Championship Sunday: NBA Playoff Sunday Preview

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The first weekend of the 2026 NBA Playoffs continues today, with a four-game slate featuring both #1 seeds making their postseason debuts. After home teams went 4-0 on Saturday, the pressure is on the road underdogs to find an answer in hostile environments.

[2] Boston Celtics vs. [7] Philadelphia 76ers

Time: 12:00 PM CDT / 1:00 PM EDT
Coverage: ABC
The Vibe: Boston enters as a heavy 12.5-point favorite at TD Garden. Led by Jaylen Brown (28.7 PPG), the Celtics are looking to overwhelm a Philly team that survived a physical Play-In battle. Jason Tatum is back, and he has this team looking like the favorite in the East. Keep an eye on the boards; if Nikola Vučević can neutralize Philly’s interior, it could be a long afternoon for the Sixers.

[1] Oklahoma City Thunder vs. [8] Phoenix Suns

Time: 2:30 PM CDT / 3:30 PM EDT
Coverage: ABC
The Vibe: The defending champion Thunder, led by league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, open their title defense against a battle-tested Suns squad. Phoenix is riding the momentum of their Play-In win over Golden State, but they face an OKC defense that finished the season #1 in the league. Dillon Brooks will likely draw the assignment of shadowing SGA in what should be the day’s most physical matchup.

[1] Detroit Pistons vs. [8] Orlando Magic

Time: 5:30 PM CDT / 6:30 PM EDT
Coverage: NBC / Peacock
The Vibe: The #1 seed in the East finally takes the floor. Cade Cunningham (23.9 PPG, 9.9 APG) has turned Detroit into a juggernaut, but the Magic enter with nothing to lose after their dominant Play-In win over Charlotte. Watch the battle of the young titans: Paolo Banchero vs. Jalen Duren.

[2] San Antonio Spurs vs. [7] Portland Trail Blazers

Time: 8:00 PM CDT / 9:00 PM EDT
Coverage: NBC / Peacock
The Vibe: The “Wemby Era” postseason officially begins. Victor Wembanyama (25 PPG, 11.5 RPG) and trade-acquisition De’Aaron Fox lead a Spurs team that has covered the spread 43 times this season. They host a Portland team that has been elite against the spread at home but has struggled to find that same consistency on the road. After all the comments of how great Wemby wants to be, how great he wants his team to be, it will be interesting to see how dominant this team can be.

The Bottom Line: Sunday is all about the “Heavyweights.” With three different games featuring double-digit spreads, the world is waiting to see if any of the road underdogs can provide the first true “shock” of the 2026 postseason.