2026 NBA playoff picks: Experts predict the play-in tournament and first-round matchups

The 2026 NBA postseason continues as the Orlando Magic have officially claimed the No. 8 seed in the East and are set to face the No. 1 Detroit Pistons in the first round. The No. 8 seed in the West and the last spot in the playoffs were claimed by the Phoenix Suns. They will face the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, who are the favorites to defend their title from last season.

Check out which teams our NBA experts picked for every first-round series.

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Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Detroit Pistons (1) vs. Orlando Magic (8)

Jamal Collier: Pistons in 5

Zach Kram: Pistons in 6

Anthony Slater: Pistons in 5

Ramona Shelburne: Pistons in 5

Ohm Youngmisuk: Pistons in 5

Vincent Goodwill: Pistons in 5

Tim Bontemps: Pistons in 5

Bobby Marks: Pistons in 5

Andre Snellings: Pistons in 6

Marc J. Spears: Pistons in 7

Final tally: Pistons 10, Magic 0

Boston Celtics (2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7)

Jamal Collier: Celtics in 5

Vincent Goodwill: Celtics in 5

Zach Kram: Celtics in 5

Tim MacMahon: Celtics in 5

Bobby Marks: Celtics in 6

Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 6

Anthony Slater: Celtics in 6

Marc J. Spears: Celtics in 5

Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 5

Tim Bontemps: Celtics in 5

Ramona Shelburne:Celtics in 6

Andre Snellings: Celtics in 5

Final tally: Celtics 12, 76ers 0

New York Knicks (3) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6)

Jerry Bembry: Knicks in 6



Jamal Collier: Knicks in 5

Vincent Goodwill: Knicks in 6

Baxter Holmes: Knicks in 6

Zach Kram: Knicks in 7

Tim MacMahon: Knicks in 6

Dave McMenamin: Knicks in 6

Eric Moody: Knicks in 6

Anthony Slater: Knicks in 6

Tim Bontemps: Knicks in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Knicks in 5

Marc J. Spears: Knicks in 6

Michael C. Wright: Knicks in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks in 6

Bobby Marks: Knicks in 6

Andre Snellings: Knicks in 6

Final tally: Knicks 16, Hawks 0

Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Toronto Raptors (5)

Jerry Bembry: Cavaliers in 6

Jamal Colliers: Cavaliers in 5

Vincent Goodwill: Cavaliers in 7

Baxter Holmes: Cavaliers in 6

Zach Kram: Cavaliers in 5

Tim MacMahon: Cavaliers in 6

Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers in 6

Tim Bontemps: Cavaliers in 6

Eric Moody: Cavaliers in 5

Anthony Slater: Cavaliers in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Cavaliers in 6

Marc J. Spears: Cavaliers in 6

Michael C. Wright: Cavaliers in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Cavaliers in 6

Bobby Marks: Cavaliers in 5

Andre Snellings: Cavaliers in 5

Final tally: Cavaliers 16, Raptors 0

Western Conference first round

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Phoenix Suns (8)

Jamal Collier: Thunder in 4

Zach Kram: Thunder in 4

Anthony Slater: Thunder in 5

Ohm Youngmisuk: Thunder in 5

Ramona Shelburne: Thunder in 5

Bobby Marks: Thunder in 4

Dave McMenamin: Thunder in 5

Vincent Goodwill: Thunder in 4

Tim Bontemps: Thunder in 4

Marc J. Spears: Thunder in 5

Andre Snellings: Thunder in 5

Final tally: Thunder 11, Suns 0

San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7)

Jamal Collier: Spurs in 4

Vincent Goodwill: Spurs in 5

Zach Kram: Spurs in 4

Tim MacMahon: Spurs in 6

Bobby Marks: Spurs in 5

Dave McMenamin: Spurs in 5

Anthony Slater: Spurs in 5

Tim Bontemps: Spurs in 5

Ramona Shelburne: Spurs in 7

Marc J. Spears: Spurs in 5

Michael C. Wright: Spurs in 5

Ohm Youngmisuk: Spurs in 4

Andre Snellings: Spurs in 5

Final tally: Spurs 13, Trail Blazers 0

Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)

Jerry Bembry: Nuggets in 7

Jamal Collier: Nuggets in 7

Vincent Goodwill: Nuggets in 7

Baxter Holmes: Nuggets in 6

Zach Kram: Nuggets in 5

Tim MacMahon: Nuggets in 7

Dave McMenamin: Nuggets in 7

Eric Moody: Nuggets in 6

Anthony Slater: Nuggets in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets in 5

Marc J. Spears: Nuggets in 6

Michael C. Wright: Nuggets in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Nuggets in 7

Tim Bontemps: Nuggets in 7

Bobby Marks: Nuggets in 6

Andre Snellings: Timberwolves in 7

Final tally: Nuggets 15, Timberwolves 1

Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5)

Jerry Bembry: Rockets in 7

Jamal Collier: Rockets in 7

Vincent Goodwill: Rockets in 5

Baxter Holmes: Rockets in 6

Zach Kram: Rockets in 6

Tim MacMahon: Rockets in 6

Dave McMenamin: Rockets in 6

Tim Bontemps: Rockets in 5

Eric Moody: Rockets in 5

Anthony Slater: Rockets in 5

Ramona Shelburne: Rockets in 6

Marc J. Spears: Rockets in 6

Michael C. Wright: Rockets in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Rockets in 7

Bobby Marks: Rockets in 6

Andre Snellings: Lakers in 7

Final tally: Rockets 15, Lakers 1

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