NBA Playoffs 2026: Thunder Top Post-Game 1 Power Ranking
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With every conference semifinal series now one game old, eight franchises remain in the chase for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Based on current form, health and the latest ESPN Analytics title projections, here is where the field stands after Monday night’s Game 1s.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
First round: swept Phoenix 4-0
Conference semifinals: lead Los Angeles Lakers 1-0
Title odds: 48.8%
Oklahoma City owns home-court advantage, deploys multiple lineup combinations and features the presumptive two-time MVP. The defending champions can go big with Chet Holmgren alongside Isaiah Hartenstein or downsize to a guard-heavy group that pressures the ball. Head coach Mark Daigneault has not hesitated to adjust on the fly.
The primary concern is a potential clash with San Antonio, the lone opponent to beat the Thunder four times this season.
2. San Antonio Spurs
First round: beat Portland 4-1
Conference semifinals: trail Minnesota 1-0
Title odds: 13.5%
Rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama averaged four blocks against Portland despite missing most of Game 2 and all of Game 3 with a concussion. Fellow newcomer Stephon Castle is converting 43.8% of his three-point attempts. The question is whether the Spurs’ outside shooting can hold up; they went 10-for-36 from deep in Monday’s loss to the Timberwolves.
3. New York Knicks
First round: eliminated Atlanta 4-2
Conference semifinals: lead Philadelphia 1-0
Title odds: 19.3%
New York closed the opening round with three straight wins and carried that momentum into Game 1 versus the 76ers. OG Anunoby is 23-for-30 from the field over his past three outings, and Karl-Anthony Towns is finding rhythm. Defensive assignments for Jalen Brunson remain a potential vulnerability against Philadelphia’s dynamic backcourt.
4. Detroit Pistons
First round: edged Orlando 4-3
Conference semifinals: lead Cleveland 1-0
Title odds: 17.2%
Detroit owns the league’s No. 2 playoff defense behind only Oklahoma City. Cade Cunningham has rediscovered his All-NBA form while recovering from a punctured lung, and Ausar Thompson continues to shine on the perimeter. The Pistons, however, shot below 30% from three in the Orlando series, and Jalen Duren averaged just 10.6 points.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
First round: dismissed Denver 4-2
Conference semifinals: lead San Antonio 1-0
Title odds: 0.4%
Anthony Edwards returned from a hyperextended knee to contribute late in Game 1, while Rudy Gobert followed up a dominant series against Nikola Jokic by battling Wembanyama. Injuries remain an issue: Ayo Dosunmu is nursing a calf strain and Donte DiVincenzo is out with a torn Achilles.
6. Philadelphia 76ers
First round: ousted Boston 4-3
Conference semifinals: trail New York 1-0
Title odds: 0.1%
The pick-and-roll pairing of Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid anchors a roster that also features Paul George, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes. Health is the largest obstacle: Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy less than a month ago, and George’s postseason durability has been spotty.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers
First round: defeated Toronto 4-3
Conference semifinals: trail Detroit 1-0
Title odds: 0.4%
James Harden and Donovan Mitchell headline an explosive backcourt, while Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen patrol the interior. The Cavaliers struggled to close out an injury-depleted Raptors squad and fell late in Game 1 at Detroit after wiping out a fourth-quarter deficit.
8. Los Angeles Lakers
First round: topped Houston 4-2
Conference semifinals: trail Oklahoma City 1-0
Title odds: 0.3%
LeBron James continues to deliver in the clutch, and role players Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura all shot 40% or better from three against Houston. The Lakers are awaiting Austin Reaves’ full recovery and Luka Doncic’s return from a hamstring injury. Next up is the rested, deep and defensively elite Thunder.
The second round resumes later this week, with each matchup set to play Game 2 before the weekend.
Source: ESPN
