2026 NBA Playoff race begins as heavyweights hunt for Championship on ESPN – The race to the NBA Championship begins with the First Round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs live on ESPN as Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks lead the pack of title contenders.
Hoops fans across Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ can witness the 2026 NBA Playoffs with games across the most widely distributed sports network in Australia and New Zealand, ESPN.
ESPN will present a packed 2026 NBA Playoff First Round schedule, with 10 games live in the opening seven days of the post-season.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs action on ESPN commences Sunday April 19 at 10.30am AEST as the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets battle in their First Round series.
LeBron James enters what may be his final playoff campaign with the Lakers, with his future in Los Angeles remaining up in the air.
The Lakers begin the NBA Playoffs with significant injury woes plaguing stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
ESPN delivers an NBA Playoff triple header live on Monday April 20, tipping off at 3am AEST when the Boston Celtics begin their Eastern Conference charge.
Oklahoma City Thunder will be looking to defend their NBA championship and will enter the NBA Playoffs as favourites once again, having topped the Western Conference.
OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will spearhead the Thunder’s tilt at consecutive NBA championships at 5.30am AEST Monday.
The Thunder will need to hold off the San Antonio Spurs, who have their own NBA All-Star leading their charge, Victor Wembanyama.
San Antonio Spurs complete Monday’s three-game lineup at 11am AEST against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Whilst the Western Conference Title will be led by OKC, the Eastern Conference battle is led by the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics.
Detroit finished the regular season as the number one seed in the conference but a refreshed Boston Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum, are mounting their post-season bid.
Australia will be represented in the NBA Playoffs by Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks) and Matisse Thybulle (Portland Trail Blazers).
The Hawks ended the regular season as the number six seed in the Eastern Conference and face a tough test in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks.
Atlanta and the New York Knicks are live on ESPN, Tuesday April 21 at 10am AEST.
ESPN will have every game of the NBA Conference Finals and NBA Finals live on ESPN.
NBA Playoffs on ESPN
Sunday April 19
10.30am AEST, Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets, ESPN
Monday April 20
3am AEST, Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers, ESPN
5.30am AEST, Oklahoma City Thunder vs TBD, ESPN
11am AEST, San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers, ESPN
Tuesday April 21
10am AEST, New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks, ESPN
Wednesday April 22
12.30pm AEST, Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets, ESPN
Thursday April 23
9.00am AEST, Detroit Pistons vs TBD, ESPN
11.30am AEST, Oklahoma City Thunder vs TBD, ESPN
Sunday April 26
8am AEST, Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks, ESPN
10.30am AEST, Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets, ESPN
ESPN and ESPN2 is available via Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ
Media Release – ESPN
Link to ESPN HERE
TV Central ESPN content HERE
2026 NBA Playoff race begins as heavyweights hunt for Championship on ESPN
