2026 NBA playoffs schedule: Game times, dates unveiled for entire first round
The 2026 NBA playoffs kicked off on April 18, and game times are set through May 3
By
Brad Botkin
Apr 18, 2026
at
1:01 pm ET
•
3 min read
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The 2026 NBA playoffs are underway, and the full schedule for the first round is set. The playoffs tipped off Saturday, and the first round, with eight best-of-seven series, could run through May 3. The NBA unveiled the full schedule for the first round late on Tuesday night.
The Play-In Tournament wrapped up Friday night and determined the final two first-round series. In the East, the top-seeded Pistons are going up against the eighth-seeded Magic, the second-seeded Celtics will take on the seventh-seeded 76ers, the third-seeded Knicks will face the sixth-seeded Hawks, and the fourth-seeded Cavaliers will square off with the fifth-seeded Raptors.
In the West, it’s Thunder-Suns in the 1-8 matchup, Spurs-Trail Blazers in the 2-7, Nuggets-Timberwolves in the 3-6 and Lakers-Rockets in the 4-5. The Nuggets and Wolves are meeting in the postseason for the third time in four years. The Lakers vs. Rockets matchup, meanwhile, pits LeBron James against Kevin Durant in the playoffs for the first time since the 2018 NBA Finals when Durant’s Warriors beat James’ Cavaliers.
2026 NBA playoffs schedule: First round
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 TBD, 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. TBD, 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: TBD 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
