The 2026 NBA Playoffs are underway with Game 1s in the books across both conferences. Can the Oklahoma City Thunder repeat as champions? Which team will emerge from a crowded East field? Here's what to watch in each first-round series as we head into a critical week of playoff basketball.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Orlando Magic

Series: Magic lead 1-0
Next Game: Game 2, Wednesday, April 22, 7:00 PM ET

The biggest upset of the opening weekend saw Paolo Banchero lead Orlando to a wire-to-wire Game 1 victory in Detroit, stunning the top-seeded Pistons. Cade Cunningham put up 39 points in the loss, but the Magic played hungrier on defense, taking the paint away from everyone but Cunningham. Detroit had a week off before the playoffs while Orlando came in battle-tested from two play-in games. The Pistons need to be the aggressor in Game 2 and not let the Magic deliver the first punch again.

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers

Series: Celtics lead 1-0
Next Game: Game 2, Tuesday, April 21, 7:00 PM ET

Coming off his first playoff game following an Achilles tendon rupture, Jayson Tatum finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, while Jaylen Brown led the team in scoring with 26 points as the Celtics took a comfortable 123–91 victory over the short-handed 76ers. Tyrese Maxey scored 21 points for Philadelphia, but Boston's defense held strong, limiting the 76ers to just 18 points in the 1st quarter, and an abysmal 17 percent shooting from 3-point range. The gap between these teams is massive as currently constituted—but can the Sixers make adjustments without Embiid seeing the floor?

(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks

Series: Knicks lead 1-0
Next Game: Game 2, Monday, April 20, 8:00 PM ET (Tonight!)

Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 28 points while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 points as the Knicks defeated the Hawks 113-102. New York's defense was the story, holding Atlanta to just 45 first-half points and 47 in the second half. Towns was a matchup problem for the Hawks, and OG Anunoby and Josh Hart were integral in limiting looks by Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum. The Knicks showed their A-game ranks among the best in the East—Atlanta needs answers quickly.

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors

Series: Cavaliers lead 1-0
Next Game: Game 2, Monday, April 20, 7:00 PM ET (Tonight!)

In their first playoff game together, the star duo of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers to a 126–113 win over the Raptors in Game 1. Harden had 22 points and 10 assists and Mitchell scored 32 points. Max Strus, who missed the first 67 games with a foot injury, erupted for 24 points off the bench. Mitchell scored at least 30 points in an NBA-record nine straight series openers. The Raptors were taken down 3 times by Cleveland during the regular season and need to find a way to slow down this dynamic backcourt duo.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Phoenix Suns

Series: Thunder lead 1-0
Next Game: Game 2, Wednesday, April 22, 9:30 PM ET

The defending champion Thunder cruised to a 119-84 blowout victory in Game 1. A series-opening Sunday afternoon tip in Oklahoma City isn't a fair fight for a No. 8 seed that had to fight to punch its playoff ticket Friday night. Phoenix looked gassed after their play-in battle. Can the Suns regroup and make this competitive, or will OKC's quest for back-to-back championships be a smooth ride?

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Portland Trail Blazers

Series: Spurs lead 1-0
Next Game: Game 2, Tuesday, April 21, 8:00 PM ET

Victor Wembanyama announced his arrival on the playoff stage with a dominant 35-point performance in Game 1. Wembanyama poured in 21 points in the first half, the highest scoring output in a player's first career playoff opening half in the play-by-play era. He became the third player in NBA history to have at least 30 points and hit five 3-pointers in his postseason debut. Portland kept it close for a half behind Deni Avdija's 30 and 10 outing, but with San Antonio loading up to slow down Avdija, his teammates need to capitalize on solid looks. The Blazers need more scoring balance to have a chance.

(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

Series: Nuggets lead 1-0
Next Game: Game 2, Monday, April 20, 10:30 PM ET (Tonight!)

It's a playoff rematch from recent years. Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray combined for 55-18-18 while Denver dominated the middle quarters to win Game 1. Murray, a first-time All-Star this season, led all players with 30 points while Jokic added 25. Anthony Edwards kept the Wolves close with 22 points, but Minnesota couldn't find enough secondary scoring. This series has the potential to be a classic—both teams know each other well.

(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets

Series: Lakers lead 1-0
Next Game: Game 2, Tuesday, April 21, 10:30 PM ET

The most intriguing storyline of the entire first round: By earning minutes in Game 1 vs. Houston, LeBron and Bronny became the 1st father-son duo to play in a Playoff game. Beyond the history, veteran guard Luke Kennard provided L.A. a needed jolt while LeBron James notched a stellar double-double to lead the Lakers to a 107-98 victory. The Lakers are playing without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves indefinitely, while Houston was without Kevin Durant due to a knee contusion, and his availability for Game 2 is uncertain. Can the depleted Lakers keep winning? Can the Rockets respond with Durant potentially back?

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