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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 completed a historic resurgence to claim the top seed but had to rally from a 3-1 deficit to reach the second round alongside the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers.
In the West, the defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder locked up the No. 1 seed and had a far easier time in the opening round, moving on with the San Antonio Spurs right behind them and the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves also still alive.
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.
Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.
NBA Playoffs 2026: Updated schedule, scores for every round
Eastern Conference second round
(1) Pistons vs. (4) Cavs - Detroit leads 1-0
| May 5 | Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavs 101 | — | — |
| May 7 | Game 2 at Detroit | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| May 9 | Game 3 at Cleveland | 3 p.m. | NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV |
| May 11 | Game 4 at Cleveland | 8 p.m. | NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV |
| May 13 | Game 5 at Detroit* | TBD | TBD |
| May 15 | Game 6 at Cleveland* | TBD | TBD |
| May 17 | Game 7 at Detroit* | TBD | TBD |
* If necessary
(3) Knicks vs. (7) 76ers - New York leads 1-0
| May 4 | Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98 | — | — |
| May 6 | Game 2 at New York | 7 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| May 8 | Game 3 at Philadelphia | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| May 10 | Game 4 at Philadelphia | 3:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| May 12 | Game 5 at New York* | TBD | TBD |
| May 14 | Game 6 at Philadelphia* | TBD | TBD |
| May 17 | Game 7 at New York* | TBD | TBD |
* If necessary
Western Conference second round
(1) Thunder vs. (4) Lakers - Oklahoma City leads 1-0
| May 5 | Game 1: Thunder 108, Lakers 90 | — | — |
| May 7 | Game 2 at Oklahoma City | 9:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| May 9 | Game 3 at Los Angeles | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| May 11 | Game 4 at Los Angeles | 10:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| May 13 | Game 5 at Oklahoma City* | TBD | TBD |
| May 16 | Game 6 at Los Angeles* | TBD | TBD |
| May 18 | Game 7 at Oklahoma City* | TBD | TBD |
* If necessary
(2) Spurs vs. Timberwolves - Minnesota leads 1-0
| May 4 | Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102 | — | — |
| May 6 | Game 2 at San Antonio | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| May 8 | Game 3 at Minnesota | 9:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| May 10 | Game 4 at Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV |
| May 12 | Game 5 at San Antonio* | TBD | TBD |
| May 15 | Game 6 at Minnesota* | TBD | TBD |
| May 17 | Game 7 at San Antonio* | TBD | TBD |
* If necessary
Eastern Conference first round
(1) Pistons vs. (8) Magic - Detroit wins 4-3
| 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: Pistons 116, Magic 109 | — | — |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6: Pistons 93, Magic 79 | — | — |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7: Pistons 116, Magic 94 | — | — |
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Sixers - Philadelphia wins 4-3
| 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: Sixers 113, Celtics 97 | — | — |
| Thu., April 30 | Game 6: Sixers 106, Celtics 93 | — | — |
| Sat., May 2 | Game 7: Sixers 109, Celtics 100 | — | — |
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks - New York wins 4-2
| 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: Knicks 126, Hawks 97 | — | — |
| Thu., April 30 | Game 6: Knicks 140, Hawks 89 | — | — |
(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors - Cleveland wins 4-3
| 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: Cavs 125, Raptors 120 | — | — |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6: Raptors 112, Cavs 110 (OT) | — | — |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7: Cavs 114, Raptors 102 | — | NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV |
Western Conference first round
(1) Thunder vs. (8) Suns - Oklahoma City wins 4-0
| 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: Thunder 131, Suns 122 | — | — |
(2) Spurs vs. (7) Trail Blazers - San Antonio wins 4-1
| 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: Spurs 114, Blazers 95 | — | — |
(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Timberwolves - Minnesota wins 4-2
| 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: Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 113 | — | — |
| Thu., April 30 | Game 6: Timberwolves 110, Nuggets 98 | — | — |
(4) Lakers vs. (5) Rockets - Los Angeles wins 4-2
| 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: Rockets 99, Lakers 93 | — | — |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6: Lakers 98, Rockets 78 | — | — |
Play-In Tournament
| 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
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