The 2026 NBA Playoffs are here, with the Play-In Tournament running from April 14 to April 17 and the first round beginning on April 18. For Canadian fans, the question is not just who is playing whom, but where you can actually watch every game without bouncing from app to app like a loose ball in the fourth quarter. The Toronto Raptors are back in the playoffs as the No. 5 seed in the East and will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.
Sportsnet and TSN remain the main NBA playoff destinations in Canada
The two core names to know in Canada are still Sportsnet and TSN. If you want the most practical answer for following the 2026 NBA Playoffs, that is where most fans should start.
Sportsnet is especially easy to place in a viewing guide because its offers are fairly clear. Sportsnet+ includes Raptors games, select playoff matchups from around the league, highlights, and replays. It is a strong option for Canadian viewers who want easy streaming access, especially if they are already used to following the Raptors through Sportsnet during the season.
TSN remains just as important in the overall playoff picture. In practice, the most reliable setup for Canadian NBA fans is still access to both Sportsnet and TSN, whether through a traditional TV package or a provider bundle that includes streaming access. Sportsnet+ covers a meaningful part of the postseason, but by itself it does not look like the full playoff solution for every game.
That is also where NBA League Pass becomes a little trickier. It still has value, especially for replays and broader league access, but blackout rules in Canada mean it is not always the safest one-service answer during the playoffs. For fans who want the least friction and the most complete live coverage, Sportsnet and TSN remain the clearest route.
For viewers looking for French coverage, RDS may also carry select NBA playoff games, including Raptors coverage in some cases, so it is still worth checking depending on the matchup and your region.
2026 NBA playoff bracket, the current picture
Some of the first-round bracket is already set, while other spots are still being decided through the Play-In Tournament. At the time of writing, these are the confirmed matchups.
Eastern Conference
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors
- New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks
Detroit and Boston are still waiting on the final Play-In outcomes for their first-round opponents.
Western Conference
- San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers
- Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves
- Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets
Oklahoma City is still waiting for the final West Play-In winner. Portland already locked in the No. 7 seed by beating Phoenix in the Play-In.
Travel tip: If you’re watching the NBA Playoffs while travelling, using a trusted VPN can add a layer of privacy on public Wi-Fi and may help you securely access your usual sports services, depending on where you are and the platform’s rules. Broadcast rights and blackout restrictions still apply, so availability can change from country to country.
Top players to watch heading into the playoffs
The playoffs are about matchups, but they are also about momentum. A quick look at the league leaders heading into the postseason gives this article a bit more bite and helps frame the stars most likely to shape the first round. The numbers below come from NBA.com’s official season leaders pages.
The playoffs are about matchups, but they are also about momentum. A quick look at the league leaders heading into the postseason gives this article a bit more bite and helps frame the stars most likely to shape the first round. The numbers below come from NBA.com’s official season leaders pages.
Top 5 scorers in 2025-26
| Rank | Player | Team | Points per game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luka Dončić | Lakers | 33.5 |
| 2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder | 31.1 |
| 3 | Anthony Edwards | Timberwolves | 28.8 |
| 4 | Jaylen Brown | Celtics | 28.7 |
| 5 | Tyrese Maxey | 76ers | 28.3 |
Top 5 assist leaders in 2025-26
| Rank | Player | Team | Assists per game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikola Jokić | Nuggets | 10.7 |
| 2 | Cade Cunningham | Pistons | 9.9 |
| 3 | Luka Dončić | Lakers | 8.3 |
| 4 | James Harden | Cavaliers | 8.0 |
| 5 | Jalen Johnson | Hawks | 7.9 |
Top 5 rookies by scoring average
| Rank | Player | Team | Points per game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooper Flagg | Mavericks | 21.0 |
| 2 | Kon Knueppel | Hornets | 18.5 |
| 3 | VJ Edgecombe | 76ers | 16.0 |
| 4 | Jeremiah Fears | Pelicans | 14.0 |
| 5 | Ace Bailey | Jazz | 13.8 |
Top 5 shot blockers in 2025-26
| Rank | Player | Team | Blocks per game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Wembanyama | Spurs | 3.1 |
| 2 | Chet Holmgren | Thunder | 1.9 |
| 3 | Jay Huff | Pacers | 1.9 |
| 4 | Evan Mobley | Cavaliers | 1.7 |
| 5 | Donovan Clingan | Trail Blazers | 1.7 |
The top five favourites by regular-season record
The cleanest shortcut for identifying the favourites is still the standings. Based on regular-season record, the five strongest teams entering the postseason are Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Detroit, Boston, and Denver.
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 64-18 |
| 2 | San Antonio Spurs | 62-20 |
| 3 | Detroit Pistons | 60-22 |
| 4 | Boston Celtics | 56-26 |
| 5 | Denver Nuggets | 54-28 |
Evaluating the Raptors’ chances
Toronto is not walking into the playoffs as a random lower seed that just happened to survive the regular season. The Raptors finished 46-36, grabbed the No. 5 seed, and drew Cleveland in what feels like one of the more intriguing first-round series in the East. NBA.com’s first-round preview even frames the matchup as a rising Raptors group looking for an opening against the Cavaliers.
The challenge is obvious. Cleveland won 52 games and holds home-court advantage. But Toronto’s season has clearly shifted the tone around the franchise, and the club is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Sportsnet’s first-round schedule post also confirms that Game 1 is set for Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m. ET on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet+, which gives Canadian fans a very clear starting point.
PlanHub playoff outlook for the Raptors
The Raptors are dangerous enough to make this series uncomfortable for Cleveland. Toronto has climbed back into relevance, the team profile is stronger than many expected, and there is real value in entering the postseason with less pressure than the higher seed. But Cleveland is deeper, more proven, and better positioned on paper. Toronto absolutely has upset potential, but it will need to win the margin plays, protect the ball, and turn its defensive edge into easy transition offense. That is the path.
