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The First Round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs is nearing its apex, with every night bringing drama, from superstar takeovers to bracket-busting upsets that can flip the postseason picture in a heartbeat.
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Track every first-round matchup with our live NBA bracket, latest NBA odds to win each series, and more!
2026 NBA playoffs bracket
2026 NBA Playoffs matchups and results
Here are the series prices for the remaining first-round matchups:
First Round – East
(1) Detroit Pistons vs (8) Orlando Magic – Magic lead 3-2
|
Team |
To win |
|---|---|
|
Pistons |
-135 |
|
Magic |
+115 |
(2) Boston Celtics vs (7) Philadelphia 76ers – Series tied 3-3
|
Team |
To win |
|---|---|
|
Celtics |
-290 |
|
76ers |
+235 |
(3) New York Knicks vs (6) Atlanta Hawks – Knicks win 4-2
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (5) Toronto Raptors – Cavaliers lead 3-2
|
Team |
To win |
|---|---|
|
Cavaliers |
-1600 |
|
Raptors |
+900 |
First Round – West
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (8) Phoenix Suns – Thunder win 4-0
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs (5) Houston Rockets – Lakers lead 3-2
|
Team |
To win |
|---|---|
|
Lakers |
-300 |
|
Rockets |
+240 |
Second round series
Series tied 0-0
|
Team |
To win |
|---|---|
|
Spurs |
-2800 |
|
Timberwolves |
+1300 |
Spurs vs Timberwolves series schedule
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2026 NBA Playoffs schedule
|
Event |
Date |
|---|---|
|
NBA Play-In Tournament |
April 14-17 |
|
NBA Playoffs begin |
April 18 |
|
NBA Conference Semifinals |
TBD |
|
NBA Conference Finals |
TBD |
|
NBA Finals Game 1 |
June 3 |
|
NBA Finals Game 2 |
June 5 |
|
NBA Finals Game 3 |
June 8 |
|
NBA Finals Game 4 |
June 10 |
|
NBA Finals Game 5 (if necessary) |
June 13 |
|
NBA Finals Game 6 (if necessary) |
June 16 |
|
NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary) |
June 19 |
NBA playoff format
The NBA playoffs adopt a format designed to favor successful teams while giving underdogs a shot at the championship. Here’s a brief look at the structure:
-
The postseason begins with a Play-In Tournament featuring the 7th through 10th-ranked teams in each conference. This extends from April 14 to 17.
-
The NBA Playoffs kick off with the first round on April 18, where the top one to six teams in each conference join the winners of the Play-In.
-
The matchups are set as No. 1 vs. No. 8 seed, No. 2 vs. No. 7 seed, No. 3 vs. No. 6 seed, and No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed.
-
Each playoff round, including the Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and NBA Finals, features a seven-game series.
-
In these series, the higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, 5 (if necessary), and 7 (if necessary) following a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
-
The NBA Finals start on June 3.
Looking for more intel? Our NBA Championship odds break down the clubs with the best odds of winning the NBA Finals. And be sure to check out our NBA Finals MVP odds page to see which player is most likely to hoist the Bill Russell Trophy when the dust settles.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
