NBA playoffs first round matchups, Game 1 schedule

[ASFN Admin]

The top-seeded and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder look like the team to beat as the NBA playoffs get underway this weekend.

Led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder finished the regular season with a league-best 64-18 record, two games better than the San Antonio Spurs in the West.

On the other side of the playoff bracket, the top-seeded Detroit Pistons (60-22) have been one of the East's biggest success stories, improving their win total by an astounding 16 games from last season.

Following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament, here's how the first-round matchups in the 2026 NBA Playoffs will shake out.

NBA playoffs first round schedule​

All times Eastern

Saturday, April 18​

• Game 1: Toronto Raptors at Cleveland Cavaliers, 1 p.m. | Prime Video
• Game 1: Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets, 3:30 p.m. | Prime Video
• Game 1: Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks, 6 p.m. | Prime Video
• Game 1: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers, 8:30 p.m. | ABC

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Sunday, April 19​

• Game 1: Eastern Conf. No. 7 seed at Boston Celtics, 1 p.m. | ABC
• Game 1: Western Conf. No. 8 seed at Oklahoma City Thunder, 3:30 p.m. | ABC
• Game 1: Eastern Conf. No. 8 seed at Detroit Pistons, 6:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock
• Game 1: Western Conf. No. 7 seed at San Antonio Spurs, 9 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

The rest of the first round schedule has yet to be finalized.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoff bracket with first round matchups and schedule

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