Six franchises remain alive in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, with the Conference Semifinals entering their decisive stretch this week. By the end of the week, the field of competitors will narrow further, setting up Conference Finals matchups that could begin as early as May 17. Two pivotal matchups air Monday night, and for the first time in NBA history, the postseason is being distributed across three separate broadcast partners simultaneously.
Where Things Stand and What Each Series Needs
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons hold a 2-1 series advantage over the Cleveland Cavaliers heading into Game 4 on Monday, May 11, at 8 p.m. ET. A Detroit victory would put the Cavaliers on the brink of elimination and move the Pistons one win closer to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance against the New York Knicks, who have already clinched their spot.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter Monday's Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers having won all three previous contests. A fourth consecutive victory would complete a sweep and send the Thunder to the Western Conference Finals. That game tips off at 10:30 p.m. ET. The remaining Western Conference Finals opponent will be determined by the ongoing series between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves, which resumes Tuesday, May 12, at 8 p.m. ET, with Minnesota leading the series.
A Fractured Broadcast Landscape Defines This Postseason
The 2026 NBA Playoffs mark the first season under a landmark 11-year media rights agreement that divides postseason coverage across Disney (ESPN/ABC), Comcast (NBC/Peacock), and Amazon (Prime Video). It is a structural departure from decades of two-network dominance and requires viewers to hold subscriptions across multiple platforms to follow every game without interruption.
Under the arrangement, NBC and Peacock carry 28 first- and second-round contests - more than any single partner - and will broadcast one Conference Final in six of the eleven contract years. ESPN and ABC handle 18 games in the first two rounds and retain the NBA Finals exclusively, along with one Conference Final in ten of the eleven years. Amazon holds rights to roughly one-third of the first two rounds, one Conference Final in six years, and all six Play-In Tournament games - content that was previously split between ESPN and TNT. Monday's Pistons-Cavaliers game airs on NBC and Peacock; the Thunder-Lakers game is exclusive to Prime Video.
How to Watch Every Remaining Playoff Game
Because no single subscription covers all three broadcast partners, viewers who want uninterrupted access to the full postseason will need to piece together a combination of services. The most cost-effective path depends on which platforms a household already uses. Below are the main options currently available:
- Amazon Prime Video - Covers all Prime Video playoff broadcasts. Included with Prime membership ($14.99/month or $139/year). A $4.99/month Ultra add-on enables 4K streaming.
- Peacock Premium - $10.99/month. Required for all NBC-broadcast playoff games not carried on over-the-air television.
- ESPN Select - $12.99/month. Provides access to ESPN-exclusive postseason broadcasts.
- Sling Orange & Blue - $60.99/month. Bundles ABC, NBC, and ESPN in a single live TV package.
- YouTube TV Sports Plan - $64.99/month. Includes ABC, NBC, and ESPN with cloud DVR.
- Fubo Sports Plan - $55.99/month. Carries ABC and ESPN; quarterly pricing available.
- Hulu + Live TV - $89.99/month (ad-supported). Includes ABC and ESPN.
- DirecTV Entertainment - $89.99/month. Carries ABC, NBC, and ESPN via satellite or stream.
None of the above packages bundles all three partners in one subscription. Viewers who require Prime Video coverage alongside NBC and ESPN will need at least two services. Those watching from outside the United States should be aware that Amazon holds international streaming rights for select markets - including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Brazil, and Mexico - meaning a VPN set to a US or eligible regional location may unlock additional coverage. Not all VPN services maintain reliable speeds on major streaming platforms; ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Proton VPN are among the more consistent options for bypassing regional restrictions.
Remaining Schedule at a Glance
For viewers planning the week ahead, the full schedule of remaining Semifinals games - all subject to series outcomes - is as follows:
- Mon., May 11 - Pistons vs. Cavaliers, Game 4 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock); Thunder vs. Lakers, Game 4 (10:30 ET, Prime Video)
- Tue., May 12 - Timberwolves at Spurs, Game 5 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)
- Wed., May 13 - Pistons vs. Cavaliers, Game 5 if needed (7 or 8 ET, ESPN); Thunder vs. Lakers, Game 5 if needed (9:30 ET, ESPN)
- Fri., May 15 - Pistons vs. Cavaliers, Game 6 if needed; Spurs vs. Timberwolves, Game 6 if needed
- Sat., May 16 - Thunder vs. Lakers, Game 6 if needed
- Sun., May 17 - Pistons vs. Cavaliers, Game 7 if needed; Spurs vs. Timberwolves, Game 7 if needed
- Mon., May 18 - Thunder vs. Lakers, Game 7 if needed
The Eastern Conference Finals - New York Knicks versus the Pistons or Cavaliers - is scheduled to begin May 17 or 19. The Western Conference Finals is set to open May 18 or 20. The NBA Finals are fixed on ABC, beginning June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET, with a potential Game 7 on June 19.
One viewing note worth keeping: enabling a television's motion-smoothing setting can meaningfully improve the appearance of fast-moving live broadcasts. The same setting applied to standard programming introduces an artificial hyper-real effect - commonly called the soap opera effect - that most viewers find undesirable. Activating it for live events and deactivating it afterward is the simplest way to manage the difference.
