NBA Playoffs: Expert predictions and picks from around the internet
Who will win the 2026 NBA championship? Here are some early predictions ahead of the first round this weekend.
The NBA Play-In Tournament begins Tuesday, April 14, which means we're only a few days away from the playoffs. While many fans might expect a predictable postseason, with the usual suspects like the Boston Celtics , New York Knicks , Denver Nuggets , and Oklahoma City Thunder competing for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. But the NBA Playoffs are no strangers to surprises.
Just last year, we saw the Indiana Pacers reach the finals as a 5-seed, nearly taking down the heavily favored Thunder for the title. No one expected that. We've seen mutliple play-in teams reach their conference championships as well.
Even the 2023 Miami Heat reached the finals despite entering the postseason as the Eastern Conference's No. 8 seed. That is to say that the NBA playoffs aren't as predictable as they may seem.
That's why several experts have different opinions on what will happen. Here's a quick breakdown of numerous predictions from around the internet: NBA Playoff predictions Zach Kram, ESPN : Spurs defeat Thunder, win Finals Kram writes, "Oklahoma City and San Antonio could spark a decade-long rivalry this spring, after the Spurs beat the reigning champs in four out of five meetings this season. Oklahoma City has crucial playoff experience and the best clutch scorer in the NBA on its side.