NBA Playoffs 2026: What’s in store for fans?

By Lithira Ekanayaka

After weeks of exciting action, the first Round of the NBA Playoffs concluded with several frontrunners and wildcards reaching the Conference Semifinals. With three of the first-round matchups going to a deciding Game 7 and another three extending to Game 6, this year’s NBA Playoffs are already shaping up to be one of the most intense and competitive in recent history.

The Western Conference Semifinals will see the first seeded Oklahoma City Thunder take on the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in a seven-game series, while the sixth seeded Minnesota Timberwolves will face the second seeded San Antonio Spurs. 

In the Eastern Conference, the first-seeded Detroit Pistons will face the fourth seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, while the third seeded New York Knicks will take on the seventh seeded Philadelphia 76ers for a spot in the Conference Finals.

Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder comfortably completed a 4–0 sweep of the Phoenix Suns in the first round. Their opponents, the Los Angeles Lakers, reached the Conference Semifinals with a 4–2 series victory against the Houston Rockets, largely owing to the legendary LeBron James. Their star player, Luka Dončić, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring strain, is expected to return for the series, potentially setting the stage for a hard-fought six-or seven-game battle.

By far the most intense and heated matchup of Round One was the series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets. In a series filled with chippy encounters, trash talk, and post-match antics, the Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards, edged to a 4–2 victory over the Nuggets, led by former MVP Nikola Jokić. Their Conference Semifinal opponents, the San Antonio Spurs, led by the 7.4-foot generational talent Victor Wembanyama, completed an easy 4–1 series win against the Portland Trail Blazers.

In the Eastern Conference, the series were even more competitive, with three out of four first-round matchups going to Game 7. The Detroit Pistons, led by the sensational young player Cade Cunningham, overcame a 3–1 deficit against the Orlando Magic, led by Paolo Banchero. In Game 5, both Cunningham and Banchero engaged in an epic scoring duel, each scoring 45+ points, becoming only the second pair of opposing players in NBA history to achieve this feat. Moreover, the series showcased the Pistons’ defensive master class, reflecting their “Bad Boy” era of the late 1980s. The Pistons’ opponents, the Cleveland Cavaliers, clinched a 4–3 series victory against the Toronto Raptors in a hard-fought contest. Led by Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers held off the young Raptors team led by Scottie Barnes in a series that featured an intense buzzer-beater by Raptors in Game 6 to level it at 3–3.

Led by Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 4–2 series victory over the Atlanta Hawks, led by CJ McCollum. Game 6 featured a historic blowout, with the Knicks winning by a 51-point margin (140–89), marking the largest playoff victory in franchise history. Despite the one-sided finish, the series featured close contests, with Games 2 and 3 decided by just a single point. The Knicks’ opponents, the Philadelphia 76ers, overcame a 3–1 deficit against the Boston Celtics, winning the deciding Game 7. Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and rookie VJ Edgecombe led the charge against the Celtics, spearheaded by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, to break a 44-year drought—marking the first time the 76ers defeated the Celtics in a playoff series since 1982, after six consecutive series losses.

Both the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals promise exciting basketball action with several intense matchups in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive NBA season. Matchups between Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards, Lebron James and Shai Alexander and Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey will deliver exciting basketball action for the fans all over the world. Which teams will reach the Conference Finals? All questions will be answered when the Conference Semifinals begin on May 5.