2026 NBA playoffs: Western Conference first-round takeawaysplayJaden McDaniels calls out Nuggets’ ‘bad defenders’ (0:18)Jaden McDaniels individually calls out members of the Nuggets as bad defenders. (0:18)NBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsApr 24, 2026, 11:08 PM 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 3-0
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 mentioned 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
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves lead (3) Denver Nuggets 2-1
Game 1: Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105
Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114
Game 3: Timberwolves 113, Nuggets 96
Biggest takeaway from Game 3: The NBA’s best regular-season offense is struggling to score in large part because its two biggest stars, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, aren’t making shots for Denver. Jokic went 7-of-26 from the field in Game 3 on Thursday — the first time in his career he has taken that many shots and made that few — and is now 5-of-24 on his 3’s in this series.
Rudy Gobert, the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, is contesting well and bothering Jokic, but Jokic also appears gassed and uncharacteristically careless. He had four turnovers and only three assists Thursday night — the first time he has had more turnovers than assists in a game this season. Murray, meanwhile, didn’t pick up the slack, finishing 5-of-17 shooting and failing to hit a 3. — Anthony Slater
Game 4: Nuggets at Timberwolves (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC)
What to watch in Game 4: Will Denver get any wing help back before it is too late?
Aaron Gordon was a surprise Game 3 scratch. He felt a little calf issue in the aftermath of Game 2, but the Nuggets figured the two-day break would be plenty of recovery time. They listed him as probable. The calf didn’t respond well and they ruled him out two hours prior to tip, saying he’d get treatment Thursday night and the medical staff would huddle with Gordon on Friday before determining his status for Game 4 and beyond.
Denver is also missing Peyton Watson. He has been out since April 1 with a hamstring strain. Watson went through a workout at shootaround and pregame Thursday and the Nuggets say they’re hopeful to get him back in this series. Without either, they are weak on the wing. To survive against an athletic Timberwolves team, they may need both back as soon as possible. — Slater
(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
(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 unveiled 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
