NBA playoff TV schedule tonight, where to watch games, times, bracket

From 16 teams to eight.

After an entertaining first round of the NBA playoffs that saw teams grind through many injuries and record historic comebacks, the second round gets underway Monday, May 4 with four teams left in each conference.

A pair of Game 1s are on the schedule each of the next two nights, with NBC or its affiliated platforms airing and streaming them.

On the schedule first is the New York Knicks vs. the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference and the San Antonio Spurs vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference.

The third-seeded Knicks, in the second round for a fourth straight year, played as well as any team as their first-round series continued against the sixth-Atlanta Hawks, winning by margins of 16, 29 and 51 to turn a 2-1 series deficit into a decisive 4-2 series victory. The seventh-seeded 76ers did them one better when they came back from a 3-1 series hole to shock the second-seeded Boston Celtics in seven games, becoming the first team to accomplish that feat in six years. They also won three games in the series on the road, including two in elimination games.

The series opens at Madison Square Garden in New York as Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns welcomes Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid in a matchup that will bring out the stars.

In the Western Conference, the second-seeded Spurs are coming off their first series win in nine years after dispatching the Portland Trail Blazers in five games while navigating a concussion to Victor Wembanyama. They’ve had six days to get ready for the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, who upset the third-seeded Denver Nuggets in the first round despite being significantly undermanned. But one player who missed time in that series, Anthony Edwards, is set to return for Game 1.

Here’s what to know about the NBA playoffs on May 4, including start times, where to watch, an updated bracket and the full schedule for the Eastern Conference semifinals and Western Conference semifinals:

NBA playoff schedule tonight, NBA playoff start times

Two Game 1s of the Eastern and Western conference semifinals are on the schedule for Monday, May 4:

• New York Knicks (3) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7): 7 p.m., Madison Square Garden, New York (Game 1)
• San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6): 8:30 p.m., Frost Bank Center, San Antonio (Game 1)

What channel is the NBA games on tonight? Where to watch on TV, stream

NBC is airing the New York Knicks-Philadelphia 76ers game while NBC Sports Network has the San Antonio Spurs-Minnesota Timberwolves game.

Both games are available to stream on the NBC-affiliated streaming service Peacock.

Stream the NBA playoffs on Peacock

Where to watch 76ers vs Knicks: TV, live stream

• New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers: NBC, Peacock

Game 1 of the New York Knicks-Philadelphia 76ers series will air on NBC and stream on Peacock.

Where to watch Timberwolves vs San Antonio Spurs: TV, live stream

• San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: 8:30 p.m. NBC Sports Network, Peacock

Game 1 of the San Antonio Spurs-Minnesota Timberwolves series will air on NBC Sports Network and stream on Peacock.

Is Anthony Edwards playing tonight? When will Anthony Edwards return?

Yes, Anthony Edwards is returning to the lineup for the Timberwolves after missing the last two games of the first-round series against the Nuggets with a knee injury.

It’s a somewhat-stunning return so soon after suffering a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise nine days ago during the first half of Game 4 on Saturday, April 25.

The Timberwolves won Game 4 and went 1-1 in the two full games he was out, including a Game 6 clincher at home on Thursday, April 30.

Edwards was initially expected to miss several weeks, according to reports.

Now, he’s back much sooner than expected and right in time for the start of the Western Conference semifinals as the Timberwolves look to pull off the upset and strike first.

Who’s left in the NBA playoffs? What NBA teams advanced to the second round of the playoffs?

Eastern Conference

• Detroit Pistons (1)
• New York Knicks (3)
• Cleveland Cavaliers (4)
• Philadelphia 76ers (7)

Western Conference

• Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
• San Antonio Spurs (2)
• Los Angeles Lakers (4)
• Minnesota Timberwolves (6)

How many rounds are in the NBA playoffs?

The NBA playoffs takes place over four rounds and spans about two months.

The rounds include first round, the Eastern and Western Conference semifinals (second round), the Eastern and Western Conference finals and then the NBA Finals.

NBA playoffs bracket 2026

Here’s a look at the 2026 NBA playoff bracket as the second round is set to begin:

Eastern Conference first round

• Detroit Pistons (1) vs. Orlando Magic (8); Pistons won series, 4-3
• Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Toronto Raptors (5); Cavaliers won series, 4-3
• New York Knicks (3) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6); Knicks won series, 4-2
• Boston Celtics (2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7); 76ers won series, 4-3

Eastern Conference semifinals

• Detroit Pistons (1) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4) – Game 1 is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 5 in Detroit
• New York Knicks (3) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7) – Game 1 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, May 4 in New York

Western Conference

Western Conference first round

• Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Phoenix Suns (8); Thunder won series, 4-0
• Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5); Lakers won series, 4-2
• Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6); Timberwolves won series, 4-2
• San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7); Spurs won series, 4-1

Western Conference semifinals

• Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (4) – Game 1 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5 in Oklahoma City
• San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6) – Game 1 is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 4 in San Antonio

NBA playoffs schedule, series, results

Here’s the full schedule for the two Eastern Conference semifinals and two Western Conference semifinals. Every series, like the first round, is best-of-seven and in a 2-2-1-1-1 format:

Eastern Conference

Detroit Pistons (1) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4)

• Game 1: 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 5 at Detroit, NBC Sports Network
• Game 2: 6 p.m. Thursday, May 7 at Detroit, Prime Video
• Game 3: 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at Cleveland, NBC
• Game 4: 7 p.m. Monday, May 11 at Cleveland, NBC
• Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 13 at Detroit
• Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 15 at Cleveland
• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 17 at Detroit

New York Knicks (3) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7)

• Game 1: 7 p.m. Monday, May 4 at New York, NBC
• Game 2: 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 6 at New York, ESPN
• Game 3: 6 p.m. Friday, May 8 at Philadelphia, Prime Video
• Game 4: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10 at Philadelphia, ABC
• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, May 12 at New York
• Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, May 14 at Philadelphia
• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 17 at New York

Western Conference

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (4)

• Game 1: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5 at Oklahoma City, NBC
• Game 2: 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7 at Oklahoma City, Prime Video
• Game 3: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at Los Angeles, ABC
• Game 4: 9:30 p.m. Monday, May 11 at Los Angeles, Prime Video
• Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 13 at Oklahoma City
• Game 6 (if necessary): Saturday, May 16 at Los Angeles
• Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, May 18 at Oklahoma City

San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)

• Game 1: 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 4 at San Antonio, NBC Sports Network
• Game 2: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 6 at San Antonio, ESPN
• Game 3: 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 8 at Minnesota, Prime Video
• Game 4: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10 at Minnesota, NBC
• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, May 12 at San Antonio
• Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 15 at Minnesota
• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 17 at San Antonio