2026 NBA playoff bracket: Matchups, schedule with postseason field finalized

Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports

The 2026 NBA playoff bracket is set. All 20 seeds are locked in, and the postseason gets started on Tuesday with the Play-In Tournament. In the East, the Raptors clinched the final top-six seed and a guaranteed playoff berth on Sunday, and the Nuggets closed out the regular season by clinching the No. 3 seed in the West over the Lakers.

The Play-In Tournament will run through Friday, and the first round of the playoffs will tip off on Saturday (April 18). The play-in will decide the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in both conferences, but we already know four of the eight first-round matchups. In the East, the No. 3 Knicks will face the No. 6 Hawks, and the No. 4 Cavaliers will go up against the No. 5 Raptors. In the West, it’s the Nuggets against the Timberwolves in the conference’s 3-6 matchup, and the Lakers facing the Rockets in the 4-5.

The Pistons, Celtics, Thunder and Spurs await the winners of the Play-In Tournament. The Celtics, as the East’s No. 2 seed, will face either the 76ers or the Magic in the first round; the Spurs will battle either the Suns or Trail Blazers in Victor Wembanyama’s playoff debut.

Here’s a look at the now official 2026 NBA playoff bracket.

2026 NBA playoff bracket

2026 NBA Playoff Picture

NBA postseason bracket

Play-In Tournament

East: No. 7 76ers vs. No. 8 Magic | No. 9 Hornets vs. No. 10 Heat
West: No. 7 Suns vs. No. 8 Trail Blazers | No. 9 Clippers vs. No. 10 Warriors

East first round
No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 TBD
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 TBD
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 TBD
No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Timberwolves
No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets

Play-In Tournament schedule

Tuesday, April 14

Hornets vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime — Loser is eliminated from postseason
Suns vs. Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets West No. 7 seed

Wednesday, April 15

76ers vs. Magic, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets East No. 7 seed
Clippers vs. Warriors, 10 p.m. ET, Prime — Loser is eliminated from postseason

Friday, April 17

76ers/Magic vs. Hornets/Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets East No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason
Suns/Trail Blazers vs. Clippers/Warriors, 10 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets West No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason