Victor Wembanyama drops 35 points as the Spurs win Game 1 over the Trail Blazers. (1:54)
The 2026 NBA playoffs began Saturday in what is sure to be an exciting run toward the NBA Finals, which begin June 3 and will be broadcast by ABC.
Can the Oklahoma City Thunder, who locked in their third straight No. 1-seed in the Western Conference, repeat as champions? Which team will emerge from a crowded East field? Could there be upsets throughout the field?
The play-in tournament began Tuesday, as the Nos. 7 through 10 seeds played to determine which teams get to face the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in each conference. The Portland Trail Blazers clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Phoenix Suns and will face the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers earned the No. 7 seed on Wednesday and will play the No. 2 Boston Celtics after defeating the Orlando Magic. On Friday, the Magic defeated the Charlotte Hornets to finalize a matchup with the No. 1 Detroit Pistons, and the Suns defeated the Golden State Warriors to face the defending champions in the West.
Eight teams from each conference reach the first round and face off in a best-of-seven series to advance. All four rounds of the playoffs are best of seven, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home-court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.
Here's what we know about the Eastern and Western Conference playoff brackets:
1. Detroit Pistons vs. 8. Orlando Magic 2. Boston Celtics vs. 7. Philadelphia 76ers 3. New York Knicks vs. 6. Atlanta Hawks 4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. Toronto Raptors
1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8. Phoenix Suns 2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 7. Portland Trail Blazers 3. Denver Nuggets vs. 6. Minnesota Timberwolves 4. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 5. Houston Rockets
Eastern Conference first round
(8) Orlando Magic leads (1) Detroit Pistons, 1-0
Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101 Game 2: Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET at Detroit Game 3: at Orlando on Saturday, April 25, 1 p.m. ET Game 4: at Orlando on Monday, April 27, TBD Game 5 (if necessary): at Detroit on Wednesday, April 29, TBD Game 6 (if necessary): at Orlando on Friday, May 1, TBD Game 7 (if necessary): at Detroit on Sunday, May 3, TBD
Magic play up to potential, stun Pistons in Game 1 upset
Magic rip Hornets in record-setting 31-point rout
Cunningham eligible for NBA season awards
Goodwill: How Isaiah Stewart became Detroit's enforcer
Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons: Game Highlights
(2) Boston Celtics leads (7) Philadelphia 76ers, 1-0
Game 1: Celtics 123, Sixers 91 Game 2: at Boston on Tuesday, April 21, 7 p.m. ET Game 3: at Philadelphia on Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. ET Game 4: at Philadelphia on Sunday, April 26, 7 p.m. ET Game 5 (if necessary): at Boston on Tuesday, April 28, TBD Game 6 (if necessary): at Philadelphia on Thursday, April 30, TBD Game 7 (if necessary): at Boston on Saturday, May 2, TBD
76ers face familiar playoff fate as Celtics dominate Game 1
Minus Embiid, Maxey propels Sixers into playoffs
Celtics tie NBA record with 29 3s, clinch No. 2 seed
Shelburne: How Jaylen Brown turbocharged the Celtics back to title contention
Bontemps: What NBA insiders are saying about Jayson Tatum's return
The Celtics cruise to a Game 1 victory and take a series lead vs. the 76ers.
(3) New York Knicks leads (6) Atlanta Hawks, 1-0
Game 1: Knicks 113, Hawks 102 Game 2: at New York on Monday, April 20, 8 p.m. ET Game 3: at Atlanta on Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m. ET Game 4: at Atlanta on Saturday, April 25, 6 p.m. ET Game 5 (if necessary): at New York on Tuesday, April 28, TBD Game 6 (if necessary): at Atlanta on Thursday, April 30, TBD Game 7 (if necessary): at New York on Saturday, May 2, TBD
Jalen Brunson nets 28 points; Knicks outlast Hawks in Game 1
Hawks C Landale out for start of Knicks series
Bridges extends games played streak after 23-second stint
Goodwill: Five issues facing the Knicks ahead of the playoffs
Karl-Anthony Towns hits a clutch 3-pointer, then forces a turnover for the Knicks.
