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 25, 2026, 06:08 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
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder lead (8) Phoenix Suns 3-0
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
(2) San Antonio Spurs lead (7) Portland Trail Blazers 2-1
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
(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
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Lakers storm back late, win in OT for 3-0 series lead vs. Rockets
(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
