And so begins the NBA postseason, gauntlet of champions for the game of runs. This is where legends are minted and historical records get updated.

The first round ushers in a specific, fevered excitement. The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder launch their official defense of the Larry O’Brien Trophy; Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs and Nikola Jokić’s Denver Nuggets lead the opposition in a deep Western Conference.

Over in the East, Cade Cunningham has the surging Detroit Pistons at No. 1. The Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are among the viable challengers.

But before we get there, the NBA Play-In Tournament cooks up knockout basketball from Tuesday through Friday. This year’s edition should not be slept on, with both red-hot risers (Kon Knueppel and the Charlotte Hornets) and prime-time staples (Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors).

Here’s the schedule for all the opening action. Dates and matchups will be updated as they are announced, so be sure to check back. All times listed are Eastern.

You can watch the NBA playoffs live on Fubo (Stream Free Now!).

2026 NBA Play-In Tournament schedule

All six Play-In matchups are exclusive to Prime Video. The streamer’s play-by-play roster includes Ian Eagle (“Oh yeah!“), Kevin Harlan (“With no regard for human life!“) and Eric Collins (*feverish screaming*).

East: No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Charlotte Hornets

Date: Tuesday, April 14
Time: 7:30 p.m.

West: No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers at No. 7 Phoenix Suns

Date: Tuesday, April 14
Time: 10 p.m.

East: No. 8 Orlando Magic at No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers 

Date: Wednesday, April 15
Time: 7:30 p.m.

West: No. 10 Golden State Warriors at No. 9 LA Clippers

Date: Wednesday, April 15
Time: 10 p.m.

The winners of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 games go straight into the bracket as seventh seeds. Losers hang tight and host an elimination game Friday. Take the L in the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchup and the season is over. Get the W and earn a road game Friday night.

East: No. 9/10 winner at No. 7/8 loser

Date: Friday, April 17
Time: 7:30 p.m.

West: No. 9/10 winner at No. 7/8 loser 

Date: Friday, April 17
Time: 10 p.m.

Win or go home. Friday’s victors slot in as the eighth seeds.

2026 NBA playoffs first-round schedule

Playoffs start in full on Saturday, April 18. The first-round broadcasters are ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Prime Video.

East: No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8
Game 1 at Detroit: Sunday, April 19, 6:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Game 2 at Detroit: TBD
Game 3 at No. 8: TBD
Game 4 at No. 8: TBD
Game 5 at Detroit*: TBD
Game 6 at No. 8*: TBD
Game 7 at Detroit*: TBD

* if necessary

East: No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7
Game 1 at Boston: Sunday, April 19, 1 p.m. (ABC)
Game 2 at Boston: TBD
Game 3 at No. 7: TBD
Game 4 at No. 7: TBD
Game 5 at Boston*: TBD
Game 6 at No. 7*: TBD
Game 7 at Boston*: TBD

* if necessary

East: No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks
Game 1 at New York: Saturday, April 18, 6 p.m. (Prime Video)
Game 2 at New York: TBD
Game 3 at Atlanta: TBD
Game 4 at Atlanta: TBD
Game 5 at New York*: TBD
Game 6 at Atlanta*: TBD
Game 7 at New York*: TBD

* if necessary

East: No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors
Game 1 at Cleveland: Saturday, April 18, 1 p.m. (Prime Video)
Game 2 at Cleveland: TBD
Game 3 at Toronto: TBD
Game 4 at Toronto: TBD
Game 5 at Cleveland*: TBD
Game 6 at Toronto*: TBD
Game 7 at Cleveland*: TBD

* if necessary

West: No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8
Game 1 at Oklahoma City: Sunday, April 19, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 2 at Oklahoma City: TBD
Game 3 at No. 8: TBD
Game 4 at No. 8: TBD
Game 5 at Oklahoma City*: TBD
Game 6 at No. 8*: TBD
Game 7 at Oklahoma City*: TBD

* if necessary

West: No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7
Game 1 at San Antonio: Sunday, April 19, 9 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Game 2 at San Antonio: TBD
Game 3 at No. 7: TBD
Game 4 at No. 7: TBD
Game 5 at San Antonio*: TBD
Game 6 at No. 7*: TBD
Game 7 at San Antonio*: TBD

* if necessary

West: No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1 at Denver: Saturday, April 18, 3:30 p.m. (Prime Video)
Game 2 at Denver: TBD
Game 3 at Minnesota: TBD
Game 4 at Minnesota: TBD
Game 5 at Denver*: TBD
Game 6 at Minnesota*: TBD
Game 7 at Denver*: TBD

* if necessary

West: No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets
Game 1 at Los Angeles: Saturday, April 18, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 2 at Los Angeles: TBD
Game 3 at Houston: TBD
Game 4 at Houston: TBD
Game 5 at Los Angeles*: TBD
Game 6 at Houston*: TBD
Game 7 at Los Angeles*: TBD

* if necessary

Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub.

Official NBA playoffs single-game records
Points — Michael Jordan, 63 in 1986 (Bulls vs. Celtics)
Rebounds — Wilt Chamberlain, 41 in 1967 (76ers vs. Celtics)
Assists (tie) — Magic Johnson, 24 in 1984 (Lakers vs. Suns); John Stockton, 24 in 1988 (Jazz vs. Lakers)
Steals — Allen Iverson, 10 in 1999 (76ers vs. Magic)
Blocks (tie) — Mark Eaton, 10 in 1985 (Jazz vs. Rockets); Hakeem Olajuwon, 10 in 1990 (Rockets vs. Lakers); and Andrew Bynum, 10 in 2012 (Lakers vs. Nuggets)
Made 3s — Damian Lillard, 12 in 2021 (Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets)
Turnovers — James Harden, 12 in 2015 (Rockets vs. Warriors)

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