NBA playoffs 2026 | First-round schedule, times, how to watch Cavaliers

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The NBA regular season is over, which means in a couple short months, the league will crown its 2025-26 champion.

The NBA Play-In Tournament runs through April 17, but when do the playoffs actually begin?

Here's everything to know.

When do the NBA playoffs start?​

After the Play-In Tournament, which runs Tuesday through Friday, the NBA playoffs tip off Saturday, April 18.

When do the NBA Finals begin?​

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for Wednesday, June 3.

NBA Playoffs bracket 2026​

Here's a look at this year's first round matchups:

Eastern Conference​

• (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
• (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
• (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
• (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner

Western Conference​

• (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
• (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
• (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
• (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner

NBA Playoffs Game 1 schedules​

(All times Eastern)

Saturday, April 18​

• Raptors at Cavaliers, 1 p.m. | Prime
• Timberwolves at Nuggets, 3:30 p.m. | Prime
• Hawks at Knicks, 6 p.m. | Prime
• Rockets at Lakers, 8:30 p.m. | ABC

Sunday, April 19​

• East No. 7 seed at Celtics, 1 p.m. | ABC
• West No. 8 seed at Thunder, 3:30 p.m. | ABC
• East No. 8 at Pistons, 6:30 p.m. | NBC and Peacock
• West No. 7 at Spurs, 9 p.m. | NBC and Peacock

When do the Cleveland Cavaliers play next?​

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The Cavaliers, the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, start their first round series at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.

Who do the Cavs play in the playoffs?​

The Cavaliers will take on the No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers in NBA playoffs 2026​

Game 1 for Cavaliers vs. Raptors will broadcast 1 p.m. on April 18 on Prime Video.

Game 2 will air at 7 p.m. April 20 on Peacock, and Game 3 will air at 8 p.m. April 23 on Prime Video.

Game 4 of the series will air at 1 p.m. on April 26 on ESPN.

When is the NBA-Play In Tournament?​

The annual Play-In Tournament began on Tuesday, April 14. The tournament will run through Friday, April 17.

How to watch NBA Play-In Tournament​

All games will be broadcast exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: NBA playoffs 2026: First-round schedule, times, how to watch Cavaliers

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