NBA Swing: The Biggest Disappointments from the First Round of the Playoffs

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The first round of the NBA playoffs is traditionally a formal introduction to the “real” season, but in 2026, it has felt more like a brutal intervention. From the crumbling foundations of the Houston experiment to the shocking erosion of Denver’s championship DNA, the opening weeks of the postseason have exposed glaring vulnerabilities in some of the league’s most expensive rosters. Whether it’s superstar veterans like Kevin Durant facing an uncertain sunset, high-priced assets like Mikal Bridges vanishing when the lights get bright, or 60-win powerhouses like Detroit realizing that regular-season dominance doesn’t translate without a secondary punch, the message is clear: the status quo is no longer enough. As the dust settles on these early exits and narrow escapes, several franchises find themselves staring into an offseason mirror, forced to decide if their current core is a championship foundation or simply a costly mistake.

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant has given up on the Houston Rockets. Despite a strong personal season that saw him average 26 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 4.8 APG, Durant has only played one game in the Rockets first round series matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Durant would reportedly suffer an ankle injury in a practice, causing him to miss games 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. He would play in the Rockets Game 2 loss, finishing with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 1 steal, and 9 turnovers. It’s like Durant no longer sees a future with the Rockets.

When Durant signed a two-year, $90 million extension at the beginning of the 2025-26 season, the thought was that Durant would be the missing piece for the Rockets as they became championship contenders. With rumors coming out right before Game 3 that the Rockets could look to move Alperen Sengun this offseason in hopes of landing a big name, there is a small chance Durant could still be with the Rockets come the start of next season. It is more likely that Durant has played his last game in a Houston Rockets jersey.

Denver Nuggets

When the 2026 playoff matchups were set, many were looking at the 3/6 matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves to be one of, if not the best, series in the first round. Denver would have a solid Game 1, beating the Wolves 116-105, but would lose the next three games. Games 3 and 4 would see the Nuggets lose by 16 and 17 points, failing to reach 100 points in either game. Games 3 and 4 would see Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray put up their standard numbers, but both would have inefficient nights. The Nuggets have not had much help from anyone else, with pivotal role players like Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun having low-scoring nights most of the series.

In a series that has seen Donte DiVincenzo go down with an Achilles tear and Anthony Edwards go down with a knee hyperextension in Game 5, the Nuggets were expected to complete a 3-1 comeback and advance to the second round against the San Antonio Spurs. Minnesota would be out Edwards, DiVincenzo, and Ayo Dosunmu (who scored 43 points in Game 4) in Game 6, and the Nuggets still failed to force a Game 7 in a 98-110 loss. Jamal Murray would finish with a series low of 12 points, while Christian Braun finished with 3 or fewer points for the second time in the series. Denver has proven this team is not built for the playoffs, and major changes are needed in the offseason if the Nuggets want to remain in championship contention.

Mikal Bridges

Even though the expectations are not high for Mikal Bridges as the fourth or fifth option on the New York Knicks, his play has been far below expectations in New York’s first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. Across the first five games, Bridges would score just 36 points, including three games with less than 10 points scored, along with one zero-point game. Currently averaging 10 PPG, 2 RPG, and 1.7 APG, Bridges is shooting 35.3% from three. Bridges would miss the pivotal game-winner in Game 2 and would disappear in Game 3. While he would finish with 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in their Game 6 elimination win over the Hawks, his performance would come in a blowout. With many not expecting the Knicks to come out of the Eastern Conference, New York will have to make changes to remain in contention. While Karl Anthony Towns is most likely to be on the move first, Bridges four-year, $150 million contract cannot be justified given his current play for the Knicks.

Detroit Pistons

Entering the playoffs with 60 wins for the first time in 20 seasons, the expectation was that the Detroit Pistons would likely sweep the 8th-seeded Orlando Magic following their play-in win against the Charlotte Hornets. For Detroit, it has been anything but easy for Detroit so far. Detroit would be stunned in Game 1, losing by nine points, but would go on to win Game 2 by 15 points. They would then lose Games 3 and 4, being on the brink of elimination. Cade Cunningham has done what he can, carrying the team, as he is currently averaging 32.6 PPG, 7.0 APG, and 5.8 RPG. Veteran forward Tobias Harris has been reliable for the team, averaging 19.8 PPG and 7.8 RPG, but other than that, Cade has had almost no help in the playoffs.

Several role players on the team are averaging fewer points in the playoffs, while those who should be the second option for the team are failing to fill that role. Detroit’s first-round performance has shown the major flaw that will prevent them from being a legitimate championship contender: a true second option. Boston has Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Oklahoma City has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, and San Antonio has Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle. Until Detroit can have a definitive 1b or number two next to Cade, they’ll be a great regular season team, but not a legitimate championship contender when it matters most.

Jalen Duren

For the Detroit Pistons, their number two next to Cade should already be on the roster, in the form of Jalen Duren. Duren would have an All-Star season, averaging 19.5 PPG and 10.5 PPG, but has looked nothing like that player in the playoffs so far. In five games so far, Duren has averaged 10.2 PPG and 8.4 RPG. He has not scored more than 12 points in a game so far in the playoffs. In the positional matchup against Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr., Duren has struggled on both ends of the floor.

Duren has been one of the main reasons for Detroit’s struggles on both ends. He has not been able to provide the second option Detroit needs in the playoffs next to Cade Cunningham and has been outplayed on the defensive end. With Duren set to become a restricted free agent this summer, his playoff performance is guaranteed to be a factor in contraction discussions with Detroit and any team interested in the All-Star Center.