From 16 teams to eight.
After an entertaining first round of the NBA playoffs that saw teams grind through many injuries and record historic comebacks, the second round gets underway Monday, May 4 with four teams left in each conference.
A pair of Game 1s are on the schedule each of the next two nights, with NBC or its affiliated platforms airing and streaming them.
On the schedule first is the New York Knicks vs. the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference and the San Antonio Spurs vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference.
The third-seeded Knicks, in the second round for a fourth straight year, played as well as any team as their first-round series continued against the sixth-Atlanta Hawks, winning by margins of 16, 29 and 51 to turn a 2-1 series deficit into a decisive 4-2 series victory. The seventh-seeded 76ers did them one better when they came back from a 3-1 series hole to shock the second-seeded Boston Celtics in seven games, becoming the first team to accomplish that feat in six years. They also won three games in the series on the road, including two in elimination games.
The series opens at Madison Square Garden in New York as Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns welcomes Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid in a matchup that will bring out the stars.
In the Western Conference, the second-seeded Spurs are coming off their first series win in nine years after dispatching the Portland Trail Blazers in five games while navigating a concussion to Victor Wembanyama. They’ve had six days to get ready for the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, who upset the third-seeded Denver Nuggets in the first round despite being significantly undermanned. But one player who missed time in that series, Anthony Edwards, is set to return for Game 1.
Here’s what to know about the NBA playoffs on May 4, including start times, where to watch, an updated bracket and the full schedule for the Eastern Conference semifinals and Western Conference semifinals:
NBA playoff schedule tonight, NBA playoff start times
Two Game 1s of the Eastern and Western conference semifinals are on the schedule for Monday, May 4:
What channel is the NBA games on tonight? Where to watch on TV, stream
NBC is airing the New York Knicks-Philadelphia 76ers game while NBC Sports Network has the San Antonio Spurs-Minnesota Timberwolves game.
Both games are available to stream on the NBC-affiliated streaming service Peacock.
Stream the NBA playoffs on Peacock
Where to watch 76ers vs Knicks: TV, live stream
Game 1 of the New York Knicks-Philadelphia 76ers series will air on NBC and stream on Peacock.
Where to watch Timberwolves vs San Antonio Spurs: TV, live stream
Game 1 of the San Antonio Spurs-Minnesota Timberwolves series will air on NBC Sports Network and stream on Peacock.
Is Anthony Edwards playing tonight? When will Anthony Edwards return?
Yes, Anthony Edwards is returning to the lineup for the Timberwolves after missing the last two games of the first-round series against the Nuggets with a knee injury.
It’s a somewhat-stunning return so soon after suffering a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise nine days ago during the first half of Game 4 on Saturday, April 25.
The Timberwolves won Game 4 and went 1-1 in the two full games he was out, including a Game 6 clincher at home on Thursday, April 30.
Edwards was initially expected to miss several weeks, according to reports.
Now, he’s back much sooner than expected and right in time for the start of the Western Conference semifinals as the Timberwolves look to pull off the upset and strike first.
Who’s left in the NBA playoffs? What NBA teams advanced to the second round of the playoffs?
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
How many rounds are in the NBA playoffs?
The NBA playoffs takes place over four rounds and spans about two months.
The rounds include first round, the Eastern and Western Conference semifinals (second round), the Eastern and Western Conference finals and then the NBA Finals.
NBA playoffs bracket 2026
Here’s a look at the 2026 NBA playoff bracket as the second round is set to begin:
Eastern Conference first round
Eastern Conference semifinals
Western Conference
Western Conference first round
Western Conference semifinals
NBA playoffs schedule, series, results
Here’s the full schedule for the two Eastern Conference semifinals and two Western Conference semifinals. Every series, like the first round, is best-of-seven and in a 2-2-1-1-1 format:
Eastern Conference
Detroit Pistons (1) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4)
New York Knicks (3) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7)
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (4)
San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NBA playoff TV schedule tonight, where to watch games, updated bracket
Reporting by Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
