2026 NBA playoff bracket: Matchups, schedule with first round underway
The 2026 NBA playoffs are underway with eight first-round matchups
By
Brad Botkin
Apr 18, 2026
at
4:30 pm ET
•
3 min read
Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports
The 2026 NBA playoff field is officially set after the Suns held off Stephen Curry and the Warriors on Friday night to advance out of the Play-In Tournament and clinch the West’s No. 8 seed. Jalen Green’s 36 points led the way for the Suns, who held Curry to just 17 points on 4 of 16 shooting. Next for Phoenix is a first-round matchup with the defending champion Thunder. Earlier Friday, the Magic crushed the Hornets to earn the East’s No. 8 seed.
Orlando will take on the top-seeded Pistons, beginning Sunday in Detroit. 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 and Warriors eliminated, 16 teams remain in the 2026 NBA postseason bracket. And on Saturday, the 2026 NBA playoffs began in earnest. There are four Game 1s on Saturday and Sunday, and the full first-round schedule was unveiled by the league earlier this week. We now know all eight first-round matchups: Pistons-Magic, Celtics-76ers, Knicks-Hawks and Cavaliers-Raptors in the East; Thunder-Suns, 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
Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports
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 126, No. 5 Raptors 113
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 Suns, 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. Suns, 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
