The 2026 NBA playoffs are currently taking place, and only four possible matchups for the finals next month remain. The playoffs have been unpredictable, and so it isn’t easy to say who will win with any certainty. The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently the favorites to win, but upsets are always possible, and the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks are looking good.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder are the reigning champions. Many prediction markets and analysts place this team ahead of the field for various reasons. It not only has a home court advantage but is also known for its depth and consistency.
The team is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a top NBA performer. It has been playing without star wing Jalen Williams, who was injured, but he is back now.
It may be safe to predict that the team will win the Finals, but the margin is thinner than it was two weeks ago. Things have tightened up after the Game 4 loss to the Spurs. Chet Holmgren says that the Spurs played as if their season was on the line, and it wasn’t. He also said the team must figure out how to do whatever the game calls for to win games, and they didn’t do it in this game.
Sports betting is a very popular activity in the US, and you can place your bets on the NBA Finals at a US online sportsbook.
San Antonio Spurs
After the San Antonio Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama, the team has been on the up-and-up. He has led the team deep into the playoffs. The team tied the Western Conference Finals 2–2 after dominating Game 4 against the Thunder.
It’s not up to one player to win games, but any team facing the Spurs must contend with Wembanyama. He is good on both sides of the court with perimeter mobility and rim protection. His rebounding and ability to create shots give the Spurs an advantage that’s hard to match. If he continues ascending at the same pace, the Spurs could become a dangerous matchup.
Top NBA athletes like Wembanyama are often able to translate their athletic skills into financial success, as Kyle Kuzma has, due to his multi-faceted financial portfolio.
When it comes to a Final between the Thunder and the Spurs, the feeling is that rivalries need to mature, and this one hasn’t had the chance to do so yet with its young, star-studded team.
New York Knicks
The surprise story in the Eastern Conference is the New York Knicks. The team has won 10 consecutive postseason games, which is a new franchise record. The other three teams in the conference finals have won a title in the past 12 years, but the Knicks have been waiting since 1973.
Jalen Brunson has been one of the top NBA performers this season and is one of the most fearless playoff guards. The team’s toughness and versatility are serving them well, but a concern is their offensive consistency.
Many public analysts had the Knicks versus the Thunder as their preseason Finals pick, and both teams played impressively in the first two rounds of the playoffs. No team in the NBA appears better equipped to guard Brunson than the Thunder. The Knicks would probably have a better chance against the Spurs than against the Thunder. The point guard matchup in a Knicks versus Spurs Final would make history as both Jalen Brunson and Fox are left-handed.
Cleveland Cavaliers
In 2016, the Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, pulled off an upset against the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, in the Finals. However, it isn’t likely they will be able to pull off a similar feat this year.
Oklahoma City had two easy wins against Cleveland this season. The Cavaliers were undefeated against the Spurs, but the team’s inconsistency in the post-season and San Antonio’s dominance have turned that around. To beat the Thunder or the Spurs in the Finals, the Cavaliers would have to play some flawless offensive basketball, which doesn’t seem likely this year.
