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D 2026 playoffs is underway, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game. Journey to the finals. Which top seeds are traveling and which could be in danger of a first-round upset? Which stars are shining on the playoff stage and which players are falling apart?
as Western Conference Playoffs Moving on, here’s what’s most important and what to watch for in all four series.
More coverage:
Eastern Takeaway | Schedule and Results | Offseason Guide
The biggest takeaways from Game 5: Spurs forward Devin Vassell The team’s shooter rounds Tuesday morning discussed the need to “ultra lock in” from the start of Game 5 to ensure a quick start. Portland Trail Blazers In this best-of-seven series.
San Antonio started Game 5 with a 12-2 run that took a 28-point lead with 1:56 left in the first half. Stephen Castle The free throw made the score 65-37. Its hot shooting credits Julian Champagne For San Antonio’s fiery start. Champagne made 4-of-5 from 3-point range in the first two quarters and 5-of-7 for a team that shot 67% in the first half, tied for San Antonio’s best shooting half including the playoffs. Experienced point guard De’Aaron Fox Per ESPN Research, the Spurs dished out seven assists in the first half along with his 16 points on 7-of-7 shooting. San Antonio scored 10 points on four Portland turnovers to build a monstrous lead that proved too much to overcome. — Michael C. Right
Round 2 Opponents: its winner Minnesota Timberwolves/Denver Nuggets (Minnesota leads 3-2)
The biggest takeaways from Game 5: The Nuggets’ role players finally showed a pulse. Denver’s depth has looked paper-thin in this series, too Peyton Watson out and Aaron Gordon Caught Gordon missed Game 5 and may have been done for the series with a left calf injury, but the Nuggets survived. Spencer Jones, Cameron Johnson And Christian Brown. Jones, in particular, provided a boost. The undrafted second-year wing had four 3s and 20 points after hitting just three 3s and scoring 12 total points in the first four games of the series. Johnson, Brown et al Bruce Brown They were all active defensively and aggressive in transition, forcing 25 turnovers that turned into 35 points for the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic And Jamal Murray Help needed to extend the series. — Anthony Slater
Game 6: Nuggets of the Timberwolves (Thursday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
What to watch for 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, need that lift in the last home game of the series. Chris Finch tried Mike Conley, Kyle Anderson, Terence Shannon Jr. And Jaylen ClarkBut the coach did not find much luck. Come on Dosunmu He scored 25 and 43 runs in the two home games in the series. He had 18 in Denver. Of course, there was some inevitable spice between the teams again in Game 5, mostly to Denver’s growing dislike. Jaden McDaniels. That will certainly play a role Thursday night, but the biggest swing factor in Game 6 is which team’s role players can perform better. — Slater
The biggest takeaways from Game 4: Once again, the first round served as a great preparation for the top-seeded Thunder. Oklahoma City went 12-0 in first-round games under coach Mark Daignol to sweep the 8-seed for the third straight 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 champion. On the other hand, the Suns have lost their last 10 playoff games over a four-year span. Brooklyn Nets For longest active postseason losing streak in league. — Tim McMahon
Round 2 Opponents: Winner of the Lakers/Rockets series (Los Angeles leads 3-1)
The biggest takeaways from Game 4: The downside after the Lakers’ magical Game 3 comeback was that LA struggled mightily on the offensive end in the second half, scoring just 38 points on 38.2% shooting while committing 10 turnovers. “It seems like our turnovers come in waves against this team,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said leading up to Game 4 on Sunday. While a wave of turnovers built in Friday’s second half, what followed after Game 4 was a tsunami. The Lakers registered 21 turnovers in the first three quarters, leading to 26 points for the Rockets. Houston bounced back from its Game 3 collapse — and the disappointing news that a bone was bruised Kevin DurantA sprained left ankle could sideline him for two to three weeks — a stifling defensive performance and a balanced offensive outing resulted in each starter scoring at least 16 points.
Meanwhile, LeBron James Had one of the worst playoff games of his career with 10 points on 2-for-9 shooting, nine assists and eight turnovers. And an LA player who was effective, DeAndre AytonWas ejected in the third quarter after picking up a flagrant foul 2 for concussion Alperen Sengun with his arms beside his head. Ayton scored 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes before exiting. — Dave McMenamin
Game 5: Rockets at Lakers (Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
What to watch for in Game 5: Houston coach Ime Udoka pointed out Sunday that last spring, his team lost 3-1 in the first round. Golden State Warriors And struggled to force a Game 7. Based on how Sunday’s Game 4 went, with the Rockets controlling the action from start to finish and leading by as many as 28 points, they certainly look like a team that won’t lie down on Wednesday. On to the subject matter, later Austin Reeves Listed as questionable the past two games, will he be ready to return from his left oblique strain? And following Ayton’s ejection and some late chippiness in Game 4 — teams leaning into each other at the half-court line after the final buzzer — just how physical will Game 5 be? — McMenamin
