2026 NBA playoffs: Western Conference first-round takeawaysplayPerk: Rockets are dumbest and most selfish team in NBA playoffs (1:28)Kendrick Perkins explains why the Rockets will not overcome a 2-0 deficit against the Lakers. (1:28)NBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsApr 23, 2026, 12:15 AM ET
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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
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder lead (8) Phoenix Suns 2-0
Game 1: Thunder 119, Suns 84
Game 2: Thunder 120, Suns 107
Biggest takeaway from Game 2: This win might have come at a significant cost for the Thunder.
Jalen Williams, whose was off to a spectacular start in the postseason after injuries limited him to only 33 games during the regular season, exited midway through the third quarter after sustaining a left hamstring injury when he missed a contested layup on a fast break. The top-seeded Thunder went 39-10 without Williams this season, but he played a critical role during Oklahoma City’s championship run a year ago, including a 40-point performance in the pivotal Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
“We’re the best version of ourselves when he’s the best version of himself,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned after Game 1. “We got to make sure he stays there.”
Unfortunately, Williams’ availability is in question as the series moves to Phoenix. — Tim MacMahon
Game 3: Thunder at Suns (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
What to watch in Game 3: The Suns hope to get a couple of key players back with their season essentially on the line. Grayson Allen has yet to play in this series as he’s coming off a hamstring strain, although he has been on the active roster. He’s likely to get minutes Saturday afternoon.
Jordan Goodwin, who opened the series as the primary defender on Gilgeous-Alexander, is dealing with soreness in the calf that he strained earlier this season. He was ruled out after warming up Wednesday. There isn’t as much optimism about the potential return of starting center Mark Williams, who has been sidelined by a foot injury that has bothered him since March. — MacMahon
(4) Los Angeles Lakers lead (5) Houston Rockets 2-0
Game 1: Lakers 107, Rockets 98
Game 2: Lakers 101, Rockets 94
Biggest takeaway from Game 2: The series felt as if it changed after the first possession of Tuesday’s Game 2, when Kevin Durant — out for the opener with a sore right knee — blocked Game 1 star Luke Kennard’s shot attempt. Yet as much of an impact as Durant had — 23 points on 6-for-9 shooting and six rebounds — Los Angeles followed pretty much the same formula to go up 2-0:
LeBron James, who finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, was the best player on the court for either team. Kennard (23 points) made up for some of the offensive power missing with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in street clothes. And L.A.’s defense held Houston under 100 points on just 40.4% shooting. Just to make things eerily similar to Game 1, the Lakers once again had a late-second-quarter collapse fueled by turnovers, letting the Rockets back in the game with a 12-0 run. And once again, Marcus Smart (25 points) hit a timely fourth-quarter 3-pointer, putting L.A. up by eight with 2:23 to go. — Dave McMenamin
Game 3: Lakers at Rockets (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Prime)
What to watch in Game 3: After finishing the regular season 7-1 at home and going 30-11 overall at the Toyota Center, can the Rockets protect home court? Right before they went on that home surge, they suffered back-to-back losses to the visiting Lakers, on March 16 and 18. And with two days of rest between Games 2 and 3, will Durant — who coughed up nine turnovers Tuesday — see improvement on that knee and look even more like himself? — McMenamin
(2) San Antonio Spurs tied with (7) Portland Trail Blazers 1-1
Game 1: Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98
Game 2: Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103
Biggest takeaway from Game 2: Victor Wembanyama took a nasty spill on a drive to the basket as Jrue Holiday defended with 8:57 left in the second quarter and appeared to land squarely on his chin. Wembanyama headed to the locker room several minutes later, and the team declared he had entered concussion protocol and would miss the remainder of the contest.
Wembanyama’s availability is now in question with the series shifting on Friday to Portland for Games 3 and 4 after a day off Wednesday followed by a travel day on Thursday. Veteran backup Luke Kornet is plenty capable of filling in for Wembanyama, but the club’s depth takes a hit. Newcomer Mason Plumlee, Kelly Olynyk and Bismack Biyombo are viable options as backup centers, and the Spurs could opt to play rookie Carter Bryant at the 5 in smaller lineups. — Michael C. Wright
Game 3: Spurs at Trail Blazers (Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET, Prime)
What to watch in Game 3: The Wembanyama injury changes the dynamic, especially for San Antonio’s overall team defense, and provides a sliver of hope for a scrappy Portland squad that has hung tough despite being outmanned in terms of overall talent.
It’s worth noting that if Wembanyama is diagnosed with a concussion, he can’t return to participation without restrictions for at least 48 hours after the time of injury and until he completes the league’s required return-to-participation process. San Antonio has traditionally erred on the conservative side when bringing back players from injury, anyway. So, there’s a good chance Portland will face a somewhat undermanned Spurs squad at home for Game 3. — Wright
(3) Denver Nuggets tied with (6) Minnesota Timberwolves 1-1
Game 1: Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105
Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114
Biggest takeaway from Game 2: The Timberwolves stole the game they needed in Denver, thanks in large part to Rudy Gobert’s defensive work against Nikola Jokic. Gobert — early in the game and during several key possessions down the stretch — made life difficult for the three-time MVP. Jokic shot 1-of-8 when guarded by Gobert, 1-of-2 in transition and 6-of-10 against everyone else.
He surged in the third quarter after Gobert went to the bench with four fouls, but Gobert returned in the fourth quarter and forced a trio of late misses that set up Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards to drag Minnesota over the finish line with some offensive heroics. Those three combined for 70 points, sending the series back to Minneapolis tied 1-1. — Anthony Slater
Game 3: Nuggets at Timberwolves (Thursday, 9:30 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime)
What to watch in Game 3: How will Edwards’ knee continue to respond to a heavy workload series?
He missed 11 of the last 14 regular-season games for a persistent right knee issue that clearly continues to bother him. He grimaced and grabbed it at least twice in the first half. But it seemed to loosen and Edwards never needed to manage his court time.
He played a team-high 40 minutes, the most he has logged since early February. That’s 78 minutes in two games for Edwards after only three games total the previous month. He wasn’t hyper efficient, but he was productive and showed that elite burst when needed, finishing with 30 points, including a first-half surge that brought the Timberwolves back from an early 19-point deficit. He will get two days of rest before Thursday’s Game 3. — Slater
