The 2026 NBA Playoffs are right around the corner.
Right now, 20 teams are still alive for a shot at the Larry O’Brien Trophy. However, eight of those teams still have work to do before their playoff journey can begin in earnest. Things start Tuesday with the Play-In Tournament, when four teams from the Eastern Conference and four teams from the Western Conference compete for the final two spots in each conference.
Here is the schedule for the Play-In Tournament as well as the First Round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. And be careful, if you want to watch all the games, you better have Prime Video.
Here is the final bracket for the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Remember, the NBA does not do reseeding.
Eastern Conference Play-In
The Eastern Conference Play-In tournament begins Tuesday, April 15. The Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets meet in the first game, with the loser eliminated from postseason contention. The winner will face the loser of Wednesday’s game between No. 8 Orlando and No. 7 Philadelphia, and the winner of that game will clinch the seventh seed in the East.
The loser of that second game will drop to the number 8 spot.
No. 9 Charlotte Hornets 127, No. 10 Miami Heat 126 (OT)
Miami eliminated
Orlando Magic No. 8 vs. Philadelphia 76ers No. 7: Wednesday, April 15 (7:30 p.m., Prime Video)
The winner secures seventh place in the East
No. 7/No. 8 underdog vs. No. 9 Charlotte Hornets: Friday, April 17 (7:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Winner secures No. 8 seed in East, loser eliminated
Western Conference Play-In
In the Western Conference, the Play-In Tournament begins with the Phoenix Suns hosting the Portland Trail Blazers, and the winner of that Tuesday game will clinch the No. 7 seed. The loser will face the winner of Wednesday’s game between No. 10 Golden State and No. 9 Los Angeles.
No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers vs. No. 7 Phoenix Suns, Tuesday, April 14 (10:00 p.m., Prime Video)
The winner secures the number 7 spot in the West
Golden State Warriors No. 10 vs. Los Angeles Clippers No. 9: Wednesday, April 15 (10:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Loser eliminated
No. 7/No. 8 loser vs. No. 9/No. Winner 10: Friday, April 17 (10:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Winner secures No. 8 seed in West, loser eliminated
Eastern Conference playoffs
Six teams await in the Eastern Conference, led by the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. They will face the No. 8 seed in the first round, while the Boston Celtics, who check in as the No. 2 seed in the East, will face the No. 7 seed.
The other two first-round matchups are already set: No. 3 New York against No. 6 Atlanta, and No. 4 Cleveland against No. 5 Toronto.
No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 (to be determined)
Game 1: TBD at Detroit: Sunday, April 19 (6:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 2: TBD at Detroit: TBD
Game 3: Detroit on TBD: TBD
Game 4: Detroit on TBD: TBD
Game 5: TBD in Detroit: TBD*
Game 6: Detroit on TBD: TBD*
Game 7: TBD in Detroit: TBD*
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 (TBD)
Game 1: TBD at Boston: Sunday, April 19 (1:00 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: TBD in Boston: TBD
Game 3: Boston on TBD: TBD
Game 4: Boston on TBD: TBD
Game 5: TBD in Boston: TBD*
Game 6: Boston on TBD: TBD*
Game 7: TBD in Boston: TBD*
No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks
Game 1: Atlanta at New York: Saturday, April 18 (6:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 2: Atlanta at New York: TBD
Game 3: New York at Atlanta: TBD
Game 4: New York at Atlanta: TBD
Game 5: Atlanta at New York: TBD*
Game 6: New York at Atlanta: TBD*
Game 7: Atlanta at New York: TBD*
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors
Game 1: Toronto at Cleveland: Saturday, April 18 (1:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 2: Toronto at Cleveland: TBD
Game 3: Cleveland at Toronto: TBD
Game 4: Cleveland at Toronto: TBD
Game 5: Toronto at Cleveland: TBD*
Game 6: Cleveland at Toronto: TBD*
Game 7: Toronto at Cleveland: TBD*
Western Conference playoffs
In the Western Conference, the defending champions are awaiting the results of the Play-In Tournament, as the Thunder will have their field in the First Round against the No. 8 seed. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs clinched the No. 2 seed and will face the No. 7 seed.
The other two Western Conference matchups are set. In the first, No. 3 Denver will face No. 6 Minnesota, while in the second, No. 4 Los Angeles will face No. 5 Houston.
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 (to be determined)
Game 1: TBD at Oklahoma City: Sunday, April 19 (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: TBD at Oklahoma City: TBD
Game 3: Oklahoma City on TBD: TBD
Game 4: Oklahoma City on TBD: TBD
Game 5: TBD at Oklahoma City: TBD*
Game 6: Oklahoma City on TBD: TBD*
Game 7: TBD at Oklahoma City: TBD*
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 (to be determined)
Game 1: TBD at San Antonio: Sunday, April 19 (9:00 p.m., NBC)
Game 2: TBD in San Antonio: TBD
Game 3: San Antonio on TBD: TBD
Game 4: San Antonio on TBD: TBD
Game 5: TBD in San Antonio: TBD*
Game 6: San Antonio on TBD: TBD*
Game 7: TBD in San Antonio: TBD*
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: Minnesota at Denver: Saturday, April 18 (3:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 2: Minnesota at Denver: TBD
Game 3: Denver at Minnesota: TBD
Game 4: Denver at Minnesota: TBD
Game 5: Minnesota at Denver: TBD*
Game 6: Denver at Minnesota: TBD*
Game 7: Minnesota at Denver: TBD*
No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets
Game 1: Houston at Los Angeles: Saturday, April 18 (8:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: Houston at Los Angeles: TBD
Game 3: Los Angeles at Houston: TBD
Game 4: Los Angeles at Houston: TBD
Game 5: Houston at Los Angeles: TBD*
Game 6: Los Angeles at Houston: TBD*
Game 7: Houston at Los Angeles: TBD*