2026 NBA playoff bracket: Schedule, matchups as Pistons force Game 7 vs. Cavs

The Pistons will not go away in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. The Pistons won Game 6 against the Cavaliers in their second-round series on Friday night, staving off elimination for the fourth time this postseason. The Pistons and Cavs are heading to a decisive Game 7 on Sunday.

The Spurs, meanwhile, will try to close out their series against the Timberwolves on Friday. San Antonio has a 3-2 series lead and will advance to a Western Conference Finals showdown with the Thunder with one more win. The Wolves, who have been to the last two West Finals, are trying to keep their season alive at home.

2026 NBA playoff bracket

Earlier in the second round, the Knicks and Thunder pulled off sweeps. New York took care of the 76ers in four games, outscoring Philly by a combined 91 points. The reigning champion Thunder sent the Lakers packing, improving to 8-0 in these playoffs and raising questions about LeBron James’ future.

The Suns, Trail Blazers, Hawks, Nuggets, Rockets, Celtics, Magic and Raptors were all eliminated in the first round. 

2026 NBA playoffs: Second-round schedule

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

Friday, May 15

• Game 6: Pistons 114, Cavaliers 95 (Series tied, 3-3)
• Game 6: Spurs vs. Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m., Amazon Prime

Sunday, May 17

• Game 7*: Timberwolves vs. Spurs, TBD
• Game 7: Pistons vs. Cavaliers, TBD

Second-round scores

Monday, May 4

• Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98
• Game 1: Spurs 104, Timberwolves 102

Tuesday, May 5

• Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101
• Game 1: Thunder 108, Lakers 90

Wednesday, May 6

• Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102 
• Game 2: Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95

Thursday, May 7

• Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavaliers 97
• Game 2: Thunder 125, Lakers 107

Friday, May 8

• Game 3: Knicks 108, 76ers 94 
• Game 3: Spurs 115, Timberwolves 108 

Saturday, May 9

• Game 3: Cavaliers 116, Pistons 109 
• Game 3: Thunder 131, Lakers 108 

Sunday, May 10

• Game 4: Knicks 144, 76ers 114 (New York wins 4-0) 
• Game 4: Timberwolves 114, Spurs 109

Monday, May 11

• Game 4: Cavaliers 112, Pistons 103
• Game 4: Thunder 115, Lakers 110 (OKC wins 4-0)

Tuesday, May 12

• Game 5: Spurs 126, Timberwolves 97 

Wednesday, May 13

• Game 5: Cavaliers 117, Pistons 113

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)

Saturday, May 2

• Game 7: 76ers 109, Celtics 100 (Philadelphia wins series 4-3) 

Sunday, May 3

• Game 7: Pistons 116, Magic 94 (Detroit wins series 4-3)
• Game 7: Cavaliers 114, Raptors 102 (Cleveland wins series 4-3)

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

2026 NBA playoffs key dates

• 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)