The NBA regular season is over, and the 2026 playoffs officially begin this weekend, with eight first-round series set across both conferences and a postseason field packed with legitimate title contenders, fascinating storylines, and at least one series that could go down as an all-time classic before the first round is even done. The first round could run as deep as May 3 if the series go the distance, with the NBA Finals scheduled to begin June 3. Here is everything you need to know about each matchup.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

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

The Pistons are the story of the season. A franchise that was historically losing games not long ago is now the Eastern Conference’s top seed, and Cade Cunningham’s transformation into a legitimate superstar has been one of the defining narratives of 2025-26. Cunningham averaged 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game before suffering a collapsed lung in mid-March that threatened to derail Detroit’s playoff preparation entirely. He returned before the regular season ended and appears ready to go, which is a significant relief for a Pistons side that clinched the top seed in the East with 60 wins. Orlando earned their spot by beating Charlotte in the play-in and went 2-2 against Detroit in the regular season, so they arrive with some belief. But the gap in quality is substantial, and Detroit’s depth and home-court advantage make them heavy favourites to advance comfortably.

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

A rivalry that needs no introduction, renewed on the biggest stage. The Celtics finished second in the East with 56 wins and arrive as one of the more dangerous teams in the conference, built around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and carrying the kind of championship DNA that makes them dangerous every single year. Philadelphia fought their way through the play-in, beating Orlando to earn this date with Boston, and they come in as underdogs with something to prove. The biggest variable is Joel Embiid. Reports have not ruled him out for the series, and a healthy Embiid completely changes Philadelphia’s ceiling. Without him at full capacity, most analysts expect Boston to advance comfortably, though Philly has enough talent to make it far from clean.

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

The Knicks finished third in the East with 53 wins and carry a clear seeding advantage, but Atlanta is a genuinely tricky draw. The Hawks are athletic, offensively dynamic, and capable of the kind of hot shooting runs that can swing a series in a matter of minutes. New York’s identity has been built around defensive toughness and physicality, and the expectation is that they advance, though most analysts believe it will take six or seven games to get there. Do not be surprised if Atlanta tests them far more than the seeding suggests.

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

The most evenly matched series in the East on paper. Cleveland finished fourth with 52 wins and have the edge in star power, while Toronto punched their fifth-seed ticket and bring a team capable of defending multiple positions and disrupting a game plan. The Cavaliers are favoured, but the Raptors are the kind of well-coached, versatile side that rarely goes quietly in the first round. Expect a physical, tactical series that could easily stretch to seven games.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

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

The defending champions open their title defence against a Suns side that survived the play-in by beating Golden State on Friday night. OKC finished the regular season with the best record in the entire league at 64-18, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been in the form of his life, averaging over 32 points per game and extending his NBA record for consecutive games with at least 20 points to 136. Phoenix have some pieces, but this is a substantial mismatch on paper, and the real conversation around Oklahoma City is not whether they get through the first round but how much energy they expend doing so. The Thunder are the clear favourites to come out of the West and defend their title.

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

The league’s second-best record belongs not to a veteran powerhouse but to Victor Wembanyama and a San Antonio Spurs side that won 62 games and pushed OKC for the Western Conference’s top spot all season. Wembanyama’s evolution into a generational two-way force has been the West’s most compelling storyline, and the Spurs arrive in the playoffs with genuine championship ambition. Portland earned their seven seed through the play-in and will bring size and physicality that could cause San Antonio some discomfort, particularly in the paint against Wembanyama. Most analysts have the Spurs advancing with relative comfort but Portland is physical enough to make it interesting early.

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

This is the series most likely to steal the show in the first round. Nikola Jokic is putting together another historically brilliant season, and a fully healthy Denver side with Aaron Gordon in the lineup is capable of matching anyone in the league on both ends of the floor. Minnesota come in as a genuine threat; athletic, defensively capable, and with enough playoff experience to understand what it takes to compete in a seven-game series. Several analysts believe the Nuggets are on a collision course with OKC in the Western Conference finals, and if Denver is going to get there, they need to first get through what could be a draining six or seven-game war with the Timberwolves. This is the first round series to watch in the West.

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

The most unpredictable series of the entire first round, and the one carrying the most off-court noise heading into tip-off. The Lakers finished fourth in the West with 53 wins but will begin this series without both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, their top two scorers, both ruled out indefinitely. Dončić suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain on April 2 against Oklahoma City and flew to Spain for specialised treatment, while Reaves is dealing with an oblique strain of his own. Together they averaged over 56 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds per game when healthy. LeBron James will shoulder the load in their absence, and the Lakers did go 3-2 without their stars late in the regular season, but playoff intensity is a different proposition entirely. Houston enter this series with a clear advantage and genuine belief, built on defensive structure and balanced scoring. If the Lakers can extend the series long enough, there is some hope Dončić could return in later games, but right now, the Rockets have to be considered favourites to advance.

The bracket is set, the narratives are loaded, and the only question left is who can handle the pressure now that it actually matters. The NBA Finals begin June 3, but the road there starts right now.