NBA Playoffs schedule 2026: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels, live streams to watch every series
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NBA Playoffs schedule 2026: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels, live streams to watch every series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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.
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NBA Playoffs schedule 2026
This section will be filled in when series schedules are announced.
Play-In Tournament
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue., April 14 | Hornets 127, Heat 126 (OT) | — | — |
| Trail Blazers 114, Suns 110 | — | — | |
| Wed., April 15 | Sixers 109, Magic 97 | — | — |
| Clippers vs. Warriors | 10 p.m. | Prime Video | |
| Fri., April 17 | Hornets vs. Magic | 7:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Suns vs. Clippers/Warriors winner | 10 p.m. | Prime Video |
Eastern Conference first round
(1) Pistons vs. (8) TBD
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 East No. 8 | 1 p.m. | Peacock |
| Mon., April 27 | Game 4 at East No. 8 | TBD | TBD |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 at Detroit* | TBD | TBD |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6 at East No. 8* | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7 at Detroit* | TBD | TBD |
* if necessary
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Sixers
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1 at Boston | 1 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app |
| 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
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1 at New York | 6 p.m. | Prime Video |
| 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
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1 at Cleveland | 1 p.m. | Prime Video |
| 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) TBD
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 West No. 8 | 3:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Mon., April 27 | Game 4 at West No. 8 | TBD | TBD |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 at Oklahoma City* | TBD | TBD |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6 at West No. 8* | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7 at Oklahoma City* | TBD | TBD |
* if necessary
(2) Spurs vs. (7) Trail Blazers
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1 at Denver | 3:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| 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
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1 at Los Angeles | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app |
| 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
NBA playoffs bracket 2026
The bracket will be updated as teams are locked into seeds.
Eastern Conference
- (1) Pistons vs. (8) Play-In TBD
- (2) Celtics vs. (7) Sixers
- (3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks
- (4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors
Western Conference
- (1) Thunder vs. (8) Play-In TBD
- (2) Spurs vs. (7) Trail Blazers
- (3) Nuggets vs. (6) Timberwolves
- (4) Lakers vs. (5) Rockets
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
