The 2026 NBA Conference Semifinals are officially in full swing. Following a dramatic Sunday of Game 7s, the field is set, and the first wave of second-round matchups tips off tonight, Monday, May 4, 2026.
The road to the Larry O'Brien Trophy has narrowed to the final eight teams. While the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs enjoyed extra rest after early clinches, the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers are moving forward on short rest after grueling winner-take-all victories last night.
NBA Conference Semifinals 2026: Confirmed Schedule
The semifinals follow a 2-2-1-1-1 format. With the first round officially concluded as of last night, here are your confirmed matchups and tip-off times for Game 1:
Eastern Conference Matchups
- (2) New York Knicks vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers: * Game 1: Tonight, Monday, May 4 | 8:00 PM ET | Madison Square Garden
- (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers: * Game 1: Tuesday, May 5 | 7:00 PM ET | Little Caesars Arena
Western Conference Matchups
- (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves: * Game 1: Tonight, Monday, May 4 | 9:30 PM ET | Frost Bank Center
- (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers: * Game 1: Tuesday, May 5 | 8:30 PM ET | Paycom Center
NBA Conference Semifinals 2026: Pricing Guide
Ticket prices have surged as the stakes rise. Expect to pay a premium for "Mecca" matchups or high-stakes games in Oklahoma City.
Market Type | Featured Cities | Get-In Price (Est.) | Premium/Courtside |
Standard Markets | San Antonio, Detroit, Cleveland | $124 – $160 | $2,200+ |
High-Demand Markets | Oklahoma City, Philadelphia | $182 – $290 | $3,500+ |
The Mecca Premium | New York City (MSG) | $412 – $550+ | $7,500+ |
With the Celtics now out of the picture, the Knicks vs. 76ers series has become the primary driver of secondary market demand. If you're looking for value, Game 3 in Philadelphia or Game 3 in Cleveland currently offers significantly lower entry points than the opening games in New York or Detroit.
Teams to Watch
- Detroit Pistons: After surviving a seven-game war with the Magic, the top-seeded Pistons must pivot immediately to face a surging Cavaliers squad that also outlasted its first-round opponent in a Game 7.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Jarrett Allen’s massive 22-point, 19-rebound performance in Game 7 has the Cavs feeling like a "Twin Towers" threat again as they head to Detroit.
- New York Knicks: Coming off a dominant 51-point blowout to close out the Hawks, the Knicks enter tonight as favorites, but they face a battle-tested 76ers team that has already proven it can win a Game 7 on the road.
When do tickets go on sale?
For the late-advancing teams (Pistons and Cavaliers), primary tickets for their home games are being released today, May 4. Expect heavy traffic and "virtual waiting rooms" on Ticketmaster. For all other series, verified resale tickets are widely available on platforms like StubHub and SeatGeek, with prices fluctuating based on tonight's results.