Blazers 114, Suns 110 | |
| Wed., April 15 | Sixers 109, Magic 97 |
| Warriors 126, Clippers 121 | |
| Fri., April 17 | Magic 121, Hornets 90 |
| Suns 111, Warriors 96 |
NBA Playoffs round-by-round schedule 2026
- Play-In Tournament: April 14-17
- First round: April 18
- Conference semifinals: May 4-5 (possible move up to May 2-3)
- Conference finals: May 19-20 (possible move up to May 17-18)
- NBA Finals: June 3-June 19