The NBA playoffs' first round saw major upsets, particularly the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets being eliminated, which shifted the championship focus onto the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs as the foremost contenders, while the New York Knicks emerged as the new favorite in the Eastern Conference following their decisive victory over the Atlanta Hawks. #NBAPlayoffs #BasketballFever #ChampionshipRace #US #CA
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2026 NBA title odds: Thunder, Spurs well ahead of the rest of the field
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are viewed as the only realistic contender to an Oklahoma City repeat. Ronald Cortes / Getty Images
Major upsets to the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets significantly altered the championship picture after the first round of the NBA playoffs.
