2026 NBA playoff bracket: Matchups, schedule as Lakers advance, Pistons, Raptors force Game 7s
While the second round in the West is set, the Knicks are the only team to move on in the East
By
Brad Botkin
May 2, 2026
at
12:25 am ET
•
3 min read
Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports
Three of the four first-round series in the Eastern Conference are heading to a decisive Game 7 in the 2026 NBA playoffs. After the 76ers forced a Game 7 with a win over the Celtics on Thursday, the Pistons and Raptors followed suit on Friday.
The top-seeded Pistons overcame a 22-point halftime deficit to stun the Magic in Orlando. Detroit outscored the Magic 55-19 in the second half as Orlando endured a stretch of 23 straight missed shots in a historically inept offensive performance. Later Friday, RJ Barrett hit a dramatic 3-pointer — a shot that included an improbably high bounce off the rim — with 1.9 seconds left in overtime to lift the Raptors over the Cavaliers, 112-110.
The Knicks are the only team in the East that has advanced. They demolished the Hawks in Game 6 on Thursday night, outscoring Atlanta by 47 in the first half on the Hawks’ home floor en route to a 51-point victory.
Later Friday night, the Lakers cruised to a blowout victory over the Rockets and will now move on and face the top-seeded Thunder. The Lakers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the series and, after back-to-back losses in Games 4 and 5, managed to close things out on the road in Game 6.
Elsewhere in the West, the Timberwolves are moving on and Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets are going home. The Wolves, missing Anthony Edwards and three other key rotation players, eliminated the Nuggets on Thursday night, winning Game 6 at home. It’s the second time in three seasons that Minnesota has ended Denver’s season, and the Wolves will face the Spurs in the second round as they look to make their third straight Western Conference finals.
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).
Friday, May 1
Game 6: Pistons 93, Magic 79 (Series tied 3-3)
Game 6: Raptors 112, Cavaliers 110 (Series tied 3-3)
Game 6: Lakers 98, Rockets 78 (L.A. wins series 4-2)
Saturday, May 2
Game 7: Celtics vs. 76ers, 7:30 p.m., NBC (Series tied 3-3)
Sunday, May 3
Game 7: Pistons vs. Magic, 3:30 p.m., ABC (Series tied 3-3)
Game 7: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, 7:30 p.m., NBC (Series tied 3-3)
First-round scores
Saturday, April 18
Game 1: No. 4 Cavaliers 126, No. 5 Raptors 113
Game 1: No. 3 Nuggets 116, No. 6 Timberwolves 105
Game 1: No. 3 Knicks 112, No. 6 Hawks 102
Game 1: No. 4 Lakers 107, No. 5 Rockets 98
Sunday, April 19
Game 1: No. 2 Celtics 123, No. 7 76ers 91
Game 1: No. 1 Thunder 119, No. 8 Suns 84
Game 1: No. 8 Magic 112, No. 1 Pistons 101
Game 1: No. 2 Spurs 111, No. 7 Trail Blazers 98
Monday, April 20
Game 2: Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
Game 2: Hawks 107, Knicks 106
Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114
Tuesday, April 21
Game 2: 76ers 111, Celtics 97
Game 2: Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103
Game 2: Lakers 101, Rockets 94
Wednesday, April 22
Game 2: Pistons 98, Magic 83
Game 2: Thunder 120, Suns 107
Thursday, April 23
Game 3: Hawks 109, Knicks 108
Game 3: Raptors 126, Cavaliers 104
Game 3: Timberwolves 113, Nuggets 96
Friday, April 24
Game 3: Celtics 108, 76ers 100
Game 3: Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT)
Game 3: Spurs 120, Trail Blazers 108
Saturday, April 25
Game 3: Magic 113, Pistons 105
Game 3: Thunder 121, Suns 109
Game 4: Knicks 114, Hawks 98
Game 4: Timberwolves 112, Nuggets 96
Sunday, April 26
Game 4: Raptors 93, Cavaliers 89
Game 4: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 93
Game 4: Celtics 128, 76ers 96
Game 4: Rockets 115, Lakers 96
Monday, April 27
Game 4: Magic 94, Pistons 88
Game 4: Thunder 131, Suns 122 (OKC wins 4-0)
Game 5: Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 113
Tuesday, April 28
Game 5: 76ers 113, Celtics 97
Game 5: Knicks 126, Hawks 97
Game 5: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 95 (San Antonio wins 4-1)
Wednesday, April 29
Game 5: Pistons 116, Magic 109
Game 5: Cavaliers 125, Raptors 120
Game 5: Rockets 99, Lakers 93
Thursday, April 30
Game 6: Knicks 140, Hawks 89 (New York wins 4-2)
Game 6: 76ers 106, Celtics 93
Game 6: Timberwolves 110, Nuggets 98 (Minnesota wins 4-2)
