2026 NBA Playoffs Recap: The Bracket, the Upset, the Champion
A No. 1 seed fell in Game 7, an underdog reached the Finals, and the Knicks ended a 53-year title drought. Here's how the 2026 postseason unfolded, round by round.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs delivered one of the more chaotic Western Conference brackets in recent memory and a storybook ending in the East. Here's the full round-by-round recap, from the play-in tournament to the Knicks' Finals-clinching win.
The Knicks closed out San Antonio 4-1 to capture their first title since 1973.
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the playoffs as the NBA's best regular-season team but were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in a Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals — the tournament's signature upset.
Western Conference: The Thunder's Stunning Exit
Oklahoma City rolled through the first two rounds as the top overall seed, but San Antonio — powered by a two-way surge from Victor Wembanyama — pushed the series to seven games and closed it out on the road, sealing one of the biggest upsets of the decade and sending the Spurs to their first Finals in years.
Eastern Conference: New York's Championship Push
The Knicks navigated the East as the No. 1 seed, surviving a tough Eastern Conference Finals matchup with Boston before advancing to face San Antonio for the title. New York's balance of defense and depth proved decisive throughout the run.
The Finals: Knicks 4, Spurs 1
New York took control early and never let go, closing out the series in five games. It's the franchise's first championship since 1973, ending one of the longest active title droughts in the league. Full game-by-game results are in our 2026 NBA Finals schedule breakdown.
See how the offseason reshaped both conferences in our 2026 Free Agency Tracker and check where every team lands in our 2026-27 Power Rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 NBA Playoffs?
The New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA Playoffs, beating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the Finals for their first championship since 1973.
What was the biggest upset of the 2026 playoffs?
The San Antonio Spurs eliminating the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in a Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals was the postseason's signature upset.
Who was the 2026 NBA Finals MVP?
New York's Finals-clinching performance in the five-game series anchored their MVP case, capping a title run built on defense and depth.
