2026 NBA Playoffs: Timetable, results, updates, and key moments
The 2026 NBA playoffs are scheduled to commence on Saturday, April 18, continuing until mid-June. This promises to be an exhilarating journey toward the NBA Finals, which are set to start on June 3 and will be aired on ABC.
Can the Oklahoma City Thunder, who secured their third consecutive 1-seed in the Western Conference, defend their title? Which team will rise from the competitive Eastern Conference? Will there be any surprises in the 16-team lineup?
However, the playoff bracket has yet to be finalized. The play-in tournament kicks off on Tuesday, featuring the Nos. 7 through 10 seeds competing to determine which teams will face the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in each conference.
Following the conclusion of the play-in tournament on Friday, April 17, the playoffs will begin with four games on Saturday. Eight teams from each conference will advance to the first round and compete in a best-of-seven series to progress. All four playoff rounds are structured as best-of-seven, and teams will not be reseeded after each round. The team with the superior regular-season record in each matchup will enjoy home-court advantage. All series will follow a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team holding the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if required).
Hereβs what is known about the playoff brackets for the Eastern and Western Conferences:
Complete NBA playoff bracket
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons vs. 8. Play-in winner TBD
2. Boston Celtics vs. 7. Play-in winner TBD
3. New York Knicks vs. 6. Atlanta Hawks
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. Toronto Raptors
Eastern Conference play-in
7. Philadelphia 76ers vs. 8. Orlando Magic
9. Charlotte Hornets vs. 10. Miami Heat
Loser 7/8 vs. Winner 9/10
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8. Play-in winner TBD
2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 7. Play-in winner TBD
3. Denver Nuggets vs. 6. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 5. Houston Rockets
Western Conference play-in
7. Phoenix Suns vs. 8. Portland Trail Blazers
9. LA Clippers vs. 10. Golden State Warriors
Loser 7/8 vs. Winner 9/10
Play-in tournament schedule
Eastern Conference
(8) Orlando Magic at (7) Philadelphia 76ers
Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET
(10) Miami Heat at (9) Charlotte Hornets
Tuesday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Winner 9/10 at Loser 7/8
Friday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Western Conference
(8) Portland Trail Blazers at (7) Phoenix Suns
Tuesday, April 14 at 10 p.m. ET
(10) Golden State Warriors at (9) LA Clippers
Wednesday, April 15 at 10 p.m. ET
Winner 9/10 at 7/8 Loser
Friday, April 17 at 10 p.m. ET
How the games will operate:
Game 1s: The No. 7 team in each conference will host the No. 8 team, with the winner claiming the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The losing teams will have another opportunity in their respective conference’s Game 3.
Game 2s: The No. 9 team in each conference will host the No. 10 team, with the winner advancing to Game 3. The losers will be eliminated and enter the NBA draft lottery.
Game 3s: The losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchups will host the winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchups, with the victors securing each conference’s No. 8 seed in the playoffs. The losers of Game 3 will enter the NBA draft lottery.
Eastern Conference first round
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-in winner
Game 1: at Detroit on Sunday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. ET
Game 2: at Detroit
Game 3: at Play-in winner
Game 4: at Play-in winner
Game 5 (if necessary): at Detroit
Game 6 (if necessary): at Play-in winner
Game 7 (if necessary): at Detroit
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Cunningham returns for the Pistons after an 11-game absence
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Goodwill: The emergence of Isaiah Stewart as Detroit’s enforcer
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-in winner
Game 1: at Boston on Sunday, April 19 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Game 2: at Boston
Game 3: at Play-in winner
Game 4: at Play-in winner
Game 5 (if necessary): at Boston
Game 6 (if necessary): at Play-in winner
Game 7 (if necessary): at Boston
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Celtics match NBA record with 29 three-pointers, secure No. 2 seed
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Shelburne: Jaylen Brown’s impact on the Celtics’ title aspirations
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Bontemps: Insights from NBA insiders regarding Jayson Tatum’s return
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
Game 1: at New York on Saturday, April 18 at 6:00 p.m. ET
Game 2: at New York
Game 3: at Atlanta
Game 4: at Atlanta
Game 5 (if necessary): at New York
Game 6 (if necessary): at Atlanta
Game 7 (if necessary): at New York
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Bridges continues games played streak after a brief 23-second appearance
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Goodwill: Key challenges facing the Knicks ahead of the playoffs
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
Game 1: at Cleveland on Saturday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Game 2: at Cleveland
Game 3: at Toronto
Game 4: at Toronto
Game 5 (if necessary): at Cleveland
Game 6 (if necessary): at Toronto
Game 7 (if necessary): at Cleveland
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Spears: Cavaliers guard James Harden is ‘here for a reason’
Western Conference first round
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-in winner
Game 1: at Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 2: at Oklahoma City
Game 3: at Play-in winner
Game 4: at Play-in winner
Game 5 (if necessary): at Oklahoma City
Game 6 (if necessary): at Play-in winner
Game 7 (if necessary): at Oklahoma City
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Kram: Notable facts regarding SGA’s scoring streak
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Slater: Chet Holmgren is prepared to demonstrate his potential in the NBA
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MacMahon: The young Thunder are on the path to building a dynasty
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-in winner
Game 1: at San Antonio on Sunday, April 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET
Game 2: at San Antonio
Game 3: at Play-in winner
Game 4: at Play-in winner
Game 5 (if necessary): at San Antonio
Game 6 (if necessary): at Play-in winner
Game 7 (if necessary): at San Antonio
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Wembanyama reaches 65 games as he checks another ‘box’
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Wright: An inside look at the Spurs’ turnaround over the past year
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: at Denver on Saturday, April 18 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 2: at Denver
Game 3: at Minnesota
Game 4: at Minnesota
Game 5 (if necessary): at Denver
Game 6 (if necessary): at Minnesota
Game 7 (if necessary): at Denver
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Keown: Investigating the true Nikola JokiΔ
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
Game 1: at Los Angeles on Saturday, April 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 2: at Los Angeles
Game 3: at Houston
Game 4: at Houston
Game 5 (if necessary): at Los Angeles
Game 6 (if necessary): at Houston
Game 7 (if necessary): at Los Angeles
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Redick on the short-handed Lakers: ‘Everybody wants to play us’
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McMenamin: An inside look at Marcus Smart’s remarkable return from The Punch
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Wright: How the Rockets established one of the NBA’s top offenses
NBA Finals schedule
The 2026 NBA Finals are set to commence on Wednesday, June 3, with each game starting at 8:30 p.m. ET. ABC will cover all matchups.
Game 1: Wednesday, June 3
Game 2: Friday, June 5
Game 3: Monday, June 8
Game 4: Wednesday, June 10
Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday, June 13
Game 6 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 16
Game 7 (if necessary): Friday, June 19
