The 2026 NBA playoffs began Saturday in what is sure to be an exciting run toward the NBA Finals, which begin June 3 and will be broadcast by ABC.
Can the Oklahoma City Thunder, who locked in their third straight No. 1-seed in the Western Conference, repeat as champions? Which team will emerge from a crowded East field? Could there be upsets throughout the field?null
The play-in tournament began Tuesday, as the Nos. 7 through 10 seeds played to determine which teams get to face the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in each conference. The Portland Trail Blazersclinched a playoff berth with a win over the Phoenix Suns and will face the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers earned the No. 7 seed on Wednesday and will play the No. 2 Boston Celtics after defeating the Orlando Magic. On Friday, the Magic defeated the Charlotte Hornets to finalize a matchup with the No. 1 Detroit Pistons, and the Suns defeated the Golden State Warriors to face the defending champions in the West.
Eight teams from each conference reach the first round and face off in a best-of-seven series to advance. All four rounds of the playoffs are best of seven, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home-court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.
Here’s what we know about the Eastern and Western Conference playoff brackets:
Full NBA playoff bracket
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons vs. 8. Orlando Magic
2. Boston Celtics vs. 7. Philadelphia 76ers
3. New York Knicks vs. 6. Atlanta Hawks
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. Toronto Raptors
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8. Phoenix Suns
2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 7. Portland Trail Blazers
3. Denver Nuggets vs. 6. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 5. Houston Rockets
Eastern Conference first round
(8) Orlando Magic leads (1) Detroit Pistons, 1-0
Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101
Game 2: Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET at Detroit
Game 3: at Orlando on Saturday, April 25, 1 p.m. ET
Game 4: at Orlando on Monday, April 27, TBD
Game 5 (if necessary): at Detroit on Wednesday, April 29, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): at Orlando on Friday, May 1, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): at Detroit on Sunday, May 3, TBD
- Magic play up to potential, stun Pistons in Game 1 upset
- Magic rip Hornets in record-setting 31-point rout
- Cunningham eligible for NBA season awards
- Goodwill: How Isaiah Stewart became Detroit’s enforcer
Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons: Game Highlights
Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons: Game Highlights
(2) Boston Celtics leads (7) Philadelphia 76ers, 1-0
Game 1: Celtics 123, Sixers 91
Game 2: at Boston on Tuesday, April 21, 7 p.m. ET
Game 3: at Philadelphia on Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. ET
Game 4: at Philadelphia on Sunday, April 26, 7 p.m. ET
Game 5 (if necessary): at Boston on Tuesday, April 28, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): at Philadelphia on Thursday, April 30, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): at Boston on Saturday, May 2, TBD
- 76ers face familiar playoff fate as Celtics dominate Game 1
- Minus Embiid, Maxey propels Sixers into playoffs
- Celtics tie NBA record with 29 3s, clinch No. 2 seed
- Shelburne: How Jaylen Brown turbocharged the Celtics back to title contention
- Bontemps: What NBA insiders are saying about Jayson Tatum’s return
Celtics trounce 76ers in Game 1
The Celtics cruise to a Game 1 victory and take a series lead vs. the 76ers.
(3) New York Knicks leads (6) Atlanta Hawks, 1-0
Game 1: Knicks 113, Hawks 102
Game 2: at New York on Monday, April 20, 8 p.m. ET
Game 3: at Atlanta on Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m. ET
Game 4: at Atlanta on Saturday, April 25, 6 p.m. ET
Game 5 (if necessary): at New York on Tuesday, April 28, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): at Atlanta on Thursday, April 30, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): at New York on Saturday, May 2, TBD
- Jalen Brunson nets 28 points; Knicks outlast Hawks in Game 1
- Hawks C Landale out for start of Knicks series
- Bridges extends games played streak after 23-second stint
- Goodwill: Five issues facing the Knicks ahead of the playoffs
KAT gets fired up after a 3 and a big defensive stop
Karl-Anthony Towns hits a clutch 3-pointer, then forces a turnover for the Knicks.
