The 2026 NBA Playoffs have arrived, and the stage is set for another legendary chase for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. After the grueling 82-game marathon and the high-stakes Play-In Tournament, the bracket is finally locked. The action tips off tonight with a must-see slate, including the Atlanta Hawks visiting a raucous Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets taking on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
But as the first-round matchups begin, one question dominates the conversation: which team is truly the favorite? Our new NBA playoff power rankings for all 16 contenders aim to separate the contenders from the pretenders as we look ahead to the battles to come.
Expectations were sky-high for the Orlando Magic this season after they traded a treasure trove of picks to acquire sharpshooter Desmond Bane from Memphis. Unfortunately, the offensive spark they envisioned hasn't fully ignited, and a season hampered by injuries—with star Franz Wagner limited to just 31 games—has left them sputtering. The most shocking development, however, has been their defensive collapse. After boasting the league's top defense last year (105.5 PPG allowed), they've plummeted to 115.3 points allowed per game this season. That dramatic drop is a primary reason they enter their series against the Detroit Pistons as significant underdogs.
Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers' season began under a dark cloud with the shocking scandal involving former coach Chauncey Billups. Yet, interim coach Tiago Splitter engineered an impressive turnaround, steering the team to a 42-40 record and their first playoff berth since 2021. The engine of their success has been Deni Avdija, who is having a career-defining breakout year. The former lottery pick leads the team with 24.2 points per game and exploded for 41 points in their crucial Play-In victory. Their upcoming series against the San Antonio Spurs promises to be a thrilling, albeit likely short-lived, showcase.
In the North, the Toronto Raptors' patient rebuild is paying dividends. After taking a step back last season, the combination of a second year under coach Darko Rajakovic and the acquisition of All-Star forward Brandon Ingram has fueled a remarkable 16-win improvement. Their identity is built on a top-10 defense, surrendering just 111.8 points per game. However, an offense that languishes in the bottom third of the league (114.6 PPG) is the glaring weakness that makes them underdogs in their first-round series, highlighting the fine line between a good regular season team and a legitimate playoff threat.