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.The journey to the Larry O'Brien Trophy officially began with the Play-In Tournament, and now the main contenders are in the mix.With dominant forces like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons having secured the top seeds and moved on to the second round, 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.Where to watch NBA Playoffs 2026: TV channels, live streamsTV channels:ABC |ESPN | NBCLive streams:DIRECTV | ESPN app |Peacock|Prime VideoNBA Playoff action is spread across ABC, ESPN, NBC andPrime 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 Networkall included with DIRECTV.Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.NBA Playoffs schedule, scores 2026Eastern Conference Finals(1) Pistons/(4)Cavs vs. (3) KnicksDateGameTime (ET)WatchMay 19Game 18 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTVMay 21Game 28 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTVMay 23Game 38:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, DIRECTVMay 25Game 48 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTVMay 27Game 5*8 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTVMay 29Game 6*8 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTVMay 31Game 7*8 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV* If necessaryWestern Conference Finals(1) Thunder vs. (2) SpursDateGameTime (ET)WatchMay 18Game 1 at Oklahoma City8:30 p.m.NBC, Peacock, DIRECTVMay 20Game 2 at Oklahoma City8:30 p.m.NBC, Peacock, DIRECTVMay 22Game 3 at San Antonio8:30 p.m.NBC, Peacock, DIRECTVMay 24Game 4 at San Antonio8 p.m.NBC, Peacock, DIRECTVMay 26Game 5 at Oklahoma City*8:30 p.m.NBC, Peacock, DIRECTVMay 28Game 6 at San Antonio*8:30 p.m.NBC, Peacock, DIRECTVMay 30Game 7 at Oklahoma City*8 p.m.NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV* If necessaryEastern Conference second round(1) Pistons vs. (4) Cavs - Tied 3-3DateGameTime (ET)WatchMay 5Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavs 101May 7Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavs 97May 9Game 3: Cavs 116, Pistons 109May 11Game 4: Cavs 112, Pistons 103May 13Game 5: Cavs 117, Pistons 113 (OT)May 15Game 6: Pistons 115, Cavs 94May 17Game 7 at Detroit8 p.m.Prime Video(3) Knicks vs. (7) 76ers - New York wins 4-0DateGameTime (ET)WatchMay 4Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98May 6Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102May 8Game 3: Knicks 108, 76ers 94May 10Game 4: Knicks 144, 76ers 114Western Conference second round(1) Thunder vs. (4) Lakers - Oklahoma City wins 4-0DateGameTime (ET)WatchMay 5Game 1: Thunder 108, Lakers 90May 7Game 2: Thunder 125, Lakers 107May 9Game 3: Thunder 131, Lakers 108May 11Game 4: Thunder 115, Lakers 110(2) Spurs vs. Timberwolves - San Antonio wins 4-2DateGameTime (ET)WatchMay 4Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102May 6Game 2: Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95May 8Game 3: Spurs 115, Timberwolves 108May 10Game 4: Timberwolves 114, Spurs 109May 12Game 5: Spurs 126, Timberwolves 97May 15Game 6: Spurs 139, Timberwolves 109Eastern Conference first round(1)Pistons vs. (8) Magic - Detroit wins 4-3DateGameTime (ET)WatchSun., April 19Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101Wed., April 22Game 2: Pistons 98, Magic 83Sat., April 25Game 3: Magic 113, Pistons 105Mon., April 27Game 4: Magic 94, Pistons 88Wed., April 29Game 5: Pistons 116, Magic 109Fri., May 1Game 6: Pistons 93, Magic 79Sun., May 3Game 7: Pistons 116, Magic 94(2) Celtics vs. (7) Sixers - Philadelphia wins 4-3DateGameTime (ET)WatchSun., April 19Game 1: Celtics 123, Sixers 91Tue., April 21Game 2: Sixers 111, Celtics 97Fri., April 24Game 3: Celtics 108, Sixers 100Sun., April 26Game 4: Celtics 128, Sixers 96Tue., April 28Game 5: Sixers 113, Celtics 97Thu., April 30Game 6: Sixers 106, Celtics 93Sat., May 2Game 7: Sixers 109, Celtics 100(3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks - New York wins 4-2DateGameTime (ET)WatchSat., April 18Game 1: Knicks 113, Hawks 102Mon., April 20Game 2: Hawks 107, Knicks 106Thu., April 23Game 3: Hawks 109, Knicks 108Sat., April 25Game 4: Knicks 114, Hawks 98Tue., April 28Game 5: Knicks 126, Hawks 97Thu., April 30Game 6: Knicks 140, Hawks 89(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors - Cleveland wins 4-3DateGameTime (ET)WatchSat., April 18Game 1: Cavs 126, Raptors 113Mon., April 20Game 2: Cavs 115, Raptors 105Thu., April 23Game 3: Raptors 126, Cavs 104Sun., April 26Game 4: Raptors 93, Cavs 89Wed., April 29Game 5: Cavs 125, Raptors 120Fri., May 1Game 6: Raptors 112, Cavs 110 (OT)Sun., May 3Game 7: Cavs 114, Raptors 102Western Conference first round(1)Thunder vs. (8) Suns - Oklahoma City wins 4-0DateGameTime (ET)WatchSun., April 19Game 1: Thunder 119, Suns 84Wed., April 22Game 2: Thunder 120, Suns 107Sat., April 25Game 3: Thunder 121, Suns 109Mon., April 27Game 4: Thunder 131, Suns 122(2) Spurs vs. (7) Trail Blazers - San Antonio wins 4-1DateGameTime (ET)WatchSun., April 19Game 1: Spurs 111, Blazers 98Tue., April 21Game 2: Blazers 106, Spurs 103Fri., April 24Game 3: Spurs 120, Blazers 108Sun., April 26Game 4: Spurs 114, Blazers 93Tue., April 28Game 5: Spurs 114, Blazers 95(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Timberwolves - Minnesota wins 4-2DateGameTime (ET)WatchSat., April 18Game 1: Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105Mon., April 20Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114Thu., April 23Game 3: Timberwolves 113, Nuggets 96Sat., April 25Game 4: Timberwolves 112, Nuggets 96Mon., April 27Game 5: Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 113Thu., April 30Game 6: Timberwolves 110, Nuggets 98(4) Lakers vs. (5) Rockets - Los Angeles wins 4-2DateGameTime (ET)WatchSat., April 18Game 1: Lakers 107, Rockets 98Tue., April 21Game 2: Lakers 101, Rockets 94Fri., April 24Game 3: Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT)Sun., April 26Game 4: Rockets 115, Lakers 96Wed., April 29Game 5: Rockets 99, Lakers 93Fri., May 1Game 6: Lakers 98, Rockets 78Play-In TournamentDateGameTue., April 14Hornets 127, Heat 126 (OT)Trail Blazers 114, Suns 110Wed., April 15Sixers 109, Magic 97Warriors 126, Clippers 121Fri., April 17Magic 121, Hornets 90Suns111, Warriors96NBA playoffs bracket 2026Click here for the 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News, which updates live as series are completed. SN NBA Playoffs round-by-round schedule 2026Play-In Tournament:April 14-17First round:April 18Conference 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 19Related LinksLatest NBA news and rumorsFull 2025-26 NBA schedule and scoresHow to bet on the NBAThe GOAT Debate: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James