The 2026 NBA playoff bracket is nearly complete, with first-round matchups set to begin Saturday. The East features the No. 1 Detroit Pistons awaiting the play-in winner, No. 2 Boston Celtics against the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers, No. 3 New York Knicks versus No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, and No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers facing the No. 5 Toronto Raptors. [1]

In the West, the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder await the 8-seed, the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs face the Trail Blazers, the Houston Rockets draw the Lakers, and the Denver Nuggets round out the bracket. [2]

The Celtics-Sixers matchup carries the most voltage. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia through the play-in to earn the 7-seed, and Boston — the defending champion now two years removed from their title — faces a dangerous opponent seeded below its talent level. Cleveland-Toronto is the series built for sustained intensity, with both teams playing above preseason expectations.

The West belongs to Oklahoma City until someone proves otherwise. The Thunder rolled through the regular season as the conference's dominant force. But the Spurs, with Victor Wembanyama anchoring a defense that lost just five home games all season, may have something to say about that.

Saturday tips it all off.

— AMARA OKONKWO, Lagos