2026 NBA playoffs: Seedings, matchups, full bracket & schedule

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/oklahoma-city-thunder/0fHFHEWD/"]Oklahoma City Thunder[/a] aimed to become the first team to win back-to-back NBA championships since the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/golden-state-warriors/SxUtXqch/"]Golden State Warriors[/a] in 2017 and 2018. They ended this season as the best team in the league after finishing with a 64-18 record, topping the Western Conference.[/p][p]Alongside them, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-antonio-spurs/IwmkErSH/"]San Antonio Spurs[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/denver-nuggets/CxvW27TI/"]Denver Nuggets[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-lakers/ngegZ8bg/"]Los Angeles Lakers[/a] secured homecourt advantage during the playoffs, while the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/houston-rockets/Sr9PQALP/"]Houston Rockets[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-timberwolves/KjBIVQcI/"]Minnesota Timberwolves[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portland-trail-blazers/4Awl14c5/"]Portland Trail Blazers[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/phoenix-suns/M1Gy2pra/"]Phoenix Suns[/a] made up the other teams in the West.[/p][p]In the East, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-pistons/UcjMRj6J/"]Detroit Pistons[/a] topped the standings (60-22), with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-celtics/KYD9hVEm/"]Boston Celtics[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-knicks/WCNO4nbt/"]New York Knicks[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-cavaliers/xGk13Tb6/"]Cleveland Cavaliers[/a] making up the top four. They were joined by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/toronto-raptors/CxtbCMdU/"]Toronto Raptors[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-hawks/xAO4gBas/"]Atlanta Hawks[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-76ers/vwRW2QSh/"]Philadelphia 76ers[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/orlando-magic/QZMS36Dn/"]Orlando Magic[/a].[/p][p]Teams on each side battled through the playoffs in best-of-seven series to be named conference champions, before eventually meeting in the NBA Finals, which began on June 3rd.[/p][h2][b]Playoff bracket[/b][/h2][h2]Western Conference [/h2][p][b]First round: Starts April 18th[/b][/p][p][b]Oklahoma City Thunder (1)[/b] 4-0 Phoenix Suns (8)[/p][p][b]San Antonio Spurs (2)[/b] 4-1 Portland Trail Blazers (7)[/p][p]Denver Nuggets (3) 2-4 [b]Minnesota Timberwolves (6)[/b][/p][p][b]Los Angeles Lakers (4)[/b] 4-2 Houston Rockets (5)[/p][p][b]Semi-finals: Starts between May 2nd and May 4th[/b][/p][p][b]Oklahoma City Thunder (1)[/b] 4-0 Los Angeles Lakers (4)[/p][p][b]San Antonio Spurs (2)[/b] 4-2 Minnesota Timberwolves (6)[/p][p][b]Finals: Starts May 18th or May 20th[/b][/p][p]Oklahoma City Thunder (1) 3-[b]4 San Antonio Spurs (2)[/b][/p][h2]Eastern Conference[/h2][p][b]First round: Starts April 18th[/b][/p][p][b]Detroit Pistons (1)[/b] 4-3 Orlando Magic (8)[/p][p]Boston Celtics (2) 3-4 [b]Philadelphia 76ers (7)[/b][/p][p][b]New York Knicks (3) [/b]4-2 Atlanta Hawks (6)[/p][p][b]Cleveland Cavaliers (4)[/b] 4-3 Toronto Raptors (5)[/p][p][b]Semi-finals: Starts between May 2nd and May 4th[/b][/p][p]Detroit Pistons (1) 3-4 [b]Cleveland Cavaliers (4)[/b][/p][p][b]New York Knicks (3)[/b] 4-0 Philadelphia 76ers (7)[/p][p][b]Finals: Starts May 17th or May 19th[/b][/p][p][b]New York Knicks (3)[/b] 4-0 Cleveland Cavaliers (4) [/p][h2]NBA Finals[/h2][p][b]Starts June 4th[/b][/p][p]San Antonio Spurs 1-4[b] New York Knicks[/b][/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/basketball/usa/nba/"]Follow the NBA playoffs live with Flashscore![/a][/h2]