2026 NBA Playoffs: Night 1 Winners and Losers

The 2026 NBA postseason began on April 14, 2026, with the first night of the Play-In Tournament producing the first official playoff participant of the year. The Portland Trail Blazers secured a road victory to advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2021, overcoming an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Phoenix Suns.

Deni Avdija was a primary catalyst in the Blazers’ victory, driving the team toward their postseason berth. The win officially places Portland in a first-round matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.

Eastern Conference Play-In Developments

In the Eastern Conference opener, the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Miami Heat in a game described as an instant classic. The victory marks a significant milestone for the young Charlotte roster, including LaMelo Ball, who earned his first postseason win after previously appearing in Play-In blowouts early in his career.

Following this result, the Miami Heat have been eliminated from postseason contention. The Charlotte Hornets will advance to the final Eastern Conference play-in game on April 17, 2026, where they will face the loser of the game between Philadelphia and Orlando scheduled for April 15, 2026.

Western Conference Outlook and Remaining Spots

While the Trail Blazers have officially punched their ticket, the Phoenix Suns still have a remaining opportunity to enter the playoffs. The Suns will face the winner of the game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers, which is scheduled for April 15, 2026.

Three playoff spots remain to be decided over the course of the week, with the remaining Play-In games taking place on April 15 and April 17, 2026.

2026 Playoff Bracket and Matchups

The 2025-26 NBA regular season concluded on April 13, 2026. Based on the current bracket, several first-round matchups have been established for the playoffs beginning on April 18, 2026.

In the Eastern Conference, the matchups include:

• (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks (Game 1: April 18)
• (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors (Game 1: April 18)
• (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) TBD (Game 1: April 19)
• (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) TBD (Game 1: April 19)

In the Western Conference, the matchups include:

• (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves (Game 1: April 18)
• (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets (Game 1: April 18)
• (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) TBD (Game 1: April 19)
• (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Portland Trail Blazers (Game 1: April 19)

The Houston Rockets enter their series against the Los Angeles Lakers with strong momentum, having won nine of their last 10 games. The Lakers are expected to be hampered by injuries, as they will play without Austin Reaves and likely Luka Dončić for the duration of the series.

In the East, the New York Knicks will face the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta enters the series as one of the league’s hottest teams since the All-Star break, averaging 15 three-pointers per game, which ranks fifth in the league.