2026 NBA playoff bracket: Matchups, schedule as Knicks oust Hawks, advance to second round

The Knicks, thanks to one of the largest playoff wins ever, are moving on in the 2026 NBA playoffs. The Knicks demolished the Hawks in Game 6 of their first-round series on Thursday night, outscoring Atlanta by 47 in the first half on the Hawks’ home floor en route to a 51-point victory. The Knicks, who trailed 2-1 in the series before winning three straight games, are back in the second round for the fourth year in a row and await the winner of the Celtics-76ers series.

Speaking of that Celtics and 76ers series, it’s going to Game 7. The Sixers pulled away from Boston on Thursday night for their second win in a row over the Celtics and now set up a do-or-die game on Saturday night at TD Garden. The Celtics, who were heavily favored in the series before it started, have made it past the first round in seven of the last eight seasons.

Elsewhere on Thursday, the Nuggets are trying to stay alive against a banged-up Timberwolves team. The Wolves have a 3-2 series lead, but Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo are out for the series, while Game 4 hero Ayo Dosunmu is sidelined for Game 6.

The Knicks have joined the Thunder and Spurs in the second round, and three more Game 6s — Magic-Pistons, Cavaliers-Raptors and Lakers-Rockets — are set for Friday night.

The postseason field was already trimmed from 20 teams to 16 as the Play-In Tournament wrapped up earlier this month. The Heat, Clippers, Hornets and Warriors were all knocked out during the play-in, while the 76ers, Magic, Trail Blazers and Suns made the playoff field.

Here’s a look at the up-to-date 2026 NBA playoff bracket.

2026 NBA playoff bracket

2026 NBA playoffs schedule

All times Eastern. Games on ABC and ESPN are streaming on fubo (Try for free).

Thursday, April 30

• Game 6: Knicks 140, Hawks 89 (New York wins 4-2)
• Game 6: 76ers 106, Celtics 93 (Series tied 3-3)
• Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo (Minnesota leads 3-2)

Friday, May 1

• Game 6: Magic vs. Pistons, 7 p.m., Prime (Orlando leads 3-2)
• Game 6: Raptors vs. Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m., Prime (Cleveland leads 3-2)
• Game 6: Rockets vs. Lakers, 9:30 p.m., Prime (L.A. leads 3-2)

Saturday, May 2

• Game 7: Celtics vs. 76ers, TBD 
• *Game 7: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, TBD

Sunday, May 3

• *Game 7: Pistons vs. Magic, TBD 
• *Game 7: Cavaliers vs. Raptors, TBD 
• *Game 7: Lakers vs. Rockets, TBD

First-round scores

Saturday, April 18

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

Play-In Tournament schedule, 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

2026 NBA playoffs key dates

• April 18-19: First round begins
• 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)