The 2026 playoffs are underway, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game in the march to the Finals. Which top seeds are cruising and which could be in danger of a first-round upset? Which stars are shining and which players are breaking through on the playoff stage?
As the Western Conference playoffs continue, here’s what matters most and what to watch in all four series.
More coverage:
East takeaways | Schedules and results | Offseason guides
Game 1: Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105
Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114
Game 3: Timberwolves 113, Nuggets 96
Game 4: Timberwolves 112, Nuggets 96
Biggest takeaway from Game 4: The Timberwolves lost their starting backcourt in the first half to a pair of concerning injuries but still powered their way to a commanding 3-1 series lead. Donte DiVincenzo tore his right Achilles 79 seconds into the game. Anthony Edwards missed 7 of his first 8 shots and then hyperextended his left knee, needing assistance to get to the locker room. This could be debilitating long term for the Timberwolves, but they still steamrolled the Nuggets in the second half. Ayo Dosunmu, starting the second half in place of Edwards, delivered star-level production: 43 points on 13-of-17 shooting. He scored 66 combined in the two Minnesota home wins. Naz Reid had 17 off the bench. The Nuggets, getting little from a hobbled Aaron Gordon (dealing with his own calf injury), are on the brink of elimination. — Anthony Slater
Game 4: Timberwolves at Nuggets (Monday, 10:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
What to watch in Game 5: The biggest piece of news will come before tip. Edwards is set for an MRI on his left knee, sources told ESPN, to determine the severity of what was a scary hyperextension upon landing on a second-quarter block attempt. Denver needs to win three straight games to keep its season alive, but two of them will be at home against an opponent that might not have either side of its starting backcourt. If Edwards is out, the bulk of the scoring load will fall to Julius Randle and Dosunmu, who is two months away from what could be a lucrative unrestricted free agency. Can the Timberwolves get one more win to advance to the second round? If they do, will Edwards be healthy enough to rejoin them on a title pursuit? — Slater
Game 1: Thunder 119, Suns 84
Game 2: Thunder 120, Suns 107
Game 3: Thunder 121, Suns 109
Biggest takeaway from Game 3: A surgical, dominant performance by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put the Suns on the brink of elimination. A few days after being called “frail” by Suns defensive menace Dillon Brooks, Gilgeous-Alexander scorched the Suns for a playoff career-high 42 points on 15-of-18 shooting with eight assists.
It was a masterpiece performance by Gilgeous-Alexander, who is expected to repeat as the MVP, when Oklahoma City didn’t have an effective second offensive creator. With Jalen Williams sidelined by a hamstring strain, Ajay Mitchell struggled in that role (15 points, 5-of-20 shooting). But Gilgeous-Alexander was too good to give the Suns a chance of getting on the board in the series. — Tim MacMahon
Game 4: Thunder at Suns (Monday, 9:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN/Peacock)
What to watch in Game 4: Can the Thunder sweep their first-round series for the third straight year? Oklahoma City is 11-0 in the first round with coach Mark Daigneault on the sidelines, sweeping the New Orleans Pelicans in 2024 and the Memphis Grizzlies last season. That matches the Miami Heat from 2012 to 16 for the fifth-most consecutive first-round wins in NBA history. The defending champion Thunder have looked every bit the part of the title favorite through the first few games of the playoffs. If that continues Monday, Oklahoma City can get some rest before the second round. — MacMahon
Game 1: Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98
Game 2: Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103
Game 3: Spurs 120, Trail Blazers 108
Biggest takeaway from Game 3: With Victor Wembanyama sitting out Game 3 in concussion protocol, a clash of backcourts ensued at the Moda Center. Wembanyama’s absence meant the Spurs couldn’t lean on an Area 51 connection. So, San Antonio improvised a game of 52 pickup with Stephon Castle (jersey No. 5) and rookie Dylan Harper (No. 2) elevating their production to carry the Spurs to a 120-108 victory at Portland in Game 3. Castle and Harper scored 31 and 27 points, respectively, while outdueling the Trail Blazers’ guard duo of Jrue Holiday (29 points) and Scoot Henderson (18 points) to lead San Antonio to a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven series.
De’Aaron Fox contributed 18 points as the Spurs showed they can lean on solid guard play to fill Wembanyama’s absence. — Michael C. Wright
Game 4: Spurs at Trail Blazers (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
What to watch in Game 4: Wembanyama continues to progress through concussion protocol. He hoped to return in Game 3, but steps remain before Wembanyama is cleared for action. Another day off before Sunday’s Game 4 at Moda Center should help his cause toward gaining medical clearance. If he returns for Game 4, he’ll garner plenty of attention from a Portland squad that doesn’t have much experience dealing with the 22-year-old this season. The Defensive Player of the Year didn’t play in any of their three regular-season meetings. — Wright
Game 1: Lakers 107, Rockets 98
Game 2: Lakers 101, Rockets 94
Game 3: Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT)
Biggest takeaway from Game 3: “The desperate team normally wins in the playoffs,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before Friday’s Game 3. “So, we can’t relax.”
As desperate as Houston already was, down 0-2 in the series, things got even more bleak when Kevin Durant was ruled out about an hour before tipoff because of a sprained left ankle. The Rockets’ circumstances didn’t elevate their play until after halftime, when they were down 11. Houston pulled within five points heading into the fourth and then took the lead on a Reed Sheppard 3-pointer with 4:59 remaining. Then desperation swung back to L.A.’s side. Down 101-95 with 27.4 seconds left, the Lakers finished regulation on a 6-0 run thanks to two steals and a clutch 3 from LeBron James (29 points, 13 rebounds, six assists). In OT, it was execution, not desperation, which lifted the Lakers. When the Rockets failed to box out Marcus Smart (21 points, 10 assists, five steals) on a James missed 3 with under a minute to go, Smart was fouled on his putback attempt. He hit both free throws to give L.A. a four-point cushion and a 3-0 series stranglehold. — Dave McMenamin
Game 4: Lakers at Rockets (Sunday, 9:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
What to watch in Game 4: The obvious thing is whether Durant and Austin Reaves will be available. Durant and Reaves were downgraded from questionable to out Friday. Will two more days of rest be enough for Durant’s ankle and Reaves’ left oblique strain? On the Lakers side, how will James’ 41-year-old body respond in 48 hours after playing 45 minutes in Game 3? And what versions of Alperen Sengun and Luke Kennard will show up? Sengun, who shot just 15-for-39 (38.5%) to start the series, was back to his All-Star self with 33 points on 15-for-27 shooting. Kennard, who was 17-for-26 (65.4%), had a drop back to earth, with 14 points on 4-for-12 shooting. —McMenamin
