NBA Playoff Schedule 2026: Dates, Times, TV Channels, Live Streams
The NBA Playoff Schedule 2026 starts Saturday, April 18, and runs through the NBA Finals 2026 beginning Wednesday, June 3. This page has every date, time, TV channel, and live stream option you need to follow the full 2026 NBA Playoffs from the first round to the Finals.
This is the NBA’s 80th season. The regular season ended April 12, 2026. The Play-In Tournament (April 14–17) confirmed the final four spots, setting all 16 teams for the 2026 NBA Playoffs. The top 8 teams from the East and the top 8 from the West now compete for the championship.
2026 NBA Playoffs Key Dates
- Play-In Tournament: April 14–17 (Completed)
- First Round: April 18 – May 3
- Conference Semifinals: Around May 4–5
- Conference Finals: Around May 19-20
- NBA Finals: Wednesday, June 3 – Friday, June 19
What Channel are the 2026 NBA Playoffs On
The 2026 NBA Playoffs air on ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video.
ABC has the NBA Finals exclusively. ESPN and ABC share the Eastern Conference Finals. NBC and Peacock carry the Western Conference Finals. Amazon Prime Video carried all six Play-In games and select first-round matchups.
For Spanish-language coverage, tune in to ESPN Deportes or Telemundo Deportes.
This is the first postseason under the NBA’s new 11-year media rights deal with ABC/ESPN, NBC Sports, and Amazon Prime Video. Every first-round game is a national broadcast. Regional broadcasts no longer exist.
NBA Playoffs Schedule 2026
Eastern Conference First Round
(1) Pistons vs. (8) Magic
| Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1 | Magic at Detroit | 6:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Wed., April 22 | Game 2 | Magic at Detroit | 7 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 3 | Pistons at Orlando | 1 p.m. | Peacock |
| Mon., April 27 | Game 4 | Pistons at Orlando | TBD | TBD |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 | Magic at Detroit* | TBD | TBD |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6 | Pistons at Orlando* | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7 | Magic at Detroit* | TBD | TBD |
(* if necessary)
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Sixers
| Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1 | Sixers at Boston | 1 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app |
| Tue., April 21 | Game 2 | Sixers at Boston | 7 p.m. | Peacock |
| Fri., April 24 | Game 3 | Celtics at Philadelphia | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Sun., April 26 | Game 4 | Celtics at Philadelphia | 7 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Tue., April 28 | Game 5 | Sixers at Boston* | TBD | TBD |
| Thu., April 30 | Game 6 | Celtics at Philadelphia* | TBD | TBD |
| Sat., May 2 | Game 7 | Sixers at Boston* | TBD | TBD |
(* if necessary)
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks
| Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1 | Hawks at New York | 6 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Mon., April 20 | Game 2 | Hawks at New York | 8 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Thu., April 23 | Game 3 | Knicks at Atlanta | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 4 | Knicks at Atlanta | 6 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Tue., April 28 | Game 5 | Hawks at New York* | TBD | TBD |
| Thu., April 30 | Game 6 | Knicks at Atlanta* | TBD | TBD |
| Sat., May 2 | Game 7 | Hawks at New York* | TBD | TBD |
(* if necessary)
(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors
| Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1 | Raptors at Cleveland | 1 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Mon., April 20 | Game 2 | Raptors at Cleveland | 7 p.m. | Peacock |
| Thu., April 23 | Game 3 | Cavaliers at Toronto | 8 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Sun., April 26 | Game 4 | Cavaliers at Toronto | 1 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 | Raptors at Cleveland* | TBD | TBD |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6 | Cavaliers at Toronto* | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7 | Raptors at Cleveland* | TBD | TBD |
(* if necessary)
Western Conference First Round
(1) Thunder vs. (8) Suns
| Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1 | Suns at Thunder | 3:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app |
| Wed., April 22 | Game 2 | Suns at Thunder | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 3 | Thunder at Phoenix | 3:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Mon., April 27 | Game 4 | Thunder at Phoenix | TBD | TBD |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 | Suns at Thunder* | TBD | TBD |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6 | Thunder at Phoenix* | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7 | Suns at Thunder* | TBD | TBD |
(* if necessary)
(2) Spurs vs. (7) Blazers
| Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., April 19 | Game 1 | Blazers at San Antonio | 9 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Tue., April 21 | Game 2 | Blazers at San Antonio | 8 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Fri., April 24 | Game 3 | Spurs at Portland | 10:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Sun., April 26 | Game 4 | Spurs at Portland | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app |
| Tue., April 28 | Game 5 | Blazers at San Antonio* | TBD | TBD |
| Thu., April 30 | Game 6 | Spurs at Portland* | TBD | TBD |
| Sat., May 2 | Game 7 | Blazers at San Antonio* | TBD | TBD |
(* if necessary)
(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Wolves
| Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1 | Wolves at Denver | 3:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Mon., April 20 | Game 2 | Wolves at Denver | 10:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Thu., April 23 | Game 3 | Nuggets at Minnesota | 9:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Sat., April 25 | Game 4 | Nuggets at Minnesota | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app |
| Mon., April 27 | Game 5 | Wolves at Denver* | TBD | TBD |
| Thu., April 30 | Game 6 | Nuggets at Minnesota* | TBD | TBD |
| Sat., May 2 | Game 7 | Wolves at Denver* | TBD | TBD |
(* if necessary)
(4) Lakers vs. (5) Rockets
| Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 18 | Game 1 | Rockets at Lakers | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app |
| Tue., April 21 | Game 2 | Rockets at Lakers | 10:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Fri., April 24 | Game 3 | Lakers at Houston | 8 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Sun., April 26 | Game 4 | Lakers at Houston | 9:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Wed., April 29 | Game 5 | Rockets at Lakers* | TBD | TBD |
| Fri., May 1 | Game 6 | Lakers at Houston* | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 3 | Game 7 | Rockets at Lakers* | TBD | TBD |
(* if necessary)
For the latest seedings and updated results, check our Current NBA Playoff Bracket 2026.
