The 2026 NBA playoffs began Saturday. Early results Sunday included the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder rolling past the No. 8-seeded Phoenix Suns 119-84 despite an off night from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25 points, 5-for-18). The San Antonio Spurs opened with an impressive 111-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Minnesota erased a 19-point first-half deficit to rally past Denver 119-114 and even that series 1-1.
(3) Denver Nuggets tied with (6) Minnesota Timberwolves 1-1
Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114
Biggest takeaway: Minnesota stole a game it needed in Denver largely because of Rudy Gobert’s defense on Nikola Jokic. Gobert made Jokic’s life difficult early and on key late possessions; Jokic shot 1-of-8 when guarded by Gobert (1-of-2 in transition, 6-of-10 otherwise). Jokic surged in the third after Gobert sat with four fouls, but Gobert returned in the fourth and forced late misses that allowed Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards to close the game. Those three combined for 70 points, tying the series 1-1.
Game 3: Nuggets at Timberwolves (Thursday, 9:30 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime)
What to watch: How Edwards’ knee responds to a heavy workload. He missed 11 of the last 14 regular-season games with a persistent right knee issue, grimaced at it in Game 2 but logged a team-high 40 minutes (30 points) and helped erase a 19-point deficit. He gets two days’ rest before Game 3.
(2) San Antonio Spurs lead (7) Portland Trail Blazers 1-0
Game 1: Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98
Biggest takeaway: The Spurs treated Game 1 like a business meeting — all-black suits and an efficient, intelligent performance led by Victor Wembanyama in his postseason debut. Wembanyama poured in 21 first-half points (the highest scoring first half by any player in a playoff opening half in the play-by-play era, per ESPN Research), scored or assisted on 24 points before halftime, and held Portland’s shooters scoreless early. He finished with at least 30 points and five 3-pointers in his postseason debut, becoming the third player in NBA history to do so in a debut.
Game 2: Trail Blazers at Spurs (8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
What to watch: Portland needs more scoring beyond Deni Avdija. Through three quarters in Game 1, the Blazers had just two other players besides Avdija in double figures. Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan and Jrue Holiday combined to shoot 4-of-23 through three quarters. If Portland can get more from role players and hit looks when San Antonio loads to slow Avdija, the series could open up. San Antonio will try to press harder if it can build a sizable lead after nearly letting Portland back in late in Game 1.
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder lead (8) Phoenix Suns 1-0
Game 1: Thunder 119, Suns 84
Biggest takeaway: A Sunday afternoon tip in Oklahoma City isn’t an even matchup for a No. 8 seed that had to fight to get in. The Thunder had the game essentially decided by halftime, leading 21 at the break and scoring 21 points off 10 Phoenix turnovers. Oklahoma City has shown similar early dominance before; this was the largest halftime lead of any playoff game that weekend. The Suns were more respectable than last year’s blown-out Game 1 but got overwhelmed.
Game 2: Suns at Thunder (Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
What to watch: Phoenix must find a way to slow Jalen Williams, who finished with 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting and six assists in 29 minutes and looked healthier after wrist surgery and hamstring trouble. Early foul trouble for Jordan Goodwin forced matchups that put Dillon Brooks on Shai and allowed lesser defenders on Williams, whose penetration created problems. The Thunder extended the lead while Gilgeous-Alexander rested seven minutes to start the second quarter, during which Williams had four points and four assists.
(4) Los Angeles Lakers lead (5) Houston Rockets 1-0
Game 1: Lakers 107, Rockets 98
Biggest takeaway: The Lakers were undermanned entering the playoffs when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves suffered injuries a couple weeks before the postseason. They caught a break when Rockets star Kevin Durant was a late scratch with a right knee issue, and Los Angeles seized the opportunity. LeBron James (19 points, 12 assists, 8 rebounds) had eight assists in the first quarter — the most assists in any quarter of his playoff career, per ESPN Research — and the Lakers’ offense flowed. Luke Kennard scored a career-playoff-high 27 on 9-for-13 shooting; Deandre Ayton (18 on 8-of-10) and Rui Hachimura (14 on 6-of-10) also contributed. The Lakers said they’d rediscovered belief after losing backcourt pieces; that will only grow heading into Game 2.
Game 2: Rockets at Lakers (Tuesday, 10:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
What to watch: Whether Durant will be available. Without him, Houston looked rudderless and shot 37.6%, with several key players missing many shots. The Lakers had time late in the regular season and in the play-in to adjust to missing key guards; the Rockets had to adapt on the fly to Durant’s injury. Durant’s status in the next 48 hours, or Houston’s plan if he’s out, could decide the series.
Notes and links: The Timberwolves-Nuggets series moves to Minnesota tied 1-1. San Antonio’s balanced attack and Wembanyama’s historic debut are major storylines for their matchup with Portland. Oklahoma City’s dominant opener sets a tough bar for Phoenix, while the Lakers seized an opening-game advantage against an undermanned Rockets squad. Each series has adjustments and health questions to monitor as the first round continues.
