After 82 games and the latest edition of the play-in tournament, the 2026 NBA Playoffs are finally here. The postseason schedule begins tonight with a quartet of matchups, including the Atlanta Hawks in Gotham to battle the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets visiting LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
So, who are the best teams heading into this year's postseason? Our new NBA power rankings for the 2026 playoffs answer that question.
16. Orlando Magic
Expectations were high for the Orlando Magic in 2025-26, as they gave up a chunk of draft assets to land Grizzlies veteran Desmond Bane. However, he did not make the impact on attack that he had hoped for, and Franz Wagner missed only 31 games, making matters worse.
But the biggest surprise this season was the Magic's decline on defense. They went from giving up just 105.5 ppg (No. 1 in the NBA) in 2024-25 to 115.3 this season. This is one of the main reasons why they are much weaker than pistons.
15.Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have seen dark clouds hang over their season since day one when former head coach Chauncey Billups was implicated in a wild poker game rigging scheme. However, interim coach Tiago Splitter did an impressive job overcoming the drama, leading them to a 42-40 record and their first trip to the playoffs since 2021.
The biggest reason they are in the playoffs this month is former Wizards lottery pick Deni Avdija having a career year. The 25-year-old leads the team in scoring (24.2 ppg) and dropped 41 in their play-in win earlier this week. Their series with the Spurs should be fun while it lasts.
14. Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors made the playoffs last season. Hopefully the addition of second-year head coaches Darko Rajakovic and Brandon Ingram can make a big difference in 2025-26. It has worked as they have won 16 more games than a year ago.
This season, Toronto has a top 10 defense (111.8 points). But an offense that ranks in the bottom 10 (114.6 ppg) is why they are vulnerable in a four vs. five seed battle with the Cavs.
13. Phoenix Suns
Outside of the 76ers, the Phoenix Suns were the NBA's biggest drop in 2024-25. That's why they made massive changes last summer, including bringing in a new coach and getting rid of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The changes produced positive results, and Phoenix was a team worthy of respect in 2025–26.
The biggest difference from last season is that this group plays very good defense, giving up the sixth-fewest points in the NBA (111.1 PPG). They need two play-in games to reach the playoffs, but should provide solid resistance to the defending champion Thunder in Round 1.
12. Los Angeles Lakers
There were high expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. He received a full training camp with young superstar Luka Doncic, and impressed head coach JJ Redick during his rookie year. Plus, they still have one of the greatest players of all-time, LeBron James, who is still playing at a high level.
Over the past few months, they were one of the best teams in the NBA. However, serious injuries to Dončić and Austin Reaves at the worst possible time left James alone to lead the way in a tough matchup against the Rockets in Round 1.
11. Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers bounced back from a disastrous 2024-25 campaign thanks to the emergence of rookie VJ Edgecombe into one of the NBA's most talented young stars, Tyrese Maxey, and a future All-Star. Their talented guard and white beard, Paul George, is why their series against the Celtics in Round 1 is a must-see matchup.
10. Atlanta Hawks
This has been a very interesting season for the Atlanta Hawks. At first it seemed like it was about building for the long term. The best evidence was the emergence of Jalen Johnson as a new star and the organization moving Trae Young, longtime face of the franchise, to Washington.
Just being competitive seemed like enough. However, the Hawks and their young players have looked confident and dangerous in the NBA playoffs, averaging 118.5 ppg – sixth best in the league.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the new season as one of the West's elite teams after consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals. However, one of the NBA's best defensive units has regressed this season. A year ago, they were delivering 109.3 per night. This year, they finished with 114.6 points.
With a superstar like Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves remain dangerous, but it doesn't look like the teams of the last two seasons.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers
Last year, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the best team in the East during the regular season. However, for most of this season, Cleveland fell out of the No. 1 spot in the East. But after their deadline trade for James Harden, the Cavs headed into the playoffs like a dark horse.
While they have a middle-of-the-road defensive team, the group that posted 119.5 PPG – fourth best in the NBA – cannot be underestimated in the seven-game series.
7. Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets were one of the NBA's best stories last season, as they developed into an elite team in the West with strong defense and the emergence of Alpern Sengun. He believed that adding future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant would create a force that would rival the Thunder. But although the Rockets are good, they are not striking fear among their rivals.
Although they are only giving up 110.0 points per night – fourth best in the NBA – the absence of Fred VanVleet has resulted in an offense that ranks near the bottom 10 (115.2 ppg). However, they are favorites to advance as the Lakers are very excited to begin the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
6. Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have gone from a feel-good story last season to one of the NBA's best teams in 2025-26. Led by Cade Cunningham and his young core, the Pistons have a real chance to reach the NBA Finals, giving up only 109.6 PPG – third best in the NBA.
However, Detroit will only go as far as MVP candidate Cunningham takes them. After suffering a lung injury last month, there are concerns whether the team's most important player will be limited at the worst possible time.
5. New York Knicks
After falling short in the East Finals last year, the New York Knicks made the bold move of firing head coach Tom Thibodeau and replacing him with veteran coach Mike Brown. Nevertheless, the move has not produced much different results compared to last season.
The team would win over 50 games for the third consecutive year, but despite a statistically top 10 offense and top five defense, Jalen Brunson and his Knicks have many critics because of how inconsistent they are against elite teams. They will have a very tough matchup against the Hawks early this postseason.
4. Denver Nuggets
When you have, arguably, the best player on the planet, Nikola Kokic, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive team. Although they made a coaching change at the end of last season, their offense (122.1 ppg) is still the best in the NBA in the postseason.
A major reason for this is the re-emergence of Jamal Murray. The one-time All-Star had a career year in 2025-26 and looks like he could be a game-changer during their title run in 2023. If they can play solid defense when it matters, Denver will be a problem in the playoffs.
3. Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum's season-ending injury a year ago set the Boston Celtics up for a season well below their usual expectations. However, Jaylen Brown and the best defense in the NBA (107.2 PPG) helped the Celtics finish with the second-best record in the East.
Although they would have been a force in the playoffs, they are a popular choice to reach the Finals as Tatum is back and looking back to his old form sooner than anyone expected.
2. San Antonio Spurs
There is no better story in the NBA this season than Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Despite being just a few years removed from a second consecutive 22-win season, the young team looks to win 40 more games in 2025-26 and is a serious threat for the Thunder in the West.
Additionally, the 22-year-old phenom is a legitimate MVP candidate and is likely to win Defensive Player of the Year due to his strength on both sides of the court. The French, their young and talented core, and top-three offense (119.8 ppg) make them feel like a group that can reach the finals in June.
1.Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder led the NBA in scoring last season and a year ago the franchise won its first championship. Not much has changed for reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the team in 2025-26 as they head into the playoffs with a top-five offense and No. 2 defense in the league (107.9 PPG).
The biggest difference in 2025-26 was that elite B-side forward Jalen Williams only played 31 games during the regular season. However, despite his absence he has had the best record in the NBA all year and is looking healthy at the right times.
