The 2026 NBA playoffs have seen unexpected upsets, with only the Oklahoma City Thunder advancing to the second round. Major surprises include standout performances from underdog teams and players.
Key points
2026 NBA playoffs feature unexpected upsets
Oklahoma City Thunder are the reigning champions
Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana Pacers to the Finals
Jimmy Butler's Miami Heat are surprising contenders
Only one team has advanced to the second round
Oklahoma City ThunderIndiana PacersMiami Heat
The NBA playoffs are not known for upsets. We're used to seeing the mega superstars competing in the latest rounds. Major upsets, storybook performances from underappreciated players seem so rare that one such experience in a postseason makes for some of the most unforgettable moments in recent memory.
Whether it was Tyrese Haliburton leading the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals and taking the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in 2025 or Jimmy Butler taking the No. 8 seed Miami Heat to the Finals in 2023, these surprises turn ordinary postseasons into unforgettable ones. And this year, it seems like we've got a lot of them.
Although only one team – the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder – has advanced to the second round, there are a myriad of upsets on the horizon that I can say with near certainty very few people saw coming. Here are the five biggest surprises of the 2026 NBA postseason thus far:
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See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.
Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen before Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
The shoes of Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
Shoes worn by Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
The Nike Lebron XXIII shoes worn by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the Houston Rockets in the first half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, at Crypto.com Arena.
Shoes worn by Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
The shoes of Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
1 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.
See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.
Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
1 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.
See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.
Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
2 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen before Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
3 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
4 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
Shoes worn by Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
5 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The Nike Lebron XXIII shoes worn by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the Houston Rockets in the first half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, at Crypto.com Arena.
6 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
Shoes worn by Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
7 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
8 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
9 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
Even without Kevin Durant for most of the series, no one expected the Lakers to get out to a 3-0 series lead. But that is made much easier when someone like Marcus Smart, who shot under 40% during the regular season, scores 46 points combined in Games 2 and 3.
Smart averaged less than 10 points per game during the regular season and only scored more than 20 points three times. Now, in the postseason, we've seen him do it twice in just four games. And considering the combined point differential in those games was just 11 points, with one of those games going into overtime, Smart's out-of-nowhere performances certainly caught the Rockets by surprise.
Considering that CJ McCollum started just 25 games for the Atlanta Hawks this year, it's kind of shocking that he's been the one that helped elevate the team over the Knicks in Games 2 and 3 of their series.
While the series is still tied 2-2, McCollum has been a breath of fresh air and a pivotal reason the Hawks have any wins in this series at all. Not only is he shooting over 50% from the field, but he's only had one game with fewer than 20 points.
Considering how hot the Hawks ended the season, there were many fans who believed they'd put up a good fight or even upset the Knicks in Round 1. However, most of those fans believed the performances needed would come from All-Star Jalen Johnson, 2026 Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker or midseason trade acquisition Jonathan Kuminga. Seeing 34-year-old McCollum continue to give the Knicks' postseason woes was not on very many bingo cards, but it's certainly been great to watch.
The 22-time All-Star was two rebounds away from a triple-double in Game 1 and just four assists from another in Game 3. Unsurprisingly, his worst performance of the series thus far wound up being the only Lakers' loss.
Though the Minnesota Timberwolves were a popular sleeper pick to emerge from the West, their opening round matchup against the Denver Nuggets was still immensely tough, and many fans wouldn't have been surprised to see them lose the series.
Now, if we were to tell those same fans that Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo would go down with injuries in Game 4, they'd all probably assume the series would be over in six games maximum. However, even in a worst case scenario for Minnesota, this series will go seven games.
That same Game 4 that saw Edwards and DiVincenzo go down gave Dosunmu the avenue to take over. He did exactly that, notching 43 points, the most in a single game this postseason. Though Dosunmu was considered a great midseason acquisition for Minnesota at the time, no one could've expected him to be the catalyst for the Timberwolves' 3-1 series lead over the Nuggets.
Though that lead didn't last long and Denver wound up winning Game 5 handedly, the Timberwolves have put themselves in terrific position to take down Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets despite the absence of two critical players. They have Dosunmu to thank for that.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner reacts to a shot by forward Paolo Banchero against the Detroit Pistons in the fourth quarter during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner reacts to a shot by forward Paolo Banchero against the Detroit Pistons in the fourth quarter during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center.
This was obvious from the get-go, but it really could be considered either the Pistons' disappearance or the Magic's sudden surge.
The former is more likely the case though. While many fans believed the Pistons were more built for the regular season than postseason, nobody expected them to fall apart so quickly. Between increased turnovers and inconsistent offensive production, the Pistons have made it difficult for themselves to win.
In Game 4 alone, the Pistons committed 20 turnovers which led to 23 points for the Magic. If the Pistons could cut that number down to their game average figure from the regular season (15.1), the Magic would've scored approximately 17 points off turnovers, a six-point difference. Lo and behold, the Magic won Game 4 by six points.
