NBA Playoffs First Round 2026 Schedule and Key Dates

The NBA playoffs are finally here and we have some of the first round matchups locked in.

The defending champion Thunder, led by MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, enter the postseason with the best record in the NBA. They’ll be looking to defend the title they won by topping the Pacers in seven games in last year’s NBA Finals. The Spurs own the second-best record in baseball, and Victor Wembanyama’s young squad will be looking to dethrone Oklahoma City.

In the East, the Pistons emerged as a power this season. Led by Cade Cunningham, Detroit edge the Celtics for the top record in the conference and clinched the No. 1 seed.

The Nuggets, Knicks, Lakers, Cavaliers, Rockets and Timberwolves have all looked like potential threats as the regular season wound down, though LeBron James’s L.A. squad is dealing with devastating injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

The first round will be a dividing line. There are several intriguing matchups to watch.

The NBA playoffs will begin on April 18 after the play-in tournament runs from April 14 to 17. We don’t have a full playoff field yet but will by April 12, minus the final two spots in each conference that will be determined by the play-in tournament.

Here’s a look at the matchups and schedule for the opening round.

Eastern Conference first round schedule

No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 Seed

• Game 1: Sunday, April 19, 6:30 p.m. ET, NBC (Detroit)
• Game 2: Wednesday, April 22, 7 p.m. ET, NBC (Detroit)
• Game 3: Saturday, April 25, 1 p.m. ET, Peacock (at No. 8 seed)
• Game 4: Monday, April 27, TBD (at No. 8 seed)
• Game 5: If necessary—Wednesday, April 29, TBD (at No. 8 seed)
• Game 6: If necessary—Friday, May 1, TBD (at No. 8 seed)
• Game 7: If necessary—Sunday, May 3, TBD (Detroit)

No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Seed

• Game 1: Sunday, April 19, 1 p.m. ET, ABC (Boston)
• Game 2: Tuesday, April 21, 7 p.m. ET, Peacock (Boston)
• Game 3: Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. ET, Prime (at No. 7 seed)
• Game 4: Sunday, April 26, 7 p.m. ET, NBC (at No. 7 seed)
• Game 5: If necessary—Tuesday, April 28, TBD (Boston)
• Game 6: If necessary—Thursday, April 30, TBD (at No. 7 seed)
• Game 7: If necessary—Saturday, May 2, TBD (Boston)

No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks

• Game 1: Saturday, April 18, 6 p.m. ET, Prime (New York)
• Game 2: Monday, April 20, 8 p.m. ET, NBC (New York)
• Game 3: Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m. ET, Prime (Atlanta)
• Game 4: Saturday, April 25, 6 p.m. ET, NBC (Atlanta)
• Game 5: If necessary—Tuesday, April 28, TBD (New York)
• Game 6: If necessary—Thursday, April 30, TBD (Atlanta)
• Game 7: If necessary—Saturday, May 2, TBD (New York)

No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors

• Game 1: Saturday, April 18, 1 p.m. ET, Prime (Cleveland)
• Game 2: Monday, April 20, 7 p.m. ET, Peacock (Cleveland)
• Game 3: Thursday, April 23, 8 p.m. ET, Prime Video (Toronto)
• Game 4: Sunday, April 26, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN (Toronto)
• Game 5: If necessary—Wednesday, April 29, TBD (Cleveland)
• Game 6: If necessary—Friday, May 1, TBD (Toronto)
• Game 7: If necessary—Sunday, May 3, TBD (Cleveland)

Western Conference first round schedule

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 Seed

• Game 1: Sunday, April 19, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (Oklahoma City)
• Game 2: Wednesday, April 22, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN (Oklahoma City)
• Game 3: Saturday, April 25, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC (at No. 8 seed)
• Game 4: Monday, April 27, TBD, TBD (at No. 8 seed)
• Game 5: If necessary—Wednesday, April 29, TBD (Oklahoma City)
• Game 6: If necessary—Friday, May 1, TBD (at No. 8 seed)
• Game 7: If necessary—Sunday, May 3, TBD (Oklahoma City)

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers

• Game 1: Sunday, April 19, 9 p.m. ET, NBC (San Antonio)
• Game 2: Tuesday, April 21, 8 p.m. ET, NBC (San Antonio)
• Game 3: Friday, April 24, 10:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video (Portland)
• Game 4: Sunday, April 26, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN (Portland)
• Game 5: If necessary—Tuesday, April 28, TBD (San Antonio)
• Game 6: If necessary—Thursday, April 30, TBD (Portland)
• Game 7: If necessary—Saturday, May 2, TBD (San Antonio)

No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves

• Game 1: Saturday, April 18, 3:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video (Denver)
• Game 2: Monday, April 20, 10:30 p.m. ET, NBC (Denver)
• Game 3: Thursday, April 23, 9:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video (Minnesota)
• Game 4: Saturday, April 25, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC (Minnesota)
• Game 5: If necessary—Monday, April 27, TBD (Denver)
• Game 6: If necessary—Thursday, April 30, TBD (Minnesota)
• Game 7: If necessary—Saturday, May 2, TBD (Denver)

No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets

• Game 1: Saturday, April 18, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC (Los Angeles)
• Game 2: Tuesday, April 21, 10:30 p.m. ET, NBC (Los Angeles)
• Game 3: Friday, April 24, 8 p.m. ET, Prime Video (Houston)
• Game 4: Sunday, April 26, 9:30 p.m. ET, NBC (Houston)
• Game 5: If necessary—Wednesday, April 29, TBD (Los Angeles)
• Game 6: If necessary—Friday, May 1, TBD (Houston)
• Game 7: If necessary—Sunday, May 3 TBD (Los Angeles)

NBA playoffs first round broadcast information

The NBA postseason will look a bit different this season. The league has three broadcast parters that will each have a big chunk of games.

ESPN/ABC will broadcast approximately 18 games in the first two rounds.

NBC/Peacock is set to have approximately 28 games in the first two rounds.

Prime Video will air the entire play-in tournament, as well as one-third of the games in the opening two rounds of the playoffs.

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