The 2026 NBA postseason field came together on Friday night when the Phoenix Suns held off the Golden State Warriors 111 to 96 to claim the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed. Jalen Green carried Phoenix with 36 points while Stephen Curry was held to just 17 points on 4 of 16 shooting, ending Golden State’s postseason run before it could begin.
Earlier that same evening, the Orlando Magic left no doubt against the Charlotte Hornets, pulling away 121 to 90 to secure the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed. Orlando led 38 to 16 after the first quarter and never let the Hornets back into it. For Charlotte, it marked the end of a postseason chase that began with hope and closed without a single official playoff appearance since 2016.
With those results in, all 16 teams are set and the first round is underway.
The eight first-round matchups
In the Eastern Conference of the NBA, the No. 1 Detroit Pistons face the No. 8 Orlando Magic, the No. 2 Boston Celtics take on the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers, the No. 3 New York Knicks meet the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, and the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers square off against the No. 5 Toronto Raptors.
In the Western Conference of the NBA, the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder open against the No. 8 Phoenix Suns, the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs face the No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers, the No. 3 Denver Nuggets take on the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, and the No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers meet the No. 5 Houston Rockets.
Full first-round schedule for the NBA
All times listed are Eastern. Games marked with an asterisk are played only if necessary.
Saturday, April 18 Cavaliers vs. Raptors, Game 1, 1 p.m. on Prime Video Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, Game 1, 3:30 p.m. on Prime Video Knicks vs. Hawks, Game 1, 6 p.m. on Prime Video Lakers vs. Rockets, Game 1, 8:30 p.m. on ABC
Sunday, April 19 Celtics vs. 76ers, Game 1, 1 p.m. on ABC Thunder vs. Suns, Game 1, 3:30 p.m. on ABC Pistons vs. Magic, Game 1, 6:30 p.m. on NBC Spurs vs. Trail Blazers, Game 1, 9 p.m. on NBC
Monday, April 20 Cavaliers vs. Raptors, Game 2, 7 p.m. on Peacock Knicks vs. Hawks, Game 2, 8 p.m. on NBC Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, Game 2, 10:30 p.m. on NBC
Tuesday, April 21 Celtics vs. 76ers, Game 2, 7 p.m. on Peacock Spurs vs. Trail Blazers, Game 2, 8 p.m. on NBC Lakers vs. Rockets, Game 2, 10:30 p.m. on NBC
Wednesday, April 22 Pistons vs. Magic, Game 2, 7 p.m. on ESPN Thunder vs. Suns, Game 2, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
Thursday, April 23 Hawks vs. Knicks, Game 3, 7 p.m. on Prime Video Raptors vs. Cavaliers, Game 3, 8 p.m. on Prime Video Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, Game 3, 9:30 p.m. on Prime Video
Friday, April 24 76ers vs. Celtics, Game 3, 7 p.m. on Prime Video Rockets vs. Lakers, Game 3, 8 p.m. on Prime Video Trail Blazers vs. Spurs, Game 3, 10:30 p.m. on Prime Video
Saturday, April 25 Magic vs. Pistons, Game 3, 1 p.m. on Peacock Hawks vs. Knicks, Game 4, 6 p.m. on NBC Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, Game 4, 8:30 p.m. on ABC
Sunday, April 26 Raptors vs. Cavaliers, Game 4, 1 p.m. on ESPN Trail Blazers vs. Spurs, Game 4, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN 76ers vs. Celtics, Game 4, 7 p.m. on NBC Rockets vs. Lakers, Game 4, 9:30 p.m. on NBC
Monday, April 27 Magic vs. Pistons, Game 4, time TBD Suns vs. Thunder, Game 4, time TBD Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, Game 5 (if necessary), time TBD
Tuesday, April 28 Celtics vs. 76ers, Game 5 (if necessary), time TBD Knicks vs. Hawks, Game 5 (if necessary), time TBD Spurs vs. Trail Blazers, Game 5 (if necessary), time TBD
Wednesday, April 29 Pistons vs. Magic, Game 5 (if necessary), time TBD Cavaliers vs. Raptors, Game 5 (if necessary), time TBD Thunder vs. Suns, Game 5 (if necessary), time TBD Lakers vs. Rockets, Game 5 (if necessary), time TBD
Thursday, April 30 76ers vs. Celtics, Game 6 (if necessary), time TBD Hawks vs. Knicks, Game 6 (if necessary), time TBD Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, Game 6 (if necessary), time TBD
Friday, May 1 Magic vs. Pistons, Game 6 (if necessary), time TBD Raptors vs. Cavaliers, Game 6 (if necessary), time TBD Suns vs. Thunder, Game 6 (if necessary), time TBD Rockets vs. Lakers, Game 6 (if necessary), time TBD
Saturday, May 2 Celtics vs. 76ers, Game 7 (if necessary), time TBD Knicks vs. Hawks, Game 7 (if necessary), time TBD Spurs vs. Trail Blazers, Game 7 (if necessary), time TBD Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, Game 7 (if necessary), time TBD
Sunday, May 3 Pistons vs. Magic, Game 7 (if necessary), time TBD Cavaliers vs. Raptors, Game 7 (if necessary), time TBD Thunder vs. Suns, Game 7 (if necessary), time TBD Lakers vs. Rockets, Game 7 (if necessary), time TBD
Key dates for the full postseason of NBA
Second round begins May 2 through 4. The NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for May 10. The Eastern Conference Finals open May 19 and the Western Conference Finals begin May 20. NBA Finals Game 1 is set for June 3, with a potential Game 7 on June 19 if the series goes the distance.