(4) Cleveland Cavalierslead (5) Toronto Raptors, 1-0
Game 1: Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113
Game 2: at Cleveland on Monday, April 20, 7 p.m. ET
Game 3: at Toronto on Thursday, April 23, 8 p.m. ET
Game 4: at Toronto on Sunday, April 26, 1 p.m. ET
Game 5 (if necessary): at Cleveland on Wednesday, April 29, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): at Toronto on Friday, May 1, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): at Cleveland on Sunday, May 3, TBD
- Spears: Cavaliers guard James Harden is ‘here for a reason
- Mitchell scores 32 as Cavaliers defeat Raptors 126-113 in Game 1 of East first-round series
Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game Highlights
Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game Highlights
Western Conference first round
(1) Oklahoma City Thunderleads (8) Phoenix Suns, 1-0
Game 1: Thunder 119, Suns 84
Game 2: at Oklahoma City on Wednesday, April 22, 9:30 p.m. ET
Game 3: at Phoenix on Saturday, April 25, 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 4: at Phoenix on Monday, April 27, TBD
Game 5 (if necessary): at Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 29, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): at Phoenix on Friday, May 1, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): at Oklahoma City on Sunday, May 3, TBD
- Oklahoma City Thunder dominant in opener, rout Phoenix Suns
- Kram: The wildest facts of SGA’s scoring streak
- Slater: Chet Holmgren is ready to show the NBA why his best is yet to come
- MacMahon: The young Thunder are building a dynasty
SGA comes up with great block for the Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander denies Oso Ighodaro at the rim with a nice block for the Thunder.
(2) San Antonio Spurs lead (7) Portland Trail Blazers, 1-0
Game 1: Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98
Game 2: at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 21, 8 p.m. ET
Game 3: at Portland on Friday, April 24, 10:30 p.m. ET
Game 4: at Portland on Sunday, April 26, 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 5 (if necessary): at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 28, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): at Portland on Thursday, April 30, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): at San Antonio on Saturday, May 2, TBD
- Trail Blazers beat Suns, clinch playoff spot
- Wembanyama hits 65 games as he checks another ‘box’
- Wright: Inside the Spurs’ 365-day turnaround
Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs: Game Highlights
Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs: Game Highlights
(3) Denver Nuggets lead (6) Minnesota Timberwolves, 1-0
Game 1: Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105
Game 2: at Denver on Monday, April 20, 10:30 p.m. ET
Game 3: at Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 9:30 p.m. ET
Game 4: at Minnesota on Saturday, April 25, 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 5 (if necessary): at Denver on Monday, April 27, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): at Minnesota on Thursday, April 30, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): at Denver on Saturday, May 2, TBD
- Keown: In search of the real Nikola Jokić
- Murray’s 16-for-16 night at line lifts Nuggets in Game 1 win
Nuggets take Game 1 with 116-105 win
The Nuggets use a big third quarter to take Game 1 over the Timberwolves.
(4) Los Angeles Lakerslead (5) Houston Rockets, 1-0
Game 1: Lakers 107, Rockets 98
Game 2: at Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 21, 10:30 p.m. ET
Game 3: at Houston on Friday, April 24, 8 p.m. ET
Game 4: at Houston on Sunday, April 26, 9:30 p.m. ET
Game 5 (if necessary): at Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 29, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): at Houston on Friday, May 1, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): at Los Angeles on Sunday, May 3, TBD
- LeBron plays ‘triple threat’ as Lakers upset Rockets in Game 1
- Luka Doncic eligible for NBA season awards
- Redick on short-handed Lakers: ‘Everybody wants to play us’
- McMenamin: Inside Marcus Smart’s incredible return from The Punch
- Wright: How the Rockets bullied their way to one of the NBA’s best offenses
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Game Highlights
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Game Highlights
NBA Finals schedule
The 2026 NBA Finals will begin Wednesday, June 3, with each game tipping off at 8:30 p.m. ET. ABC will broadcast each game.
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
