NBA Playoffs 2026 full schedule: Dates, times and first-round matchups

The 2026 NBA Playoffs are officially set following the conclusion of the play-in tournament, with all 16 teams now locked into the bracket and the full first-round schedule beginning to take shape.

The postseason tips off April 18, with every Game 1 scheduled across April 18–19 as the league rolls into its traditional best-of-seven format.

Eastern Conference first-round schedule

*all times listed in Eastern

Saturday, April 18

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

Sunday, April 19

• Game 1: No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 76ers, 1 p.m.(ABC/fubo) 
• Game 1: No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 Suns, 3:30 p.m.(ABC/fubo)
• Game 1: No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 Magic, 6:30 p.m. (NBC)
• Game 1: No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 Trail Blazers, 9 p.m. (NBC)

Monday, April 20

• Game 2: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, 7 p.m. (Peacock) 
• Game 2: Knicks vs. Hawks, 8 p.m. (NBC) 
• Game 2: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, 10:30 p.m. (NBC)

Tuesday, April 21

• Game 2: Celtics vs. 76ers, 7 p.m. (Peacock) 
• Game 2: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers, 8 p.m. (NBC) 
• Game 2: Lakers vs. Rockets, 10:30 p.m. (NBC)

Wednesday, April 22

• Game 2: Pistons vs. Magic, 7 p.m. (ESPN/fubo)
• Game 2: Thunder vs. Suns, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN/fubo)

Thursday, April 23

• Game 3: Hawks vs. Knicks, 7 p.m. (Prime)
• Game 3: Raptors vs. Cavaliers, 8 p.m. (Prime)
• Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, 9:30 p.m. (Prime)

Friday, April 24

• Game 3: 76ers vs. Celtics, 7 p.m. (Prime)
• Game 3: Rockets vs. Lakers, 8 p.m. (Prime)
• Game 3: Trail Blazers vs. Spurs, 10:30 p.m. (Prime)

Saturday, April 25

• Game 3: Magic vs. Pistons, 1 p.m. (Peacock)
• Game 4: Hawks vs. Knicks, 6 p.m. (NBC)
• Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, 8:30 p.m. (ABC/fubo)

Sunday, April 26

• Game 4: Raptors vs. Cavaliers, 1 p.m. (ESPN/fubo)
• Game 4: Trail Blazers vs. Spurs, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN/fubo)
• Game 4: 76ers vs. Celtics, 7 p.m. (NBC)
• Game 4: Rockets vs. Lakers, 9:30 p.m. (NBC)

Monday, April 27

• Game 4: Magic vs. Pistons, TBD 
• Game 4: Suns vs. Thunder, TBD 
• *Game 5: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, TBD

Tuesday, April 28

• *Game 5: Celtics vs. 76ers, TBD 
• *Game 5: Knicks vs. Hawks, TBD 
• *Game 5: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers, TBD

Wednesday, April 29

• *Game 5: Pistons vs. Magic, TBD 
• *Game 5: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, TBD 
• *Game 5: Thunder vs. Suns, TBD 
• *Game 5: Lakers vs. Rockets, TBD

Thursday, April 30

• *Game 6: 76ers vs. Celtics, TBD 
• *Game 6: Hawks vs. Knicks, TBD 
• *Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, TBD

Friday, May 1

• *Game 6: Magic vs. Pistons, TBD 
• *Game 6: Raptors vs. Cavaliers, TBD 
• *Game 6: Suns vs. Thunder, TBD 
• *Game 6: Rockets vs. Lakers, TBD

Saturday, May 2

• *Game 7: Celtics vs. 76ers, TBD 
• *Game 7: Knicks vs. Hawks, TBD 
• *Game 7: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers, TBD 
• *Game 7: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, TBD

Sunday, May 3

• *Game 7: Pistons vs. Magic, TBD 
• *Game 7: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, TBD 
• *Game 7: Thunder vs. Suns, TBD 
• *Game 7: Lakers vs. Rockets, TBD

Key Dates for the 2026 NBA Playoffs

• First Round: April 1-early May
• Conference Semifinals: May 2–4 start window
• Conference Finals: Begin May 19–20
• NBA Finals Game 1: June 3
• NBA Finals Game 7 (if needed): June 19

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