Conference Semifinals
Full matchups and schedules confirmed after the First Round concludes. Semifinals begin around May 4–5.
| Matchup | Dates | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|
| East 1-8 winner vs. East 4-5 winner | Around May 4–5 | TBD |
| East 2-7 winner vs. East 3-6 winner | Around May 4–5 | TBD |
| West 1-8 winner vs. West 4-5 winner | Around May 4–5 | TBD |
| West 2-7 winner vs. West 3-6 winner | Around May 4–5 | TBD |
Conference Finals
Full schedules confirmed after the Conference Semifinals conclude.
| Conference | Dates | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference Finals | Around May 19 | ABC, ESPN |
| Western Conference Finals | Around May 20 | NBC, Peacock |
NBA Finals 2026
The 2026 NBA Finals start Wednesday, June 3. Every game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. A possible Game 7 falls on Friday, June 19.
| Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed., June 3 | Game 1 | East champion vs. West champion | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Fri., June 5 | Game 2 | East champion vs. West champion | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Mon., June 8 | Game 3 | East champion vs. West champion | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Wed., June 10 | Game 4 | East champion vs. West champion | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Sat., June 13* | Game 5 | East champion vs. West champion | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Tue., June 16* | Game 6 | East champion vs. West champion | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Fri., June 19* | Game 7 | East champion vs. West champion | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
(* if necessary)
ABC carries the NBA Finals exclusively for the 24th straight year.
How to Live Stream the 2026 NBA Playoffs
You can watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs without cable on YouTube TV, DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV, Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video. Peacock streams all NBC games. The ESPN app streams all ESPN and ABC games. Spanish coverage runs on ESPN Deportes and Telemundo Deportes.
| Service | Key Channels | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock | ~$82.99/mo | Best full package |
| DIRECTV STREAM | ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock | Varies | Strong cable replacement |
| Hulu + Live TV | ABC, ESPN, NBC | ~$89.99/mo | Add Prime Video separately |
| FuboTV | ABC, ESPN, NBC | ~$84.99+/mo | No Peacock or Prime Video |
| Sling TV | ESPN, ABC (via ESPN3), NBC (select cities) | From ~$46/mo | No Peacock or Prime Video |
| Amazon Prime Video | Select playoff games | Prime subscription | Cheapest entry point |
| Peacock | All NBC games | Standalone available | No cable needed |
| NBA League Pass | Out-of-market games only | Varies | Blacked out for all live playoff games |
YouTube TV or DIRECTV STREAM with Prime Video added separately gives you the most complete 2026 NBA Playoffs coverage.
2026 NBA Playoffs FAQ
Who is the defending NBA champion?
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the defending NBA champions. They won the 2025 NBA Finals and enter the 2026 NBA Playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the West.
Who has home-court advantage in the 2026 NBA Playoffs?
The Detroit Pistons hold home-court advantage in the East. The Oklahoma City Thunder hold it in the West and in a potential NBA Finals. The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 in every series.
What is the 2-2-1-1-1 playoff format?
The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. The lower seed hosts Games 3, 4, and 6. Every round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs uses this format.
Are the 2026 NBA Playoffs reseeded after each round?
No. The bracket is fixed from the start. The 1-8 winner plays the 4-5 winner in the second round regardless of which lower seeds advance.
What happens if a playoff series is tied 3-3?
A Game 7 is played at the higher seed’s home arena. The winner advances. The loser is eliminated. First-round Game 7s are scheduled for May 2 and May 3.
Where can I buy 2026 NBA Playoff tickets?
You can buy tickets on team websites, NBA.com, and Ticketmaster. Secondary marketplaces like StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats often have more availability. First-round tickets typically start around $40–$80. NBA Finals tickets start at $200+ and can exceed $1,000 for lower-bowl seats.
Where is the 2026 NBA Finals being held?
The 2026 NBA Finals rotate between the two finalists’ home arenas. The team with the better regular-season record hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. Oklahoma City has the league’s best record and would host those games against any Eastern Conference opponent.