NBA Playoffs bracket 2026: Updated schedule, TV channels, scores for every round of postseason games
The NBA Playoffs are officially here. After 82 games of grinding through the regular season, the marathon has finally turned into a sprint, as the 2025-26 postseason field is set to narrow through the high-stakes crucible of the Play-In Tournament.
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons completed a historic resurgence to claim the top seed but had to rally from a 3-1 deficit to reach the second round alongside the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers.
In the West, the defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder locked up the No. 1 seed and had a far easier time in the opening round, moving on with the San Antonio Spurs right behind them and the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves also still alive.
The margin for error has vanished, and the quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy is finally underway.
Here's everything you need to know for the 2026 NBA playoffs, from schedule to streaming information.
NBA playoffs bracket 2026
Click here for the 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News and see below for series schedules and scores.
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Where to watch NBA Playoffs 2026: TV channels, live streams
• TV channels: ABC | ESPN | NBC
• Live streams: DIRECTV | ESPN app | Peacock | Prime Video
NBA Playoff action is spread across ABC, ESPN, NBC and Prime Video, though the NBA Finals remain the exclusive domain of ABC. Fans have a wide range of streaming options to catch the postseason, including Prime, the ESPN app, and Peacock, with each service carrying specific games depending on their broadcast rights.
All games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBC are delhi capitals vs kolkata knight riders standings also available via DIRECTV Stream.
Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
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NBA Playoffs 2026: Updated schedule, scores for every round
Eastern Conference second round
(1) Pistons vs. (4) Cavs - Detroit leads 2-1Date Game Time (ET) Watch
May 5 Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavs 101 — —
May 7 Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavs 97 — —
May 9 Game 3: Cavs 116, Pistons 109 — —
May 11 Game 4 at Cleveland 8 p.m. NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV
May 13 Game 5 at Detroit 7 or 8 p.m. ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV
May 15 Game 6 at Cleveland* TBD TBD
May 17 Game 7 at Detroit* TBD TBD
* If necessary
(3) Knicks vs. (7) 76ers - New York wins 4-0Date Game Time (ET) Watch
May 4 Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98 — —
May 6 Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102 — —
May 8 Game 3: Knicks 108, 76ers 94 — —
May 10 Game 4: Knicks 144, 76ers 114 — —
Western Conference second round
(1) Thunder vs. (4) Lakers - Oklahoma City leads 3-0Date Game Time (ET) Watch
May 5 Game 1: Thunder 108, Lakers 90 — —
May 7 Game 2: Thunder 125, Lakers 107 — —
May 9 Game 3: Thunder 131, Lakers 108 — —
May 11 Game 4 at Los Angeles 10:30 p.m. Prime Video
May 13 Game 5 at Oklahoma City* 9:30 p.m. ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV
May 16 Game 6 at Los Angeles* TBD TBD
May 18 Game 7 at Oklahoma City* TBD TBD
* If necessary
(2) Spurs vs. Timberwolves - Tied 2-2Date Game Time (ET) Watch
May 4 Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102 — —
May 6 Game 2: Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95 — —
May 8 Game 3: Spurs 115, Timberwolves 108 chelsea manager candidate xavi — wolfsburg vs bayern —
May 10 Game 4: Timberwolves 114, Spurs 109 — —
May 12 Game 5 at San Antonio 8 p.m. NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV
May 15 Game 6 at Minnesota TBD TBD
May 17 Game 7 at San Antonio* TBD TBD
* If necessary
Eastern Conference first round
(1) Pistons vs. (8) Magic - Detroit wins 4-3Date Game Time (ET) Watch
Sun., April 19 Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101 — —
Wed., April 22 Game 2: Pistons 98, Magic 83 — —
Sat., April 25 Game 3: Magic 113, Pistons 105 — —
Mon., April 27 Game 4: Magic 94, Pistons 88 — —
Wed., April 29 Game 5: Pistons 116, Magic 109 — —
Fri., May 1 Game 6: Pistons 93, Magic 79 — —
Sun., May 3 Game 7: Pistons 116, Magic 94 — —
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Sixers - Philadelphia wins 4-3Date Game Time (ET) Watch
Sun., April 19 Game 1: Celtics 123, Sixers 91 — —
Tue., April 21 Game 2: Sixers 111, Celtics 97 — —
Fri., April 24 Game 3: Celtics 108, Sixers 100 — —
Sun., April 26 Game 4: Celtics 128, Sixers 96 — —
Tue., April 28 Game 5: Sixers 113, Celtics 97 — —
Thu., April 30 Game 6: Sixers 106, Celtics 93 — —
Sat., May 2 Game 7: Sixers 109, Celtics 100
Play-In TournamentDate Game
Tue., April 14 Hornets 127, Heat 126 (OT)
Trail Blazers 114, Suns 110
Wed., April 15 Sixers 109, Magic 97
Warriors 126, Clippers 121
Fri., April 17 Magic 121, Hornets 90
Suns 111, Warriors 96
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