NBA playoffs 2026 preview: What to know about every first-round series

The 2026 NBA postseason is officially here.With the conclusion of this year’s NBA Play-In Tournament on Friday, this season’s postseason bracket will be set. Defending champion and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder seek the league’s first repeat since the 2017 and 2018 Golden State Warriors.In the Eastern Conference, the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons are aiming for their first title since 2004 as the Boston Celtics (2024), Denver Nuggets (2023), Los Angeles Lakers (2020), Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), San Antonio Spurs (2014), Houston Rockets (1995), New York Knicks (1973) and Minnesota Timberwolves (never) seek to snap title droughts (if we can truly consider the Celtics and Nuggets in a “drought”).Advertisement