The 2026 NBA Playoffs tip off on April 20. Sixteen teams — eight per conference — compete for the most coveted championship in professional basketball. This guide covers everything you need before the first jump ball of the postseason.
2026 NBA Playoffs bracket
Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Key player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| 2 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokic |
| 3 | Los Angeles Lakers | Luka Doncic + LeBron James |
| 4 | San Antonio Spurs | Victor Wembanyama |
| 5 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Anthony Edwards |
| 6 | Memphis Grizzlies | Jaren Jackson Jr. |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors | Stephen Curry |
| 8 | Dallas Mavericks | Kyrie Irving |
Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Key player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Celtics | Jayson Tatum |
| 2 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Evan Mobley |
| 3 | New York Knicks | Jalen Brunson + Kevin Durant |
| 4 | Milwaukee Bucks | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 5 | Indiana Pacers | Tyrese Haliburton |
| 6 | Miami Heat | Jimmy Butler |
| 7 | Philadelphia 76ers | Joel Embiid |
| 8 | Atlanta Hawks | Trae Young |
First round matchups
West
- Thunder (1) vs Mavericks (8)
- Nuggets (2) vs Warriors (7)
- Lakers (3) vs Grizzlies (6)
- Spurs (4) vs Timberwolves (5)
East
- Celtics (1) vs Hawks (8)
- Cavaliers (2) vs 76ers (7)
- Knicks (3) vs Heat (6)
- Bucks (4) vs Pacers (5)
Favorites to win the 2026 NBA Championship
Oklahoma City Thunder — clear favorite
The Thunder finished the regular season as the most efficient team in the NBA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the league in scoring efficiency and is the heavy favorite for MVP. His combination of scoring versatility, shot creation and two-way impact has made Oklahoma City the benchmark for the entire league.
Alongside SGA, Chet Holmgren provides an interior defense dimension that most contenders cannot match: 2.17m, capable of stepping outside and scoring from range while protecting the rim at an elite level. The Thunder defend like a high-pressing football team — they rotate before the ball arrives, help early, and contest practically every catch.
The risk is inexperience under pressure. Oklahoma City has built carefully and methodically. Most of this group has never faced elimination pressure in a deep playoff run. The first real test — likely in the second round — will reveal what they’re made of.
Boston Celtics — defending champions
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been the most feared wing duo in the East for three straight years. The Celtics won the ring in 2024, reached the Finals in 2022, and have been a consistent playoff presence since 2019. That builds something no single season can manufacture: composure in the decisive moments.
Joe Mazzulla’s system combines the league’s best three-point attack with size and versatility on defense. Brown is the X-factor: in the playoffs he elevates to a level very few can match.
The vulnerability is interior defense against an elite center. If they face Jokic in the Finals — the classic scenario — the size differential in the post could be the deciding factor.
Denver Nuggets — Jokic never fails to impress
Nikola Jokic is the best player on the planet in his best form. Three MVPs, a ring in 2023, and a proven track record of elevating in the playoffs when the game slows down and gets physical — exactly the environment where his post game dominates.
The Nuggets depend on Jokic more than any other contender depends on their star. The question is not whether Jokic delivers — he always does. The question is whether Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. match his intensity when it matters.
The big story: Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs
Nobody predicted the Spurs in the playoffs three years ago. The rebuild that began with Wembanyama’s draft pick in 2023 has produced results two years ahead of the most optimistic projections.
Victor Wembanyama is not just the most talented big man of his generation — he is the most unusual player in the past 20 years in terms of combined physical profile and technical skill. He is simultaneously ranking among the league leaders in shot-blocking and scoring. Very few players in NBA history have achieved that combination this early in their careers.
The Spurs will not win the ring this year. But they can beat any team in a seven-game series if Wembanyama gets a week of grace.
The Luka + LeBron experiment in Los Angeles
The arrival of Luka Doncic in Los Angeles in January 2025 created the most talked-about team off the court all season. Two players with almost identical creation and decision-making skill sets sharing the same squad is something the NBA has never seen before.
The first full playoffs together for Luka and LeBron arrive with more questions than answers. How do they share ball responsibilities in the closing moments? How does the volume each needs coexist? The answers come in April and May, under elimination pressure.
2026 NBA Playoffs schedule
| Round | Start | Format |
|---|---|---|
| First Round | April 20, 2026 | Best of 7 |
| Conference Semifinals | ~May 5, 2026 | Best of 7 |
| Conference Finals | ~May 20, 2026 | Best of 7 |
| NBA Finals | ~June 5, 2026 | Best of 7 |
Frequently asked questions
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 NBA Championship? Oklahoma City Thunder is the clear favorite. Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets are the main alternatives. The Nuggets are the most dangerous dark horse given Jokic’s playoff track record.
When do the 2026 NBA Playoffs start? April 20, 2026. All eight first-round series begin on the same weekend.
Can Wembanyama lead the Spurs deep into the playoffs? The Spurs are the 4th seed in the West. They have the individual talent to upset anyone in a seven-game series. Advancing past the second round would be a historic achievement for the rebuild.
Is this Curry’s last run with the Warriors? Golden State qualified as a 7th seed. Curry at 38 is still capable of extraordinary playoff performances. A deep run would be one of the great final chapters in NBA history.