The 2026 NBA Playoffs are here, and for the first time in decades, the broadcast landscape looks completely different. TNT is gone as a broadcast partner, but the crew we all grew up watching is not. Shaq, Ernie, Kenny, and Chuck have moved over to ESPN, and they will likely be part of the playoff pregame, halftime, and postgame shows on that side. The league has split its playoff coverage across three networks under new 11-year media deals: ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video.
We liked a lot of what TNT brought to the table over the years, especially the pregame and halftime shows. But we were never in love with their scorebug during the playoffs. We were hoping for something better, and now we get to see if NBC and Amazon can deliver on the production side.
This is the first of several posts we are doing on the 2026 NBA Playoffs. We will also be breaking down the announcers, the playoff court designs, the scorebugs, and the jersey matchups for every series. For now, here is the broadcast schedule and where to watch every game.
What Channel Is the NBA Play-In Tournament On?
Before the first round even tips off, Amazon Prime Video has the entire SoFi Play-In Tournament from April 14 through April 17. All six games. One network. We like this. It keeps things simple and coherent. You know where to go, you know what to tune into, and you don't have to bounce between apps trying to find your game. Prime owns the play-in, and that is a nice touch.
Eastern Conference Play-In Teams: 76ers, Magic, Hornets, Heat
Western Conference Play-In Teams: Suns, Blazers, Clippers, Warriors
The winners will fill the 7 and 8 seeds in each conference and complete the first-round bracket.
2026 NBA Playoffs First Round Schedule: Opening Weekend
The first round starts Saturday, April 18 with eight Game 1s across the opening weekend. Here is the full slate.
Saturday, April 18
Three of the first four playoff games are on Prime Video. That is a big statement from Amazon in their first NBA postseason. We are guessing Prime puts their A-team broadcast crew on the Hawks-Knicks game at 6:00 PM Eastern since that is the biggest market matchup of the three, and their B-team gets the Nuggets-Timberwolves at 3:30 PM Eastern.
The Cavs landing the earliest slot makes sense. It is not the most appealing first-round matchup on paper, and someone has to take the 1:00 PM Eastern time slot.
The real headliner is Rockets-Lakers on ABC at 8:30 PM Eastern. Kevin Durant versus LeBron James in the first round. We are assuming Mike Breen gets the call for that one. That is the kind of game ABC wants in primetime, and it should be the most-watched game of opening weekend.
Sunday, April 19
ABC gets the afternoon doubleheader with the Celtics and Thunder, the two top seeds in their respective conferences. If Mike Breen calls the Lakers game on Saturday night in LA, the question is whether he can make it to Oklahoma City for the Thunder game at 3:30 PM Eastern on Sunday. That is a tight turnaround.
We are a little surprised the Celtics drew the earliest slot at 1:00 PM Eastern. Boston is one of the biggest brands in the NBA, but their first-round matchup against either the Sixers or Magic might not be the most compelling on paper. That could explain the early window.
NBC gets its first two NBA Playoff games on Sunday night with the Pistons and Spurs. This is historic for NBC. The network is back in the NBA postseason for the first time since the early 2000s, and they get a Sunday primetime doubleheader to open it up. The Spurs game at 9:00 PM Eastern with either the Suns or Blazers could be a fun one depending on who comes out of the play-in.
Which Networks Have the 2026 NBA Playoffs?
Here is how the rest of the first and second rounds will be split across the three networks:
Amazon Prime Video
- Entire Play-In Tournament (6 games)
- 9 to 17 first-round games
- 5 to 9 second-round games
ESPN/ABC
- Approximately 18 games across first and second rounds
- Eastern Conference Finals
- NBA Finals (all on ABC)
NBC/Peacock
- 22 to 34 games across first and second rounds (at least half on NBC, rest on Peacock)
- Western Conference Finals
Out of the first eight playoff games, three are on Prime Video, three are on ESPN/ABC, and two are on NBC. That is a pretty even split, and it is a solid opening weekend slate.
The bigger story is what is not happening. For the first time ever, there are no local TV broadcasts in the first round. Every single game is on national television or streaming only. Mike Breen has spoken out about this, saying fans who cannot afford streaming subscriptions are getting shut out. That is a real concern, and it is worth paying attention to as the playoffs go on.
But from a pure broadcast quality standpoint, we are excited to see what NBC brings to the NBA Playoffs and how Amazon handles its first postseason. The TNT era is over. A new one starts this week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What channel is the NBA Playoffs on in 2026? The 2026 NBA Playoffs are split across ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video. There is no single channel for every game. ABC has the NBA Finals. NBC has the Western Conference Finals. ESPN, NBC, and Prime Video split the first and second rounds.
What channel is the Rockets vs Lakers playoff game on? Game 1 of Rockets vs Lakers is on ABC on Saturday, April 18 at 8:30 PM Eastern. This is the primetime game of opening weekend.
What channel is the NBA Play-In Tournament on? Every game of the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament is on Amazon Prime Video. The play-in runs from April 14 through April 17.
Is TNT still broadcasting NBA Playoff games? No. TNT no longer has NBA broadcast rights as of the 2025-26 season. The league signed new 11-year deals with ESPN/ABC, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video. The Inside the NBA crew of Shaq, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley has moved to ESPN.
How can I watch the NBA Playoffs without cable? You can stream NBA Playoff games on Amazon Prime Video (included with Prime membership), Peacock (NBC games), and ESPN+ or the ESPN app (with a TV provider login). Some games will air on ABC, which is available free with an antenna.
What channel is the NBA Finals on in 2026? Every game of the 2026 NBA Finals will air on ABC.
What channel is the Western Conference Finals on? NBC has the 2026 Western Conference Finals. ESPN/ABC has the Eastern Conference Finals.
More Coming
This is just the schedule and broadcast breakdown. We are also working on full previews of the 2026 NBA Playoff announcers, scorebugs, court designs, and jersey matchups for every series. Once the play-in wraps up and the full bracket is set, we will have the complete picture. Stay tuned.
The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament begins Monday, April 14 on Amazon Prime Video. The first round of the NBA Playoffs begins Saturday, April 18.