The 2026 NBA playoffs get underway in prime time tonight as the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder open their postseason campaigns on national television, setting the stage for what promises to be a compelling first round in both conferences.
Tipoff for the Celtics’ Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston, although the Thunder’s Western Conference opener against the Dallas Mavericks tips off at 10:30 p.m. ET from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Both games will be broadcast nationally on ABC, marking a rare simultaneous prime-time slate to launch the postseason.
The scheduling underscores the league’s confidence in two of the NBA’s most intriguing storylines: Boston’s quest to add to its league-leading 18 championships with a young core led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and Oklahoma City’s emergence as a Western powerhouse under general manager Sam Presti, fueled by the MVP-caliber play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Verified records show the Celtics finished the regular season with a 64-18 record, securing the second seed in the East and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs until the NBA Finals. Their opponent, the Philadelphia 76ers, clinched the seventh seed with a 47-35 record after a late-season surge that included a key victory over the Miami Heat on April 12.
In the West, the Thunder posted a league-best 57-25 record to earn the second seed, while the Mavericks qualified as the seventh seed at 44-38. Oklahoma City’s defensive identity — ranked first in the NBA in defensive rating (106.3) and opponent three-point percentage (34.1%) — will be tested against a Dallas team that relies heavily on the scoring duo of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving.
Injury updates verified through official team reports indicate Boston will be without starting center Kristaps Porziņģis for Game 1 due to a left calf strain sustained in the regular-season finale. The 76ers, meanwhile, will have Joel Embiid available after he played through right knee soreness in the final week of the season, though his availability for extended minutes remains a question.
For Oklahoma City, All-Defensive First Team guard Lu Dort is questionable for the opener with a right ankle sprain, while Dallas confirmed that rookie center Dereck Lively II will miss the series after undergoing surgery on a left shoulder dislocation sustained in March.
The Celtics-Sixers matchup renews one of the NBA’s most storied rivalries, with the teams having met in the playoffs 21 times since 1955, including seven Eastern Conference Finals. Boston holds a 12-9 edge in postseason series, most recently winning in 2022 when they advanced to the NBA Finals.
Historical context shows the Thunder and Mavericks have only met twice in the playoffs, both in the first round: Oklahoma City won in 2014 (4-0) and Dallas prevailed in 2021 (4-2). This year’s series represents the first postseason meeting between Gilgeous-Alexander and Dončić, two of the league’s premier young guards.
Tactically, Boston’s success will hinge on its ability to exploit Philadelphia’s perimeter defense, which allowed the third-highest three-point percentage in the league during the regular season (36.8%). The Celtics led the NBA in three-point makes per game (14.2) and will look to get Tatum and Brown involved early, particularly in transition.
Philadelphia’s best chance lies in slowing Boston’s pace and forcing half-court sets, where Embiid’s presence in the paint can disrupt shots at the rim. The 76ers ranked eighth in the NBA in opponent points in the paint (48.2 ppg) and will look to make Boston work for every basket inside.
In the West, Oklahoma City’s strategy will center on switching everything defensively to contain Dončić’s playmaking, while using Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to attack closeouts and create for teammates. The Thunder led the league in assists per game (28.7) and will look to maximize ball movement against a Dallas defense that ranked 22nd in opponent assists per game (26.1).
Dallas, meanwhile, will attempt to wear down Oklahoma City’s younger roster with a deliberate pace and frequent post-ups for Dončić, who averaged 33.9 points per game during the regular season — the highest in the NBA. The Mavericks as well ranked fifth in free throw attempts per game (25.4), a potential advantage if the Thunder continue to foul at a high rate (they committed the fourth-most fouls in the league, 20.8 per game).
Both series carry significant implications beyond the first round. A Celtics victory would position them to potentially face the winner of the Milwaukee Bucks-New York Knicks series in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, while a Thunder win could set up a highly anticipated Western Conference Semifinals clash with the Denver Nuggets, should they advance past the Mavericks.
The NBA playoffs follow a traditional best-of-seven, 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the higher-seeded team hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. Should either series extend to a Game 7, the Celtics would host at TD Garden on May 4, while the Thunder would host at Paycom Center on May 5, based on the current bracket projection.
For fans looking to follow the action, the NBA app and official website will provide live stats, play-by-play updates, and postgame highlights. International viewers can access the games through NBA League Pass, subject to regional blackout restrictions, while domestic viewers without cable can stream via services that carry ABC, including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV.
As the postseason begins, the narrative is clear: two of the NBA’s most promising franchises are seeking to validate their regular-season excellence with deep playoff runs. For Boston, it’s about adding another banner to the rafters. For Oklahoma City, it’s about proving their rebuild was not just successful, but sustainable.
Tipoff for Celtics vs. 76ers is at 8:00 p.m. ET / 00:00 UTC. Thunder vs. Mavericks tips at 10:30 p.m. ET / 02:30 UTC. Both games air live on ABC.
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