The chase for the Larry O’Brien Trophy is officially on! Every night of the 2026 NBA Playoffs brings fresh drama, from superstar takeovers to bracket-busting upsets that can flip the postseason picture in a heartbeat.
Whether you're tracking every first-round matchup, checking the latest results, or looking ahead to what's next, our NBA bracket hub has you covered.
Follow along for live scores, updated schedules, and playoff format details to help guide your NBA picks.
2026 NBA playoffs bracket
2026 NBA Playoffs matchups and results
First Round - East
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) TBD
- Game 1: April 19
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) TBD
- Game 1: April 19
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
- Game 1: April 18
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
- Game 1: April 18
First Round - West
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) TBD
- Game 1: April 19
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) TBD
- Game 1: April 19
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
- Game 1: April 18
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
- Game 1: April 18
2026 NBA Playoffs schedule
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NBA Play-In Tournament | April 14-17 |
| NBA Playoffs begin | April 18 |
| NBA Conference Semifinals | TBD |
| NBA Conference Finals | TBD |
| NBA Finals Game 1 | June 3 |
| NBA Finals Game 2 | June 5 |
| NBA Finals Game 3 | June 8 |
| NBA Finals Game 4 | June 10 |
| NBA Finals Game 5 (if necessary) | June 13 |
| NBA Finals Game 6 (if necessary) | June 16 |
| NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary) | June 19 |
NBA playoff format
The NBA playoffs adopt a format designed to favor successful teams while giving underdogs a shot at the championship. Here's a brief look at the structure:
- The postseason begins with a Play-In Tournament featuring the 7th through 10th-ranked teams in each conference. This extends from April 14 to 17.
- The NBA Playoffs kick off with the first round on April 18, where the top one to six teams in each conference join the winners of the Play-In.
- The matchups are set as No. 1 vs. No. 8 seed, No. 2 vs. No. 7 seed, No. 3 vs. No. 6 seed, and No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed.
- Each playoff round, including the Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and NBA Finals, features a seven-game series.
- In these series, the higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, 5 (if necessary), and 7 (if necessary) following a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
- The NBA Finals start on June 3.
Looking for more intel? Our NBA Championship odds breaks down the clubs with the best odds of winning the NBA Finals. And be sure to check out our NBA Finals MVP odds page to see which player is most likely to hoist the Bill Russell Trophy when the dust settles.
NBA Playoff Bracket FAQs
The Play-In Tournament starts on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The first round of the NBA Playoffs start on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
A total of 16 teams, eight from each conference, make the NBA Playoffs.
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals tips off on Wednesday, June 3 at 8:30 pm ET. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
Yes. Once the NBA playoff field is set, the bracket is fixed, meaning teams advance through a predetermined path based on their seed. There is no re-seeding after each round, so matchups are determined by the original bracket.
