2026 NBA playoff bracket: Matchups, schedule as Thunder advance with sweep of Suns
The Thunder pulled off their third straight first-round sweep and became the first team to advance in the 2026 NBA playoffs
By
Brad Botkin
Apr 28, 2026
at
1:19 am ET
•
3 min read
Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports
The reigning champion Thunder are moving on in the 2026 NBA playoffs. OKC became the first team to reach the second round as the top-seeded Thunder finished a sweep of the eighth-seeded Suns on Monday night. The Thunder will face either the Lakers or the Rockets in the second round. They’re the only team to pull off a first-round sweep in 2026, and it’s the third consecutive season that the Thunder have swept their first-round opponent.
Five other teams are one win away from joining the Thunder in the second round, including a surprise in the East. The eighth-seeded Magic took down the top-seeded Pistons again on Monday night to take a 3-1 series lead. The Pistons, who scored 88 points on Monday and are averaging just 98 points in the series, will try to keep their season alive on Wednesday.
The Timberwolves — who missed a chance to advance as they lost Game 5 against the Nuggets on Monday night — Spurs, Lakers and Celtics are also leading their respective series and can close things out with one more win. Knicks-Hawks and Cavaliers-Raptors are both tied 2-2 and are guaranteed to go at least six games.
The postseason field was already trimmed from 20 teams to 16 as the Play-In Tournament wrapped up earlier this month. The Heat, Clippers, Hornets and Warriors were all knocked out during the play-in, while the 76ers, Magic, Trail Blazers and Suns made the playoff field.
Here’s a look at the up-to-date 2026 NBA playoff bracket.
2026 NBA playoff bracket
Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports
2026 NBA playoffs schedule
All times Eastern. Games on ABC and ESPN are streaming on fubo (Try for free).
Monday, April 27
Game 4: Magic 94, Pistons 88 (Orlando leads 3-1)
Game 4: Thunder 131, Suns 122 (OKC wins 4-0)
Game 5: Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 113 (Minnesota leads 3-2)
Tuesday, April 28
Game 5: Celtics vs. 76ers, 7 p.m., ESPN/fubo (Boston leads 3-1)
Game 5: Knicks vs. Hawks, 8 p.m., NBC (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo (San Antonio leads 3-1)
Wednesday, April 29
Game 5: Pistons vs. Magic, 7 p.m., Prime (Orlando leads 3-1)
Game 5: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, 7:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5: Lakers vs. Rockets, 10 p.m., ESPN/fubo (L.A. leads 3-1)
Thursday, April 30
*Game 6: 76ers vs. Celtics, TBD
Game 6: Hawks vs. Knicks, TBD
Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, TBD (Minnesota leads 3-2)
