NBA play-in and first-round playoff predictions from our expert staff

[ASFN Admin]

The best time of the NBA season has finally arrived.

This week, we'll sort out the NBA play-in tournament and who gets the right to face the top two seeds in the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively. Then, starting this weekend, the actual 2026 NBA playoffs will begin with the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder trying to defend their title against expected comers like the Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks. Or, even, perhaps a surprise down the line.

Rest assured, this postseason should not be short on drama.

Below, you will find our expert predictions on who we expect to advance through the play-in and who we foresee winning in the ensuing first round of this NBA season's playoffs.

Here's a look at our respective crystal balls for the 2026 NBA postseason:

Play-in Tournament​

Miami Heat (10) at Charlotte Hornets (9): East No. 9 vs. No. 10 game​

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Robert Zeglinski: Hornets

I don't think the Hornets make a deep playoff run by any means, but they've been one of the NBA's best teams since January. It would all feel like a giant waste of time if they couldn't at least get through the play-in. They're also definitely the most serious squad of the East play-in teams, which, yes, feels really weird to say out loud.

Bryan Kalbrosky: Hornets

Prince Grimes: Hornets

Of the eight play-in teams, I give Charlotte the best chance to advance and actually make noise in the playoffs. I'm not picking them to pull off the 1-8 upset over Detroit, but that would be a fascinating series between two of the hottest teams in the NBA, with recent beef to boot.

Portland Trail Blazers (8) at Phoenix Suns (7): West No. 7 seed game​

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Robert Zeglinski: Suns

Bryan Kalbrosky: Suns

Prince Grimes: Trail Blazers

Orlando Magic (8) at Philadelphia 76ers (7): East No. 7 seed game​

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Robert Zeglinski: 76ers

Bryan Kalbrosky: Magic

Prince Grimes: Magic

Golden State Warriors (10) at L.A. Clippers (9): West No. 9 vs. No. 10 game​

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Robert Zeglinski: Clippers

Bryan Kalbrosky: Clippers

Prince Grimes: Clippers

East and West No. 8 seed games​

Robert Zeglinski: Hornets over Magic; Clippers over Trail Blazers

Bryan Kalbrosky: Hornets over 76ers; Clippers over Trail Blazers

In the Western Conference, the Trail Blazers get to keep their lottery pick rather than trade it to the Chicago Bulls if they do not advance to the playoffs. The Clippers, meanwhile, owe their pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder no matter what happens in the play-in tournament. It is better for them if it is not a lottery pick that is traded out.

Prince Grimes: Hornets over 76ers; Clippers over Suns

Eastern Conference First Round​

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets​

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Robert Zeglinski: Pistons in 5

Bryan Kalbrosky: Pistons in 5

Prince Grimes: Pistons in 6

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers/Orlando Magic​

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Robert Zeglinski: Celtics in 5 over 76ers

Bryan Kalbrosky: Celtics in 5 over 76ers

Prince Grimes: Celtics in 5 over Magic

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

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Robert Zeglinski: Knicks in 6

Bryan Kalbrosky: Knicks in 5

Prince Grimes: Knicks in 6

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

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Robert Zeglinski: Cavaliers in 6

Bryan Kalbrosky: Cavaliers in 6

Prince Grimes: Cavaliers in 5

Western Conference First Round​

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Portland Trail Blazers/L.A. Clippers​

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Robert Zeglinski: Thunder in 4 over Trail Blazers

Bryan Kalbrosky: Thunder in 4 over Clippers

Prince Grimes: Thunder in 4 over Clippers

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Phoenix Suns​

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Robert Zeglinski: Spurs in 6 over Suns

Bryan Kalbrosky: Spurs in 4 over Suns

What will Victor Wembanyama do in his first playoff appearance? The sky is truly the limit when the lights are the brightest, and he seems destined for greatness in this postseason and beyond.

Prince Grimes: Spurs in 4 over Trail Blazers

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

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Robert Zeglinski: Nuggets in 5

Bryan Kalbrosky: Nuggets in 5

Prince Grimes: Nuggets in 6

The Wolves going from back-to-back WCFs to potential first-round elimination is something worth examining and asking questions about where they go from here. Because drastic changes around Anthony Edwards are probably necessary in order to get this team past the top-end talent in the West.

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

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Robert Zeglinski: Rockets in 6

The basketball itself will probably be mid a lot of the time, but there is something intriguing about Lakers-Rockets. With the Lakers' Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves injuries, this series is effectively late-stage LeBron James and a bunch of role players and late-stage Kevin Durant and (mostly) a bunch of role players. Which, huh. We couldn't get any LeBron-Steph Curry this year, so I hope this series is a worthy fallback.

Bryan Kalbrosky: Rockets in 5

Prince Grimes: Rockets in 6

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NBA play-in and first-round expert predictions: Who advances in 2026?

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