The 2026 NBA playoffs began with a few blowouts, a few games decided in the fourth quarter and one Sunday surprise over the weekend. All of the home teams won Game 1 except for the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons, who lost in their Eastern Conference first-round opener to the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic. But there’s potential for more drama based on the initial results.
The intrigue could really build when Game 2 begins around the NBA starting on Monday, April 20. There are three games on the schedule on Monday and Tuesday, with two more Game 2s on the docket for Wednesday.
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The Eastern Conference leads off the action with the No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors trying to even their series against the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. The No. 6 seed Atlanta Hawks get another shot to knock off the third-seeded New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Monday’s nightcap features the No. 3 seed Denver Nuggets hosting the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves after Nikola Jokic and company erased an early deficit and pulled away in the fourth quarter during Game 1.
Here are all the scores from every Game 1 around the NBA playoffs, as well as the schedule moving forward for every first-round series:
NBA PLAYOFF SIMULATION: Thunder favored, but will they win it all?
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NBA playoffs: Sunday, April 19 scores
NBA playoffs: Saturday, April 18 scores
NBA playoff bracket: First-round series
NOTE: Not all games have been given an official start time or viewing options yet. All listed times are Eastern:
*- if necessary
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic
Magic lead series 1-0
Game 1 at Detroit: Magic 112, Pistons 101
Game 2 at Detroit: Wednesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. | ESPN
Game 3 at Orlando: Saturday, April 25 at 1 p.m. | Peacock
Game 4 at Orlando: Monday, April 27 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 5 at Detroit: Wednesday, April 29 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 6 at Orlando: Friday, May 1 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 7 at Detroit: Sunday, May 3 | Time and TV TBD
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers
Celtics lead series 1-0
Game 1 at Boston: Celtics 123, 76ers 91
Game 2 at Boston: Tuesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. | Peacock
Game 3 at Philadelphia: Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. | Prime Video
Game 4 at Philadelphia: Sunday, April 26 at 7 p.m. | NBC, Peacock
*Game 5 at Boston: Tuesday, April 28 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 6 at Philadelphia: Thursday, April 30 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 7 at Boston: Saturday, May 2 | Time and TV TBD
No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks
Knicks lead series 1-0
Game 1 at New York: Knicks 113, Hawks 92
Game 2 at New York: Monday, April 20 at 8 p.m. | NBC, Peacock
Game 3 at Atlanta: Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. | Prime Video
Game 4 at Atlanta: Saturday, April 25 at 6 p.m. | NBC, Peacock
*Game 5 at New York: Tuesday, April 28 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 6 at Atlanta: Thursday, April 30 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 7 at New York: Saturday, May 2 | Time and TV TBD
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors
Cavaliers lead series 1-0
Game 1 at Cleveland: Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113
Game 2 at Cleveland: Monday, April 20 at 7 p.m. | Peacock
Game 3 at Toronto: Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. | Prime Video
Game 4 at Toronto: Sunday, April 26 at 1 p.m. | ESPN
*Game 5 at Cleveland: Wednesday, April 29 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 6 at Toronto: Friday, May 1 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 7 at Cleveland: Sunday, May 3 | Time and TV TBD
Western Conference
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 Phoenix Suns
Thunder lead series 1-0
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Game 2 at Oklahoma City: Wednesday, April 22 at 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
Game 3 at Phoenix: Saturday, April 25 at 3:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock
Game 4 at Phoenix: Monday, April 27 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 5 at Oklahoma City: Wednesday, April 29 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 6 at Phoenix: Friday, May 1 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 7 at Oklahoma City: Sunday, May 3 | Time and TV TBD
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers
Spurs lead series 1-0
Game 2 at San Antonio: Tuesday, April 21 at 8 p.m. | NBC, Peacock
Game 3 at Portland: Friday, April 24 at 10:30 p.m. | Prime Video
Game 4 at Portland: Sunday, April 26 at 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
*Game 5 at San Antonio: Tuesday, April 28 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 6 at Portland: Thursday, April 30 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 7 at San Antonio: Saturday, May 2 | Time and TV TBD
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
Nuggets lead series 1-0
Game 1 at Denver: Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105
Game 2 at Denver: Monday, April 20 at 10:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock
Game 3 at Minnesota: Thursday, April 23 at 9:30 p.m. | Prime Video
Game 4 at Minnesota: Saturday, April 25 at 8:30 p.m. | ABC
*Game 5 at Denver: Monday, April 27 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 6 at Minnesota: Thursday, April 30 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 7 at Denver: Saturday, May 2 | Time and TV TBD
No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets
Lakers lead series 1-0
Game 2 at Los Angeles: Tuesday, April 21 at 10:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock
Game 3 at Houston: Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m. | Prime Video
Game 4 at Houston: Sunday, April 26 at 9:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock
*Game 5 at Los Angeles: Wednesday, April 29 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 6 at Houston: Friday, May 1 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 7 at Los Angeles: Sunday, May 3 | Time and TV TBD
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoff bracket, scores, schedule for 2026 first-round games
