NBA Playoffs schedule 2026: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels, live streams to watch every series

NBA Playoffs schedule 2026: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels, live streams to watch every series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2025-26 NBA regular season has reached its conclusion, setting the stage for a postseason defined by high-stakes matchups and a brand-new broadcast landscape.

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The journey to the Larry O’Brien Trophy officially begins with the Play-In Tournament on April 14, followed by the start of the first round on April 18. With dominant forces like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons having secured the top seeds, the focus is on what other teams can compete for the NBA championship.

This year marks a significant shift in how fans will consume the playoffs, as a landmark media rights deal introduces a three-pronged distribution model featuring ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video. While the NBA Finals remain the exclusive property of ABC, earlier rounds will be split across these platforms, including the entirety of the Play-In Tournament moving to Prime Video.

Whether you are a cord-cutter relying on Peacock and Amazon or a traditional viewer tuned into ESPN and NBC, navigating the 2026 bracket requires a clear roadmap of where and when to find each game. From the opening tip of the play-in games to the final buzzer of the NBA Finals on June 19, every series offers a different path to glory.

Below is the comprehensive guide to the 2026 NBA Playoff schedule, including a full look at the current bracket, confirmed tip-off times, and a breakdown of which streaming services and cable channels you’ll need to catch every minute of the action.

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Where to watch NBA Playoffs 2026: TV channels, live streams

• TV channels: ABC | ESPN | NBC

NBA Playoff action is spread across ABC, ESPN, NBC and Prime Video, though the NBA Finals remain on ABC. Fans have a wide range of streaming options to catch the postseason, including Prime, the ESPN app, and Peacock, with each service carrying specific games depending on their broadcast rights.

All games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBC are also available via DIRECTV Stream.

Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.

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NBA Playoffs schedule 2026

This section will be filled in when series schedules are announced.

Play-In Tournament

Eastern Conference first round

(1) Pistons vs. (8) TBD

(2) Celtics vs. (7) TBD

(3) Knicks vs. (6) Raptors/Hawks

(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Hawks/Raptors

Western Conference first round

(1) Thunder vs. (8) TBD

(2) Spurs vs. (7) TBD

(3) Nuggets/Lakers vs. (6) Timberwolves

(4) Lakers/Nuggets vs. (5) Rockets

NBA playoffs bracket 2026

The bracket will be updated as teams are locked into seeds.

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Eastern Conference

• (1) Pistons vs. (8) Play-In TBD

• (2) Celtics vs. (7) Play-In TBD

• (3) Knicks vs. (6) Raptors/Hawks

• (4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Hawks/Raptors

Western Conference

• (1) Thunder vs. (8) Play-In TBD

• (2) Spurs vs. (7) Play-In TBD

• (3) Nuggets/Lakers vs. (6) Timberwolves

• (4) Lakers/Nuggets vs. (5) Rockets

NBA Playoffs round-by-round schedule 2026

• Play-In Tournament: April 14-17

• Conference semifinals: May 4-5 (possible move up to May 2-3)

• Conference finals: May 19-20 (possible move up to May 17-18)

• NBA Finals: June 3-June 19

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