2026 NBA playoff bracket: Knicks pull off huge comeback to take Game 1 vs. Cavaliers

The final four is set in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, and the Conference Finals have arrived. The Cavaliers took control of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday before the Knicks seemingly remembered how good they are and pulled off a huge comeback to send the game to overtime and then take home the win with a 115-104 victory.

The Western Conference Finals, meanwhile, got started Monday night, with the Thunder and Spurs playing an instant classic. Victor Wembanyama scored 41 points, pulled in 24 rebounds and made a number of jaw-dropping plays as San Antonio outlasted OKC in double overtime. It’s the Thunder’s first loss of these playoffs. The reigning champion Thunder will try to bounce back in Wednesday’s Game 2.

2026 NBA playoff bracket

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his second straight MVP award on Sunday, and now he’ll try to lead the Thunder to their second straight title. No NBA team has won back-to-back championships since the Warriors in 2017-18. 

The Knicks are back in the conference finals for the second season in a row, but they have not won the East since 1999. The Spurs have not been to the NBA Finals since 2014, and while the Cavaliers were last in the Finals in 2018, they have never made it without LeBron James.

The Suns, Trail Blazers, Hawks, Nuggets, Rockets, Celtics, Magic and Raptors were all eliminated in the first round. The 76ers, Lakers, Timberwolves and Pistons all bowed out in the second round.

2026 NBA playoffs: Conference finals schedule

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

Monday, May 18

• Game 1: Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (2OT)

Tuesday, May 19

• Game 1: Knicks 115, Cavaliers 104

Wednesday, May 20

• Game 2: Thunder vs. Spurs, 8:30 p.m., NBC

Thursday, May 21

• Game 2: Knicks vs. Cavaliers, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Friday, May 22

• Game 3: Spurs vs. Thunder, 8:30 p.m., NBC

Saturday, May 23

• Game 3: Cavaliers vs. Knicks, 8 p.m., ABC/fubo

Sunday, May 24

• Game 4: Spurs vs. Thunder, 8 p.m., NBC

Monday, May 25

• Game 4: Cavaliers vs. Knicks, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Tuesday, May 26

• Game 5*: Thunder vs. Spurs, 8:30 p.m., NBC

Wednesday, May 27

• Game 5*: Knicks vs. Cavaliers, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Thursday, May 28

• Game 6*: Spurs vs. Thunder, 8:30 p.m., NBC

Friday, May 29

• Game 6*: Cavaliers vs. Knicks, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Saturday, May 30

• Game 7*: Thunder vs. Spurs, 8 p.m., NBC

Sunday, May 31

• Game 7*: Knicks vs. Cavaliers, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

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

Friday, May 15

• Game 6: Pistons 114, Cavaliers 95 
• Game 6: Spurs 139, Timberwolves 109 (San Antonio wins 4-2)

Sunday, May 17

• Game 7: Cavaliers 125, Pistons 94 (Cleveland wins 4-3)

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

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 18: Western Conference Finals begin
• May 19: Eastern Conference Finals begin
• June 3: NBA Finals Game 1
• June 19: NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)