Four first-round NBA playoff series begin Saturday while the rest kick off Sunday, including the first game of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s title defense.
By the time next weekend rolls around, the field might already have some teams preparing to bow out.
This doesn’t suggest that the three teams below each will be swept out of the postseason. It is guessing, though, that their counterparts will be longer for the bracket.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Lakers coach JJ Redick advocates for mindfulness and meditation, two good things in this crazy world. Redick even has been seen engaging in those mental-health exercises before games.
By month’s end, he’ll have to take the balancing act out of the arena. With Lakers starts Luka Doncic (hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (oblique strain) out indefinitely, there’s little chance this series extends beyond five games.
Yes, LA still boasts home-court advantage and LeBron James, who is three triple-doubles shy from passing Lakers icon Magic Johnson for most in NBA playoff history. But the Rockets are far closer to full strength, even with Kevin Durant questionable with a right knee contusion. Look for Houston big man Alperen Sengun to keep rolling. He shot 57.3% over the last 24 games and has a quickness advantage against Lakers counterpart DeAndre Ayton.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers
Mar 30, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) reacts against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Sixers showed inconsistencies even during those rare cases when they were healthy this season, so a first-round date with the surging Boston Celtics didn’t figure to have staying power.
Take Joel Embiid and his emergency appendectomy out of the Philly equation and that cinches it. This smacks of a Celtics runaway, even if Embiid manages to return to the lineup during the series, then magically remove the rust in real time against a team that has Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Boston commits the fewest turnovers in the league and is adept from long range and on the offensive glass. While it’s possible that Tyrese Maxey could go off and steer the Sixers into stealing a game – he averaged 30 points and 8.8 assists in four regular-season matchups with the C’s – Boston simply has too much talent.
Philly gets a head start on getting healthy for another shot (how many does that team have left, anyway?) next season.
TORONTO RAPTORS
Nov 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) dribbles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Heaven knows that not every prediction lands. Who’d have imagined the Cavaliers would have be eliminated before the conference finals last season, for instance?
While Cleveland carries a slightly different core and a less lofty regular-season pedigree than last spring, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and the Cavs seem like a good bet to handle a Raptors team whose ballhandler, Immanuel Quickley, is dealing with hamstring issues.
Mitchell carries plenty of firepower, to be sure, and has scored at least 30 points in eight straight series openers, a league record. Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram can keep the Raptors close, but they won’t be enough to overcome the Cavs’ depth.
