NBA Playoffs schedule 2026: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels, live streams to watch every series originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The 2025-26 NBA regular season has reached its conclusion, setting the stage for a postseason defined by high-stakes matchups and a brand-new broadcast landscape.
The journey to the Larry O’Brien Trophy officially began with the Play-In Tournament, and now the main contenders are in the mix. With dominant forces like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons having secured the top seeds, the focus is on what other teams can compete for the NBA championship.
This year marks a significant shift in how fans will consume the playoffs, as a landmark media rights deal introduces a three-pronged distribution model featuring ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video. While the NBA Finals remain the exclusive property of ABC, earlier rounds will be split across these platforms, including the entirety of the Play-In Tournament moving to Prime Video.
Whether you are a cord-cutter relying on Peacock and Amazon or a traditional viewer tuned into ESPN and NBC, navigating the 2026 bracket requires a clear roadmap of where and when to find each game. From the opening tip of the play-in games to the final buzzer of the NBA Finals on June 19, every series offers a different path to glory.
Below is the comprehensive guide to the 2026 NBA Playoff schedule, including a full look at the current bracket, confirmed tip-off times, and a breakdown of which streaming services and cable channels you’ll need to catch every minute of the action.
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 on 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 schedule, scores 2026
Eastern Conference first round
(1) Pistons vs. (8) Magic – Orlando leads 3-1
| 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: Magic 94, Pistons 88 | — | — |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 at Detroit | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| 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 3-1
| 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: Celtics 128, Sixers 96 | — | — |
| Tue., April 28 | Game 5 at Boston | 7 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| 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, DIRECTV |
| 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 – Tied 2-2
| 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: Raptors 93, Cavs 89 | — | — |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 at Cleveland | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| 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 3-1
| 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: Spurs 114, Blazers 93 | — | — |
| Tue., April 28 | Game 5 at San Antonio | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| 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, DIRECTV |
| 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 3-1
| 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: Rockets 115, Lakers 96 | — | — |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 at Los Angeles | 10 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| 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 | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 bracket 2026
Click here for the 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News, which updates live as series are completed.
SN
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