2026 NBA playoff bracket: matchups, schedule, and postseason field finalized

2026 NBA playoff bracket: matchups, schedule, and postseason field finalized

The NBA playoff bracket for 2026 has been decided. All 20 seeds have been locked in, and the postseason begins on Tuesday with the Play-In Tournament. On Sunday, the Raptors clinched the final top-six seed and a playoff berth in the East, while the Nuggets defeated the Lakers to secure the No. 3 seed in the West.

The Play-In Tournament will run through Friday, with the first round of the playoffs beginning on Saturday (April 18). The play-in will determine the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in each conference, but we already know four of the eight first-round games.

In the East, the No. 3 Knicks will face the No. 6 Hawks, while the No. 4 Cavaliers will take on the No. 5 Raptors. In the West, the Nuggets face the Timberwolves in the conference’s 3-6 matchup, while the Lakers face the Rockets in the 4-5 matchup.

The Pistons, Celtics, Thunder, and Spurs await the victors of the Play-In Tournament. The Celtics, as the East’s second seed, will play either the 76ers or the Magic in the first round, while the Spurs will face either the Suns or the Trail Blazers in Victor Wembanyama’s playoff debut.

Here’s the now-official 2026 NBA playoff bracket.

2026 NBA Playoff Picture and Postseason Bracket
Play-in Tournament

East:

No. 7 76ers vs. No. 8 Magic; No. 9 Hornets vs. No. 10 Heat. 10 Heat

West:

No. 7 Suns vs. No. 8 Trail Blazers | No. 9 Clippers vs. No. 10 Warriors.

East first round:

No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 TBD, No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 TBD, No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Hawks, No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Raptors.

West first round:

No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 TBD, No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 TBD, No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Timberwolves, and No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets.

Play-In Tournament Schedule
Tuesday, April 14.

Hornets vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime—The loser is eliminated from the postseason.
Suns vs. Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ET, Prime—The winner of this game will receive the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.
Wednesday, April 15

76ers against. Magic, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner receives the East No. 7 seed.
Clippers against. The game between the Warriors and the Clippers starts at 10 p.m. ET on Prime, and the loser will be eliminated from the postseason.

Friday, April 17.

76ers/Magic vs. Hornets/Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime—Winner receives the East No. 8 seed; loser is ousted from the postseason.
Suns/Trail Blazers vs. Clippers/Warriors, 10 p.m. ET, Prime—Winner receives West No. 8 seed; loser is ousted from postseason.
2026 NBA playoff schedule
All times are Eastern. Fubo streams ABC and ESPN games (try it for free).

Saturday, April 18.

No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Raptors, 1 p.m., Prime

No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Timberwolves, 3:30 p.m., Prime

No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Hawks, 6 p.m., Prime

No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets, 8:30 p.m., ABC/fubo

Sunday, April 19:

No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Raptors, 1 p.m., Prime; No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Timberwolves, 3:30 p.m., Prime; No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Hawks, 6 p.m., Prime; No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets, 8:30 p.m., ABC/fubo.

No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 TBD, 1 p.m., ABC/fubo; No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 TBD, 3:30 p.m., ABC/fubo; No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 TBD, 6:30 p.m., NBC; No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 TBD, 9 p.m.

• Key dates for the 2026 NBA playoffs.
  April 18-19: First-round series begins.
  May 2-4: The second round begins.
  May 10: 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.
  May 19: The Eastern Conference Finals begin.
  May 20: The Western Conference Finals begin.
  June 3: NBA Finals Game 1
  June 19, NBA Finals Game 7