The 2026 NBA playoffs are upon us.
As of this moment, 20 teams are still alive for a shot at the Larry O’Brien trophy. However, eight of those teams still have some work to do before their playoff journeys can begin in earnest. Things kick off on Tuesday with the Play-In Tournament, as four teams in the Eastern Conference, and four teams in the Western Conference, vie for the final two spots in each conference.
Here is the schedule for the Play-In Tournament as well as the First Round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. And be warned, if you want to watch all the games, you better have Prime Video.
Here’s the final bracket for the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Remember, the NBA does not reseed.
Update (Wednesday April 15): Updated with the day of each First Round playoff game as provided by the NBA.
Eastern Conference Play-In
The Eastern Conference Play-In tournament gets things going on Tuesday, April 15. The Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets square off in the first game, with the loser eliminated from postseason contention. The winner will take on the loser of Wednesday’s game between No. 8 Orlando and No. 7 Philadelphia, with the winner of that game securing the No. 7 seed in the East.
The loser of that second game will drop to the No. 8 spot.
All times Eastern.
No. 9 Charlotte Hornets 127, No. 10 Miami Heat 126 (OT)
Miami eliminated
No. 8 Orlando Magic at No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers: Wednesday, April 15 (7:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Winner secures No. 7 seed in East
No. 7/No. 8 loser vs. No. 9 Charlotte Hornets: Friday, April 17 (7:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Winner secures No. 8 seed in East, loser eliminated
Western Conference Play-In
Over in the Western Conference, the Play-In Tournament begins with the Phoenix Suns hosting the Portland Trail Blazers, with the winner of that game on Tuesday securing the No. 7 seed. The loser will take on the winner of Wednesday’s game between No. 10 Golden State and No. 9 Los Angeles.
All times Eastern.
No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers 114, No. 7 Phoenix Suns 110
Portland secures No. 7 seed in West
No. 10 Golden State Warriors at No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers: Wednesday, April 15 (10:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Loser eliminated
No. 7/No. 8 loser vs. No. 9/No. 10 winner: Friday, April 17 ( 10:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Winner secures No. 8 seed in West, loser eliminated
Eastern Conference Playoffs
Six teams are waiting in the Eastern Conference, led by the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. They’ll take on the No. 8 seed in the first round, while the Boston Celtics — who check in as the No. 2 seed in the East — will take on the No. 7 seed.
The other two first-round matchups are set: No. 3 New York vs. No. 6 Atlanta, and No. 4 Cleveland vs. No. 5 Toronto.
First Round
No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 (TBD)
Game 1: TBD at Detroit: Sunday, April 19 (6:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 2: TBD at Detroit: Wednesday, April 22 (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 3: Detroit at TBD: Saturday, April 25 (1:00 p.m., NBC)
Game 4: Detroit at TBD: Monday, April 27
Game 5: TBD at Detroit: Wednesday, April 29*
Game 6: Detroit at TBD: Friday, May 1*
Game 7: TBD at Detroit: Sunday, May 3*
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 (TBD)
Game 1: TBD at Boston: Sunday, April 19 (1:00 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: TBD at Boston: Tuesday, April 21 (7:00 p.m., NBC)
Game 3: Boston at TBD: Friday, April 24 (7:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 4: Boston at TBD: Sunday, April 26 (7:00 p.m., NBC)
Game 5: TBD at Boston: Tuesday, April 28*
Game 6: Boston at TBD: Thursday, April 30*
Game 7: TBD at Boston: Saturday, May 2*
No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks
Game 1: Atlanta at New York: Saturday, April 18 (6:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 2: Atlanta at New York: Monday, April 20 (8:00 p.m., NBC)
Game 3: New York at Atlanta: Thursday, April 23 (7:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 4: New York at Atlanta: Saturday, April 25 (6:00 p.m., NBC)
Game 5: Atlanta at New York: Tuesday, April 28*
Game 6: New York at Atlanta: Thursday, April 30*
Game 7: Atlanta at New York: Saturday, May 2*
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors
Game 1: Toronto at Cleveland: Saturday, April 18 (1:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 2: Toronto at Cleveland: Monday, April 20 (7:00 p.m., NBC)
Game 3: Cleveland at Toronto: Thursday, April 23 (8:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 4: Cleveland at Toronto: Sunday, April 26 (1:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 5: Toronto at Cleveland: Wednesday, April 29*
Game 6: Cleveland at Toronto: Friday, May 1*
Game 7: Toronto at Cleveland: Sunday, May 3*
*If necessary
Western Conference Playoffs
Over in the Western Conference, the defending champions are waiting on the results of the Play-In Tournament, as the Thunder will have home-court in the First Round against the No. 8 seed. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs secured the No. 2 seed, and will take on the No. 7 seed.
The other two matchups in the Western Conference are set. In the first, No. 3 Denver will take on No. 6 Minnesota, while in the second, No. 4 Los Angeles matches up against No. 5 Houston.
First Round
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 (TBD)
Game 1: TBD at Oklahoma City: Sunday, April 19 (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: TBD at Oklahoma City: Wednesday, April 22 (9:30 p.m, ESPN)
Game 3: Oklahoma City at TBD: Saturday, April 25 (3:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 4: Oklahoma City at TBD: Monday, April 27
Game 5: TBD at Oklahoma City: Wednesday, April 29*
Game 6: Oklahoma City at TBD: Friday, May 1*
Game 7: TBD at Oklahoma City: Sunday, May 3*
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers
Game 1: Portland at San Antonio: Sunday, April 19 (9:00 p.m., NBC)
Game 2: Portland at San Antonio: Tuesday, April 21 (8:00 p.m., NBC)
Game 3: San Antonio at Portland: Friday, April 24 (10:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 4: San Antonio at Portland: Sunday, April 26 (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
Game 5: Portland at San Antonio: Tuesday, April 28*
Game 6: San Antonio at Portland: Thursday, April 30*
Game 7: Portland at San Antonio: Saturday, May 2*
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: Minnesota at Denver: Saturday, April 18 (3:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 2: Minnesota at Denver: Monday, April 20 (10:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 3: Denver at Minnesota: Thursday, April 23 (9:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 4: Denver at Minnesota: Saturday, April 25 (8:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 5: Minnesota at Denver: Monday, April 27*
Game 6: Denver at Minnesota: Thursday, April 30*
Game 7: Minnesota at Denver: Saturday, May 2*
No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets
Game 1: Houston at Los Angeles: Saturday, April 18 (8:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: Houston at Los Angeles: Tuesday, April 21 (10:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 3: Los Angeles at Houston: Friday, April 24 (8:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 4: Los Angeles at Houston: Sunday, April 26 (9:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 5: Houston at Los Angeles: Wednesday, April 29*
Game 6: Los Angeles at Houston: Friday, May 1*
Game 7: Houston at Los Angeles: Sunday, May 3*
*If necessary
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