.jpg)
2 hours ago
4
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >
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 begins with the Play-In Tournament on April 14, followed by the start of the first round on April 18. 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.
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 schedule, scores 2026
Eastern Conference first round
(1) Pistons vs. (8) Magic
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1 at Detroit | 6:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Wed., April 22 | Game 2 at Detroit | 7 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 3 at Orlando | 1 p.m. | Peacock |
| Mon., April 27 | Game 4 at Orlando | TBD | TBD |
| 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 1-0
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1: Celtics 123, Sixers 91 | — | — |
| Tue., April 21 | Game 2 at Boston | 7 p.m. | Peacock |
| Fri., April 24 | Game 3 at Philadelphia | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Sun., April 26 | Game 4 at Philadelphia | 7 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Tue., April 28 | Game 5 at Boston* | TBD | TBD |
| 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 - New York leads 1-0
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1: Knicks 113, Hawks 102 | — | — |
| Mon., April 20 | Game 2 at New York | 8 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Thu., April 23 | Game 3 at Atlanta | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 4 at Atlanta | 6 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Tue., April 28 | Game 5 at New York* | TBD | TBD |
| 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 1-0
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1: Cavs 126, Raptors 113 | — | — |
| Mon., April 20 | Game 2 at Cleveland | 7 p.m. | Peacock |
| Thu., April 23 | Game 3 at Toronto | 8 p.m. | Prime Video |
| 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
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1 at Oklahoma City | 3:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app |
| Wed., April 22 | Game 2 at Oklahoma City | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 3 at Phoenix | 3:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Mon., April 27 | Game 4 at Phoenix | TBD | TBD |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 at Oklahoma City* | TBD | TBD |
| 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
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1 at San Antonio | 9 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Tue., April 21 | Game 2 at San Antonio | 8 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Fri., April 24 | Game 3 at Portland | 10:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Sun., April 26 | Game 4 at Portland | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Tue., April 28 | Game 5 at San Antonio* | TBD | TBD |
| 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 - Denver leads 1-0
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1: Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105 | — | — |
| Mon., April 20 | Game 2 at Denver | 10:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Thu., April 23 | Game 3 at Minnesota | 9:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 4 at Minnesota | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app |
| Mon., April 27 | Game 5 at Denver* | TBD | TBD |
| 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 1-0
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1: Lakers 107, Rockets 98 | — | — |
| Tue., April 21 | Game 2 at Los Angeles | 10:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Fri., April 24 | Game 3 at Houston | 8 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Sun., April 26 | Game 4 at Houston | 9:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 at Los Angeles* | TBD | TBD |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6 at Houston* | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7 at Los Angeles* | TBD | TBD |
* if necessary
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 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
English (US)