The NBA playoffs are under the microscope: here are Flashscore’s predictions for the 2026 postseason.
Check out the predictions from Flashscore’s basketball team for the 2026 NBA playoffs. Who will be champion? Who will be the surprise? Who will miss the biggest event of the season? We take out the crystal ball.
What will the Finals be and who will be the NBA champion?
Sébastien Gente (Flashscore France):
Denver Nuggets 4-1 New York Knicks
To win the Finals, you need a team with certainties. But beyond the classic “defense wins titles,” the key is having a complete and balanced starting five. Injuries hit during the regular season, but Denver is now fully healthy and in shape; they’ve been champions before and have unfinished business with the Thunder after being eliminated in Game 7 last year. The conference final will surely be the toughest challenge.
In the Finals, the Knicks have taken a step forward each year and no longer have excuses. They have a deep, well-paid roster that has been playing together for two years, in an Eastern Conference without a clear leader—the opportunity is too good to pass up on returning to the Finals after 27 years.
Finals MVP: Nikola Jokić
Michaela Gaislerová (Flashscore Global):
San Antonio Spurs 4-2 Boston Celtics
Wemby’s rise is already underway. The French superstar enters his third season playing the best basketball of his career. After missing almost half of last season due to a blood clot in his shoulder, he has returned stronger, more prepared, and more motivated, leading one of the fastest and most effective rebuilds in recent Spurs history.
There’s no denying San Antonio’s future is bright, but there’s also no reason to think they can’t win it all now. They dominated top-seeded Oklahoma 4-1 in the regular season and have the weapons and confidence to beat them again and reach the Finals.
The Celtics have exceeded all expectations this season, proving their strength lies in the team core and coaching staff, not individual stars. They fought for the Eastern title without their best player; and since Jayson Tatum returned to the lineup in early March, the team has only grown. They can contend for the Larry O’Brien trophy, but they will fall to the perfectly oiled and united Spurs machine.
Could San Antonio win the title ahead of schedule? Absolutely. But with a phenomenon like Wembanyama on the team, it’s more than likely. He dominates both ends of the floor and makes his teammates better. The forward has posted spectacular and highly efficient numbers in the regular season, and he hasn’t reached his ceiling yet. If he elevates his game even more in these playoffs, the Spurs can overcome top-tier teams like the Nuggets, Thunder, and Celtics to take the ring.
Finals MVP: Victor Wembanyama
Tolga Akdeniz (Flashscore Global): Denver Nuggets 4-2 Boston Celtics
Right now, I lean clearly toward the Denver Nuggets. They are on an impressive 12-game winning streak, and the Nikola Jokić factor is impossible to ignore.
They have been the best offensive team in the regular season, with an offensive rating of 121.2, a full point ahead of everyone else. Much of that success is due to Jokić, who is undoubtedly the best offensive player in the NBA.
He averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists this season, becoming the first player to lead the league in both rebounds and assists.
But Jamal Murray has also turned in what is likely his best regular season, averaging 25.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists. He shot 48.3% from the field and 43.5% from three, both career highs.
Jokić and Murray form arguably the best duo in the league, and with the supporting cast firing on all cylinders, Denver looks poised to bring home another championship.