2026 NBA playoff bracket: Matchups, schedule as Warriors stay alive, 76ers advance

The 2026 NBA postseason continued with two games on Wednesday night, capped off by an incredible comeback from Stephen Curry and the Warriors. Curry led the way and was lifted by a fourth-quarter scoring outburst from Al Horford and lockdown defense from Draymond Green as the Warriors surged past the Clippers to keep their season alive. Next up is a meeting with the Suns on Friday with the West’s No. 8 seed on the line. 

In the first game of the night, the 76ers pulled away late from the Magic behind a big night from Tyrese Maxey. With the win, Philadelphia officially earned the East’s No. 7 seed, setting up a first-round matchup with the Celtics. 

The Magic, meanwhile, will return to the floor Friday with their season on the line against the Hornets, who moved on in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday thanks to LaMelo Ball’s game-winning lay-up in overtime against the Heat. The winner will earn the No. 8 seed and move on to face the top-seeded Pistons. 

Later on Tuesday night, the Trail Blazers used a late rally to beat the Suns in Phoenix and earn the West’s No. 7 seed. Portland will face Victor Wembanyama on Sunday in his playoff debut.

The postseason bracket now stands at 18 teams, and it will be trimmed to 16 by Friday night.

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.

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

2026 NBA playoff bracket

Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports

2026 NBA Playoff Picture

NBA postseason bracket

East first round
No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 TBD
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 76ers
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 Trail Blazers
No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Timberwolves
No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets

Play-In Tournament schedule, scores

Tuesday, April 14

No. 9 Hornets 127, No. 10 Heat 126 (OT) — Miami is eliminated
No. 8 Trail Blazers 114, No. 7 Suns 110 — Portland wins West No. 7 seed

Wednesday, April 15

No. 7 76ers 109, No. 8 Magic 97 — Philadelphia wins East No. 7 seed
No. 10 Warriors 126, No. 9 Clippers 121 — Los Angeles is eliminated

Friday, April 17

Magic vs. Hornets, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets East No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason
Suns vs. 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

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 TBD, 3:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
Game 1: No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 TBD, 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. TBD, 7 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Game 2: Thunder vs. TBD, 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: TBD 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: TBD vs. Pistons, TBD 
Game 4: TBD 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. TBD, TBD 
*Game 5: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, TBD 
*Game 5: Thunder vs. TBD, 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: TBD vs. Pistons, TBD 
*Game 6: Raptors vs. Cavaliers, TBD 
*Game 6: TBD 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. TBD, TBD 
*Game 7: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, TBD 
*Game 7: Thunder vs. TBD, TBD 
*Game 7: Lakers vs. Rockets, TBD

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)