2026 NBA playoff bracket: Matchups, schedule with postseason field finalized

The 2026 NBA playoff bracket is set. All 20 seeds are locked in, and the postseason gets started on Tuesday with the Play-In Tournament. In the East, the Raptors clinched the final top-six seed and a guaranteed playoff berth on Sunday, and the Nuggets closed out the regular season by clinching the No. 3 seed in the West over the Lakers.

The Play-In Tournament will run through Friday, and the first round of the playoffs will tip off on Saturday (April 18). The play-in will decide the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in both conferences, but we already know four of the eight first-round matchups. In the East, the No. 3 Knicks will face the No. 6 Hawks, and the No. 4 Cavaliers will go up against the No. 5 Raptors. In the West, it’s the Nuggets against the Timberwolves in the conference’s 3-6 matchup, and the Lakers facing the Rockets in the 4-5.

The Pistons, Celtics, Thunder and Spurs await the winners of the Play-In Tournament. The Celtics, as the East’s No. 2 seed, will face either the 76ers or the Magic in the first round; the Spurs will battle either the Suns or Trail Blazers in Victor Wembanyama’s playoff debut.

Here’s a look at the now official 2026 NBA playoff bracket.

2026 NBA playoff bracket

2026 NBA Playoff Picture

NBA postseason bracket

Play-In Tournament

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
No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets

Play-In Tournament schedule

Tuesday, April 14

• Hornets vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime — Loser is eliminated from postseason
• Suns vs. Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets West No. 7 seed

Wednesday, April 15

• 76ers vs. Magic, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets East No. 7 seed
• Clippers vs. Warriors, 10 p.m. ET, Prime — Loser is eliminated from postseason

Friday, April 17

• 76ers/Magic vs. Hornets/Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets East No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason
• Suns/Trail Blazers vs. Clippers/Warriors, 10 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets West No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason

2026 NBA playoffs schedule

All times Eastern. Games on ABC and ESPN are streaming on fubo (Try 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. 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., NBC

2026 NBA playoffs key dates

• April 18-19: First-round series begin
• May 2-4: Second round begins
• May 10: 2026 NBA Draft Lottery
• May 19: Eastern Conference Finals begin
• May 20: Western Conference Finals begin
• June 3: NBA Finals Game 1
• June 19: NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)