2026 NBA playoff bracket: Matchups, schedule as 76ers eliminate Celtics, advance to face Knicks
The first of three Game 7s in the East took place Saturday night with the 76ers eliminating the Celtics in Boston
The first of three Game 7s in the Eastern Conference took place Saturday night, and the 76ers went on the road and knocked off the Celtics 109-100 to win the first-round series. The 76ers overcome a 3-1 series deficit and will now advance to face the Knicks in the second round. In the win, Joel Embiid scored a game-high 34 points while Tyrese Maxey added 30 and had several key buckets late as the Celtics tried to make a late charge.
Two more Game 7s will follow on Sunday as the Pistons host the Magic and the Cavaliers host the Raptors.
The top-seeded Pistons overcame a 22-point halftime deficit to stun the Magic in Orlando on Friday. Detroit outscored the Magic 55-19 in the second half as Orlando endured a historically inept offensive performance. Later Friday, RJ Barrett hit a dramatic 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds left in overtime to lift the Raptors over the Cavaliers.
Before Philadelphia's road win, the Knicks were the only team in the East that had advanced. They demolished the Hawks in Game 6 on Thursday night, outscoring Atlanta by 47 in the first half on the Hawks' home floor.
2026 NBA playoff bracket
The second-round bracket is set in the West. The Lakers ousted the Rockets on Friday night to set up a second-round showdown against the top-seeded Thunder. The Wolves (who eliminated the Nuggets) and the Spurs (who eliminated the Blazers) will meet in the other Western Conference semi.
2026 NBA playoffs schedule
All times Eastern. Games on ABC and ESPN are streaming on fubo (Try for free).
Saturday, May 2
- Game 7: 76ers 109, Celtics 100 (Philadelphia wins series 4-3)
Sunday, May 3
- Game 7: Pistons vs. Magic, 3:30 p.m., ABC (Series tied 3-3)
- Game 7: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, 7:30 p.m., NBC (Series tied 3-3)
Second-round schedule
Monday, May 4
- Game 1: 76ers vs. Knicks, 8 p.m., NBC/Peacock
- Game 1: Timberwolves vs. Spurs, 9:30 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN
Tuesday, May 5
- Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN
- Game 1: Lakers vs. Thunder, 8:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock
Wednesday, May 6
- Game 2: 76ers vs. Knicks, 7 p.m., ESPN
- Game 2: Timberwolves vs. Spurs, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Thursday, May 7
- Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., Prime
- Game 2: Lakers vs. Thunder, 9:30 p.m., Prime
Friday, May 8
- Game 3: Knicks vs. 76ers, 7 p.m., Prime
- Game 3: Spurs vs. Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m., Prime
Saturday, May 9
- Game 3: TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m., NBC/Peacock
- Game 3: Thunder vs. Lakers, 8:30 p.m., ABC
Sunday, May 10
- Game 4: Knicks vs. 76ers, 3:30 p.m., ABC
- Game 4: Spurs vs. Timberwolves, 7:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock
Monday, May 11
- Game 4: TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m., NBC/Peacock
- Game 4: Thunder vs. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., Prime
Tuesday, May 12
- Game 5*: 76ers vs. Knicks
- Game 5*: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
Wednesday, May 13
- Game 5*: Lakers vs. Thunder
- Game 5*: TBD vs. TBD
Thursday, May 14
- Game 6*: Knicks vs. 76ers
Friday, May 15
- Game 6*: Spurs vs. Timberwolves
- Game 6*: TBD vs. TBD
Saturday, May 16
- Game 6*: Thunder vs. Lakers
Sunday, May 17
- Game 7*: 76ers vs. Knicks
- Game 7*: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
- Game 7*: TBD vs. TBD
Monday, May 18
- Game 7*: Lakers vs. Thunder
First-round scores
Saturday, April 18
- Game 1: No. 4 Cavaliers 126, No. 5 Raptors 113
- Game 1: No. 3 Nuggets 116, No. 6 Timberwolves 105
- Game 1: No. 3 Knicks 112, No. 6 Hawks 102
- Game 1: No. 4 Lakers 107, No. 5 Rockets 98
Sunday, April 19
- Game 1: No. 2 Celtics 123, No. 7 76ers 91
- Game 1: No. 1 Thunder 119, No. 8 Suns 84
- Game 1: No. 8 Magic 112, No. 1 Pistons 101
- Game 1: No. 2 Spurs 111, No. 7 Trail Blazers 98
Monday, April 20
- Game 2: Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
- Game 2: Hawks 107, Knicks 106
- Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114
Tuesday, April 21
- Game 2: 76ers 111, Celtics 97
- Game 2: Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103
- Game 2: Lakers 101, Rockets 94
Wednesday, April 22
- Game 2: Pistons 98, Magic 83
- Game 2: Thunder 120, Suns 107
Thursday, April 23
- Game 3: Hawks 109, Knicks 108
- Game 3: Raptors 126, Cavaliers 104
- Game 3: Timberwolves 113, Nuggets 96
Friday, April 24
- Game 3: Celtics 108, 76ers 100
- Game 3: Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT)
- Game 3: Spurs 120, Trail Blazers 108
Saturday, April 25
- Game 3: Magic 113, Pistons 105
- Game 3: Thunder 121, Suns 109
- Game 4: Knicks 114, Hawks 98
- Game 4: Timberwolves 112, Nuggets 96
Sunday, April 26
- Game 4: Raptors 93, Cavaliers 89
- Game 4: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 93
- Game 4: Celtics 128, 76ers 96
- Game 4: Rockets 115, Lakers 96
Monday, April 27
- Game 4: Magic 94, Pistons 88
- Game 4: Thunder 131, Suns 122 (OKC wins 4-0)
- Game 5: Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 113
Tuesday, April 28
- Game 5: 76ers 113, Celtics 97
- Game 5: Knicks 126, Hawks 97
- Game 5: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 95 (San Antonio wins 4-1)
Wednesday, April 29
- Game 5: Pistons 116, Magic 109
- Game 5: Cavaliers 125, Raptors 120
- Game 5: Rockets 99, Lakers 93
Thursday, April 30
- Game 6: Knicks 140, Hawks 89 (New York wins 4-2)
- Game 6: 76ers 106, Celtics 93
- Game 6: Timberwolves 110, Nuggets 98 (Minnesota wins 4-2)
Friday, May 1
- Game 6: Pistons 93, Magic 79
- Game 6: Raptors 112, Cavaliers 110
- Game 6: Lakers 98, Rockets 78 (L.A. wins series 4-2)
Play-In Tournament scores
Tuesday, April 14
- No. 9 Hornets 127, No. 10 Heat 126 (OT) -- Miami is eliminated
- No. 8 Trail Blazers 114, No. 7 Suns 110 -- Portland wins West No. 7 seed
Wednesday, April 15
- No. 7 76ers 109, No. 8 Magic 97 -- Philadelphia wins East No. 7 seed
- No. 10 Warriors 126, No. 9 Clippers 121 -- Los Angeles is eliminated
Friday, April 17
- Magic 121, Hornets 90 -- Magic win East No. 8 seed, Hornets eliminated from postseason
- Suns 111, Warriors 96 -- Suns win West No. 8 seed, Warriors eliminated from postseason
