2026 NBA playoff bracket: Matchups, schedule as Magic advance to face Pistons

Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports

Only one spot remains in the 2026 NBA postseason field after the Magic crushed the Hornets 121-90 on Friday night to advance out of the Play-In Tournament and earn the East’s No. 8 seed. Their reward? A series with the top-seeded Pistons, beginning Sunday in Detroit.

After losing to the 76ers on Wednesday, the Magic stormed out to a 38-16 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, blowing out the Hornets, who were looking for their first official playoff berth since 2016.

With the Hornets eliminated, 17 teams remain in the 2026 NBA postseason bracket with the No. 8 seed in the West still to be decided later Friday night when the Suns host the Warriors. The Warriors knocked out the Clippers in an impressive Play-In Tournament comeback on Wednesday night. Stephen Curry led the way and got help from fellow veterans Al Horford and Draymond Green as the Warriors ended a strange season for Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. The Suns-Warriors winner will advance to face the Thunder in the first round.

Then, on Saturday, the 2026 NBA playoffs begin in earnest. There will be four Game 1s on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, and the full first-round schedule was unveiled by the league earlier this week. We now know seven of the eight first-round matchups: Pistons-Magic, Celtics-76ers, Knicks-Hawks and Cavaliers-Raptors in the East; Spurs-Trail Blazers, Nuggets-Timberwolves and Lakers-Rockets in the West.

Here’s a look at the up-to-date 2026 NBA playoff bracket.

2026 NBA playoff bracket

2026 NBA Playoff Picture

NBA postseason bracket

East first round
No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 Magic
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 76ers
No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Hawks
No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Raptors

West first round
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 TBD
No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 Trail Blazers
No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Timberwolves
No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets

Play-In Tournament schedule, scores

Tuesday, April 14

No. 9 Hornets 127, No. 10 Heat 126 (OT) — Miami is eliminated
No. 8 Trail Blazers 114, No. 7 Suns 110 — Portland wins West No. 7 seed

Wednesday, April 15

No. 7 76ers 109, No. 8 Magic 97 — Philadelphia wins East No. 7 seed
No. 10 Warriors 126, No. 9 Clippers 121 — Los Angeles is eliminated

Friday, April 17

Magic 121, Hornets 90 — Magic wins East No. 8 seed, Hornets eliminated from postseason
Suns vs. Warriors, 10 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets West No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason

2026 NBA playoffs schedule

All times Eastern. Games on ABC and ESPN are streaming on fubo (Try for free).

Saturday, April 18

Game 1: No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Raptors, 1 p.m., Prime
Game 1: No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Timberwolves, 3:30 p.m., Prime
Game 1: No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Hawks, 6 p.m., Prime
Game 1: No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets, 8:30 p.m., ABC/fubo

Sunday, April 19

Game 1: No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 76ers, 1 p.m., ABC/fubo
Game 1: No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 TBD, 3:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
Game 1: No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 Magic, 6:30 p.m., NBC
Game 1: No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 Trail Blazers, 9 p.m., NBC

Monday, April 20

Game 2: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, 7 p.m., Peacock
Game 2: Knicks vs. Hawks, 8 p.m., NBC
Game 2: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, 10:30 p.m., NBC

Tuesday, April 21

Game 2: Celtics vs. 76ers, 7 p.m., Peacock
Game 2: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers, 8 p.m., NBC
Game 2: Lakers vs. Rockets, 10:30 p.m., NBC

Wednesday, April 22

Game 2: Pistons vs. Magic, 7 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Game 2: Thunder vs. TBD, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Thursday, April 23

Game 3: Hawks vs. Knicks, 7 p.m., Prime
Game 3: Raptors vs. Cavaliers, 8 p.m., Prime
Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, 9:30 p.m., Prime

Friday, April 24

Game 3: 76ers vs. Celtics, 7 p.m., Prime
Game 3: Rockets vs. Lakers, 8 p.m., Prime
Game 3: Trail Blazers vs. Spurs, 10:30 p.m., Prime

Saturday, April 25

Game 3: Magic vs. Pistons, 1 p.m., Peacock
Game 4: Hawks vs. Knicks, 6 p.m., NBC
Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, 8:30 p.m., ABC/fubo

Sunday, April 26

Game 4: Raptors vs. Cavaliers, 1 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Game 4: Trail Blazers vs. Spurs, 3:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Game 4: 76ers vs. Celtics, 7 p.m., NBC
Game 4: Rockets vs. Lakers, 9:30 p.m., NBC

Monday, April 27

Game 4: Magic vs. Pistons, TBD
Game 4: TBD vs. Thunder, TBD
*Game 5: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, TBD

Tuesday, April 28

*Game 5: Celtics vs. 76ers, TBD
*Game 5: Knicks vs. Hawks, TBD
*Game 5: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers, TBD

Wednesday, April 29

*Game 5: Pistons vs. Magic, TBD
*Game 5: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, TBD
*Game 5: Thunder vs. TBD, TBD
*Game 5: Lakers vs. Rockets, TBD

Thursday, April 30

*Game 6: 76ers vs. Celtics, TBD
*Game 6: Hawks vs. Knicks, TBD
*Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, TBD

Friday, May 1

*Game 6: Magic vs. Pistons, TBD
*Game 6: Raptors vs. Cavaliers, TBD
*Game 6: TBD vs. Thunder, TBD
*Game 6: Rockets vs. Lakers, TBD

Saturday, May 2

*Game 7: Celtics vs. 76ers, TBD
*Game 7: Knicks vs. Hawks, TBD
*Game 7: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers, TBD
*Game 7: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, TBD

Sunday, May 3

*Game 7: Pistons vs. Magic, TBD
*Game 7: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, TBD
*Game 7: Thunder vs. TBD, TBD
*Game 7: Lakers vs. Rockets, TBD

2026 NBA playoffs key dates

April 18-19: First round begins
May 2-4: Second round begins
May 10: 2026 NBA Draft Lottery
May 19: Eastern Conference Finals begin
May 20: Western Conference Finals begin
June 3: NBA Finals Game 1
June 19: NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)