2026 NBA playoff bracket: Matchups, schedule as postseason field gets finalized

All 10 postseason seeds are now set in the East after Sunday's early action

Brad Botkin

Apr 12, 2026

9:12 pm ET

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2 min read

Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports

The 2026 NBA playoff bracket will be finalized on Sunday night. After the night's first batch of games, we know what the Eastern Conference side of the bracket looks like. The Toronto Raptors clinched the final top-six seed and a guaranteed playoff berth on Sunday thanks to their win over the Nets. The Raptors will be the No. 5 seed in the East and face the Cavs in the first round, as the Hawks were bumped down to the No. 6 seed with their loss to the Heat on Sunday. The Hawks will go up against the third-seeded Knicks in the first round.

The No. 1 Pistons and No. 2 Celtics await the Play-In Tournament winners in the East. The 76ers will host the Magic with the No. 7 seed on the line Wednesday, while the Hornets and Heat will play in the 9-10 matchup on Tuesday.

In the West, the biggest question is if the Nuggets can lock up the No. 3 seed and keep the Lakers at No. 4. The West's No. 3 seed would face the Wolves in the first round, while the Rockets await the No. 4 seed.

While we wait and see how the final seeds shake out, here's an up-to-date look at the 2026 NBA playoff bracket, as well as the schedule for the Play-In Tournament and key dates for the next two months.

2026 NBA playoff bracket

Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports

2026 NBA Playoff Picture

NBA postseason bracket after Sunday's East games

Play-In Tournament

- East: No. 7 76ers vs. No. 8 Magic | No. 9 Hornets vs. No. 10 Heat

- West: No. 7 Suns vs. No. 8 Trail Blazers | No. 9 Clippers vs. No. 10 Warriors

East first round

No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 TBD

No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 TBD

No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Hawks

No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Raptors

West first round

No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 TBD

No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 TBD

No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Timberwolves

No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets

Play-In Tournament schedule

Tuesday, April 14

- Hornets vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime -- Loser is eliminated from postseason

- Suns vs. Trail Blazers/Clippers, 10 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets West No. 7 seed

Wednesday, April 15

- 76ers vs. Magic, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets East No. 7 seed

- Trail Blazers/Clippers vs. Warriors, 10 p.m. ET, Prime -- Loser is eliminated from postseason

Friday, April 17

- 76ers/Magic vs. Hornets/Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets East No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason

- TBD vs. TBD, 10 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets West No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason

2026 NBA playoffs schedule

Saturday, April 18

- Four first-round playoff games (times and matchups TBD)

Sunday, April 19

- Four first-round playoff games (times and matchups TBD)

2026 NBA playoffs key dates

- April 18-19: First-round series begin

- May 2-4: Second round begins

- May 10: 2026 NBA Draft Lottery

- May 19: Eastern Conference Finals begin

- May 20: Western Conference Finals begin

- June 3: NBA Finals Game 1

- June 19: NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)

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