The NBA playoffs begin this weekend, with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder facing off after finishing the regular season with a 64-18 record. The Detroit Pistons, also top-seeded in the East, improved significantly with a 60-22 record.
The top-seeded and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder look like the team to beat as the NBA playoffs get underway this weekend.
Led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder finished the regular season with a league-best 64-18 record, two games better than the San Antonio Spurs in the West.
On the other side of the playoff bracket, the top-seeded Detroit Pistons (60-22) have been one of the East's biggest success stories, improving their win total by an astounding 16 games from last season.
Following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament, here's how the first-round matchups in the 2026 NBA Playoffs will shake out.
Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards' Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.
Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.
Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets' Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns' Grayson Allen at Ball Arena.
Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum.
Oct. 24: The Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum.
Oct. 22: The New York Knicks' OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.
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Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
1 / 8
Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
2 / 8
Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards' Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.
3 / 8
Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.
4 / 8
Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets' Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns' Grayson Allen at Ball Arena.
5 / 8
Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum.
6 / 8
Oct. 24: The Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum.
7 / 8
Oct. 22: The New York Knicks' OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
8 / 8
Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.
All times Eastern
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2), shown here during a March 15, 2026 game, is trying to recover from a collapsed lung in time for the start of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
The rest of the first round schedule has yet to be finalized.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoff bracket with first round matchups and schedule
The Oklahoma City Thunder finished the 2026 NBA regular season with a league-best record of 64-18.
The Detroit Pistons improved their win total by 16 games from the previous season.
The NBA playoffs are set to begin this weekend.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP leading the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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