2026 NBA playoffs: Western Conference first-round takeawaysNBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsApr 30, 2026, 01:03 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
(4) Los Angeles Lakers lead (5) Houston Rockets 3-2
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Game 1: Lakers 107, Rockets 98
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Game 2: Lakers 101, Rockets 94
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Game 3: Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT)
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Game 4: Rockets 115, Lakers 96
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Game 5: Rockets 99, Lakers 93
Biggest takeaway from Game 5: Out of Tuesday’s practices, there were a couple of telling quotes from the Lakers and Rockets that gave insight into the mindsets of both teams. On the Lakers side, coach JJ Redick was asked about the difficulty of closing out a series after L.A. failed in its first attempt in Game 4 and stated: “Well, you have to kill them. It’s difficult to kill someone.” And in Houston, forward Jabari Smith Jr. let it be known just how alive the Rockets felt like their chances are in the series. “We’re obviously the better team, I feel like,” he stated.
Smith’s 3 to put the Rockets up by 13 with 9:56 to go in the fourth quarter Wednesday certainly supported both of the previous day’s statements. The Lakers made a push, cutting Houston’s lead to three on a layup by LeBron James (25 points, seven assists) with 2:59 to go, but Reed Sheppard responded with four straight points in the next 39 seconds to put Houston back up by seven, with the second score coming after stealing it from James. The Rockets couldn’t be killed, and turnovers — much like in Game 4 — killed the Lakers again. They coughed up 15, leading to 18 points for Houston. — Dave McMenamin
Game 6: Lakers at Rockets (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
What to watch in Game 6: One of the factors that Redick stated impacted the Lakers in Game 4 was the 48-hour turnaround after playing into overtime in Game 3. But that was when the team was already in Houston. Now the team will have just 48 hours between Games 5 and 6, with a 3½-hour flight to take in between. The difference this time is the Lakers will have Austin Reaves, who scored 22 points with six assists but shot just 4-of-16 in his first game back after a month. It remains to be seen if the extra two days will allow the Rockets to get Kevin Durant back in the lineup. Durant has missed the past three games with a bone bruise in his sprained left ankle. — McMenamin
(2) San Antonio Spurs eliminate (7) Portland Trail Blazers 4-1
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Game 1: Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98
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Game 2: Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103
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Game 3: Spurs 120, Trail Blazers 108
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Game 4: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 93
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Game 5: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 95
Biggest takeaway from Game 5: Spurs forward Devin Vassell discussed at the team’s shootaround Tuesday morning the need to ensure a fast start by “being ultra locked in” from the beginning of Game 5 to close out the Portland Trail Blazers in this best-of-seven series.
San Antonio delivered by starting Game 5 on a 12-2 run that ballooned into a 28-point lead with 1:56 left in the first half after a Stephon Castle free throw made the score 65-37. Credit the hot shooting of Julian Champagnie for San Antonio’s scorching start. Champagnie made 4-of-5 from 3-point range over the first two quarters and 5-of-7 from the field for a team that shot 67% in the first half, which tied for San Antonio’s best shooting half of the season, including the playoffs. Veteran point guard De’Aaron Fox delivered seven assists in the first half with the Spurs shooting 7-of-7 for 16 points off his passes, according to ESPN Research. San Antonio also scored 10 points off four Portland turnovers in building a monstrous lead that proved too much to overcome. — Michael C. Wright
Round 2 opponent: Winner of Timberwolves/Nuggets series (Minnesota leads 3-2)
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves lead (3) Denver Nuggets 3-2
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Game 1: Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105
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Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114
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Game 3: Timberwolves 113, Nuggets 96
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Game 4: Timberwolves 112, Nuggets 96
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Game 5: Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 113
Biggest takeaway from Game 5: The Nuggets’ role players finally showed a pulse. Denver’s depth has looked paper-thin in this series, with Peyton Watson out and Aaron Gordon hobbled. Gordon missed Game 5 and might be done for the series because of a left calf injury, but the Nuggets remained alive because of Spencer Jones, Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun. Jones, in particular, provided a boost. The undrafted second-year wing had four 3s and 20 points after hitting only three 3s and scoring 12 total points combined in the first four games of the series. Johnson, Braun and Bruce Brown were all active defensively and aggressive in transition, forcing 25 turnovers that the Nuggets turned into 35 points, and gave Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray the requisite help to extend the series. — Anthony Slater
Game 6: Nuggets at Timberwolves (Thursday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
What to watch in Game 6: Role players tend to perform better at home in the playoffs. Minnesota, still searching for the right combination with Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo out, needs that lift in its final home game of the series. Chris Finch tried Mike Conley, Kyle Anderson, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaylen Clark, but the coach didn’t find much luck. Ayo Dosunmu scored 25 and 43 in the two home games in the series. He had 18 in Denver. There was, of course, some inevitable spice between the teams again in Game 5, mostly in regard to Denver’s growing dislike of Jaden McDaniels. That’ll surely play a role Thursday night, but Game 6’s biggest swing factor is more about which team’s role players can perform better. — Slater
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder eliminate (8) Phoenix Suns 4-0
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Game 1: Thunder 119, Suns 84
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Game 2: Thunder 120, Suns 107
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Game 3: Thunder 121, Suns 109
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Game 4: Thunder 131, Suns 122
Biggest takeaway from Game 4: Once again, the first round served as a nice warmup for the top-seeded Thunder. Oklahoma City is 12-0 in first-round games under coach Mark Daigneault, sweeping an 8-seed for the third consecutive postseason.
According to ESPN Research, the Thunder became the fourth defending champion to sweep its first-round series with four double-digit wins. The previous two (2012-13 Miami Heat and 1989-90 Detroit Pistons) repeated as champions. On the other hand, the Suns have lost their past 10 playoff games over a four-year span, matching the Brooklyn Nets for the longest active postseason losing streak in the league. — Tim MacMahon
Round 2 opponent: Winner of Lakers/Rockets series (Los Angeles leads 3-1)
