The Los Angeles Lakers (No. 4 seed) face the Houston Rockets (No. 5 seed) in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. The series officially tips off on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 5:30 PM PDT (8:30 PM ET) on ABC. While games 2 through 7 are currently listed as “TBD” by the NBA, they are expected to follow the standard West Coast primetime windows on ESPN, ABC, and Prime Video.
2026 Los Angeles Lakers Playoff Schedule
Lakers vs. Rockets First Round Schedule
Note: Games 2-7 times are Projected based on national broadcast windows for West Coast teams. We will update this table the moment the NBA finalizes the slots.
| Game | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Network |
| Game 1 | Sat, April 18 | Rockets @ Lakers | 8:30 PM | ABC |
| Game 2 | Mon, April 20 | Rockets @ Lakers | 10:00 PM (Projected) | ESPN |
| Game 3 | Thu, April 23 | Lakers @ Rockets | 9:30 PM (Projected) | Prime Video |
| Game 4 | Sun, April 26 | Lakers @ Rockets | 3:30 PM (Projected) | ABC |
| Game 5* | Tue, April 28 | Rockets @ Lakers | 10:00 PM (Projected) | TBD |
| Game 6* | Thu, April 30 | Lakers @ Rockets | 10:30 PM (Projected) | TBD |
| Game 7* | Sat, May 2 | Rockets @ Lakers | 8:30 PM (Projected) | ABC |
Note: Tip-off times for Games 2-7 are currently listed as TBD by the NBA. The times shown below are ‘Projected Windows’ based on typical West Coast primetime slots for ABC, ESPN, and Prime Video. This schedule will be updated with confirmed times the moment they are released by the league.
Lakers Playoff TV & Streaming Guide
With the NBA’s new 2026 media deal, watching LeBron and the Lakers requires a few different apps:
- The “Prime” Game: Per the new agreement, Amazon has exclusive rights to select playoff games. For this series, Game 3 is the likely streaming-only exclusive.
- The “ABC” Windows: As the No. 4 seed in a high-profile matchup, expect the Lakers to own the Saturday/Sunday afternoon “Showcase” slots on ABC.
FAQ: 2026 Lakers Playoffs
Question: Why are the Lakers playoff times listed as TBD? Answer: The NBA typically waits for the Play-In Tournament (April 14-17) to conclude before locking in exact tip-off times for Games 2-7. This allows them to maximize TV ratings for the most popular matchups.
Question: Where can I download a printable Lakers playoff schedule? Answer: You can download our updated [Printable 2026 Lakers Playoff Schedule PDF] which includes the full bracket and space to write in scores.
Additional NBA Playoff Resources
- Download Printable 2026 NBA Playoff Bracket (PDF)
- How to Watch: Prime Video Play-In Streaming Guide
- Full NBA First Round Matchups and TV Schedule
