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The first-round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs already felt like a war of attrition. Star players were dropping left and right, and in some cases changing the outcome of series. It’s starting to feel like the healthiest team will ultimately be the last team standing as the second round begins.
The Boston Celtics were a popular pick to win the East heading into the playoffs. Now they’re out after the Philadelphia 76ers pulled off a shocking Game 7 victory with injured star Jayson Tatum on the bench. The Denver Nuggets were a trendy pick to win the championship a couple weeks ago. Instead, the team looked old, slow, and soft as they were boat-raced by the Timberwolves despite significant injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo.
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Let’s rank the final eight teams still standing in the 2026 NBA Playoffs by their championship chances.
Will Luka Doncic play in the second-round? It’s a question that hangs over the Lakers series with the Thunder. Los Angeles didn’t need him in round one against a pathetic Rockets’ offense, but the matchup with OKC will obviously be a much bigger challenge. Austin Reaves’ return to the lineup from his own soft tissue injury is an encouraging sign, but he’s about to face a stiff test against the Thunder’s legion of elite perimeter defenders. The Lakers know they have a sharp head coach in JJ Redick and a genius 41-year-old legend in LeBron James who should be able to find every vulnerability in the Thunder — but actually winning the series feels almost impossible with Luka still on the mend. The Lakers should feel great about getting this far, and this matchup with OKC will tell them where they need to improve this summer even if they ultimately fall short.
7. Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers are a different team with Joel Embiid healthy and engaged, and they proved it in their shocking first-round victory over the Celtics. Embiid looked well-rested coming back from appendicitis, and he destroyed a weak Boston frontcourt when it mattered. He’ll have a much tougher matchup against the Knicks in round two, but his one-on-one scoring is still a huge advantage…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-final-8-teams-still-120000254.html
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Publish date : 2026-05-04 12:00:00
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