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers lead (5) Toronto Raptors, 1-0
Game 1: Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113 Game 2: at Cleveland on Monday, April 20, 7 p.m. ET Game 3: at Toronto on Thursday, April 23, 8 p.m. ET Game 4: at Toronto on Sunday, April 26, 1 p.m. ET Game 5 (if necessary): at Cleveland on Wednesday, April 29, TBD Game 6 (if necessary): at Toronto on Friday, May 1, TBD Game 7 (if necessary): at Cleveland on Sunday, May 3, TBD
Spears: Cavaliers guard James Harden is 'here for a reason
Mitchell scores 32 as Cavaliers defeat Raptors 126-113 in Game 1 of East first-round series
Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game Highlights
Western Conference first round
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder leads (8) Phoenix Suns, 1-0
Game 1: Thunder 119, Suns 84 Game 2: at Oklahoma City on Wednesday, April 22, 9:30 p.m. ET Game 3: at Phoenix on Saturday, April 25, 3:30 p.m. ET Game 4: at Phoenix on Monday, April 27, TBD Game 5 (if necessary): at Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 29, TBD Game 6 (if necessary): at Phoenix on Friday, May 1, TBD Game 7 (if necessary): at Oklahoma City on Sunday, May 3, TBD
Oklahoma City Thunder dominant in opener, rout Phoenix Suns
Kram: The wildest facts of SGA's scoring streak
Slater: Chet Holmgren is ready to show the NBA why his best is yet to come
MacMahon: The young Thunder are building a dynasty
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander denies Oso Ighodaro at the rim with a nice block for the Thunder.
(2) San Antonio Spurs lead (7) Portland Trail Blazers, 1-0
Game 1: Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98 Game 2: at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 21, 8 p.m. ET Game 3: at Portland on Friday, April 24, 10:30 p.m. ET Game 4: at Portland on Sunday, April 26, 3:30 p.m. ET Game 5 (if necessary): at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 28, TBD Game 6 (if necessary): at Portland on Thursday, April 30, TBD Game 7 (if necessary): at San Antonio on Saturday, May 2, TBD
Wembanyama scores 35, most by Spur in playoff debut, in Game 1 win
Trail Blazers beat Suns, clinch playoff spot
Wembanyama hits 65 games as he checks another 'box'
Wright: Inside the Spurs' 365-day turnaround
Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs: Game Highlights
(3) Denver Nuggets lead (6) Minnesota Timberwolves, 1-0
Game 1: Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105 Game 2: at Denver on Monday, April 20, 10:30 p.m. ET Game 3: at Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 9:30 p.m. ET Game 4: at Minnesota on Saturday, April 25, 8:30 p.m. ET Game 5 (if necessary): at Denver on Monday, April 27, TBD Game 6 (if necessary): at Minnesota on Thursday, April 30, TBD Game 7 (if necessary): at Denver on Saturday, May 2, TBD
Murray's 16-for-16 night at line lifts Nuggets in Game 1 win
Keown: In search of the real Nikola Jokić
The Nuggets use a big third quarter to take Game 1 over the Timberwolves.
(4) Los Angeles Lakers lead (5) Houston Rockets, 1-0
Game 1: Lakers 107, Rockets 98 Game 2: at Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 21, 10:30 p.m. ET Game 3: at Houston on Friday, April 24, 8 p.m. ET Game 4: at Houston on Sunday, April 26, 9:30 p.m. ET Game 5 (if necessary): at Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 29, TBD Game 6 (if necessary): at Houston on Friday, May 1, TBD Game 7 (if necessary): at Los Angeles on Sunday, May 3, TBD
LeBron plays 'triple threat' as Lakers upset Rockets in Game 1
Luka Doncic eligible for NBA season awards
Redick on short-handed Lakers: 'Everybody wants to play us'
McMenamin: Inside Marcus Smart's incredible return from The Punch
Wright: How the Rockets bullied their way to one of the NBA's best offenses
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Game Highlights
The 2026 NBA Finals will begin Wednesday, June 3, with each game tipping off at 8:30 p.m. ET. ABC will broadcast each game.
Game 1: Wednesday, June 3 Game 2: Friday, June 5 Game 3: Monday, June 8 Game 4: Wednesday, June 10 Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday, June 13 Game 6 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 16 Game 7 (if necessary): Friday, June 19
(7) Philadelphia 76ers 109, (8) Orlando Magic 97
(9) Charlotte Hornets 127, (10) Miami Heat 126 (OT)
(8) Orlando Magic 121, (9) Charlotte Hornets 90
(8) Portland Trail Blazers 114, (7) Phoenix Suns 110
(10) Golden State Warriors 126, (9) LA Clippers 121
(7) Phoenix Suns 111, (10) Golden State Warriors 96
Game 1s: Each conference's No. 7 team in the standings will host the No. 8 team, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The losing teams get another chance in their respective conference's Game 3.
Game 2s: Each conference's No. 9 team will host the No. 10 team, with the winner moving on to Game 3. The losers are eliminated and enter the NBA draft lottery.
Game 3s: The losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchups will host the winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchups, with the victors grabbing each conference's No. 8 seed in the postseason. The losers of Game 3 enter the NBA draft lottery.
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