The NBA season is back! We did it!
Oklahoma City Thunder begin their path to a repeat on Tuesday night (7:30 p.m. Peacock) vs. Kevin Durant And Houston Rockets after an offseason in which they re-signed the 2025 MVP Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderAll-Star Game Jalen Williams And Chet Holmgren transactions worth about $800 million.
Elsewhere in the busy Western Conference Stephen Curry And Golden State Warriors begin their first full campaign with Jimmy Butler, looking for a final attempt to end a decade of near-dominance when they take on (10 p.m. ET) Luka Doncic And Los Angeles Lakers.
In the trauma-ravaged East Cleveland Cavaliers return kernel — Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley And Jarrett Allen — which propelled them to 64 wins and a No. 1 seed last season. They face a make-or-bust Knicks team on Wednesday night (7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN).
Then San Antonio Spurs And Victor Vembanyamaafter a serious health scare last season and a transformational offseason, play Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis And Dallas Mavericksin a game featuring two of the most attractive teams in the West.
Will SGA and Thunder repeat to start a dynasty? Or maybe a three-time MVP Nikola Jokic return the Nuggets to the elite of the Western Conference? Can the Knicks reach their first Finals since 1999 in a wide-open East? Our experts cast their votes. Here's who they think will win the East, West and the 2026 NBA Finals.
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Eastern Conference Finals Picks
Tim Bontemps: Cavaliers beat Knicks in Game 7
Jamal Collier: Knicks beat Cavaliers in 7th round
Vincent Goodwill: Knicks beat Cavaliers in 7th round
Baxter Holmes: Knicks defeat Magic in 6
Zach Crum: Knicks beat Hawks in Game 6
Tim McMahon: Cavaliers beat Knicks in Game 7
Bobby Marks: Knicks beat Cavaliers in Game 6
Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers beat Knicks in Game 7
Kevin Pelton: Knicks beat Cavaliers in 7th round
Ramona Shelburne: Cavaliers beat Knicks in Game 7
Anthony Slater: Knicks beat Cavaliers in Game 6
Mark Spears: Cavaliers beat Knicks in Game 7
Michael Wright: Cavaliers beat Knicks in Game 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks defeat Magic in 6
Final result (Eastern Championship): Knicks 8, Cavaliers 6
Western Conference finalists selection
Bontemps: Thunder over Nuggets at 5
Collier: Thunder over the Timberwolves in Game 6
Goodwill: Thunder over Nuggets at 7
Holmes: Thunder over the Warriors at 6
Hug: Thunder over Nuggets at 7
McMahon: Thunder over the rockets at 6
Ratings: Nuggets defeated Thunder in 6
McMenamin: The Mavericks defeated the Thunder in 7
Pelton: Thunder over the Warriors at 6
Shelburne: Rockets over Thunder at 7
Slater: Thunder over the rockets at 6
Spears: Nuggets defeated Thunder in 7
Wright: Thunder over Nuggets at 7
Youngmisuk: Nuggets defeated Thunder in 7
Final tally (Western champions): Thunder 9, Nuggets 3, Mavericks 1, Rockets 1
NBA Finals Picks
Bontemps: Thunder over the Cavaliers at 5
Collier: Thunder over the Knicks in Game 6
Goodwill: Thunder over the Knicks at 5
Holmes: Thunder over the Knicks at 5
Hug: Thunder over the Knicks in Game 6
McMahon: Thunder over Cavaliers at 6
Ratings: Nuggets beat Knicks in Game 6
McMenamin: Mavericks beat Cavaliers in Game 6
Pelton: Thunder over the Knicks in Game 6
Shelburne: Rockets beat Cavaliers in Game 6
Slater: Thunder over the Knicks at 5
Spears: Cavaliers beat Nuggets by 6
Wright: Thunder over the Cavaliers at 7
Youngmisuk: Nuggets beat Knicks in Game 6
Final result (NBA champions): Thunder 9, Nuggets 2, Cavaliers 1, Mavericks 1, Rockets 1
Bonus! Who will win the 2025-2026 MVP award?
Bontemps: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Collier: Anthony Edwards
Goodwill: Nikola Jokic
Holmes: Jalen Brunson
Hug: Nikola Jokic
McMahon: Luka Doncic
Ratings: Nikola Jokic
McMenamin: Luka Doncic
Pelton: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shelburne: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Slater: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Spears: Nikola Jokic
Wright: Nikola Jokic
Youngmisuk: Nikola Jokic
Final count: Nikola Jokic 6, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 4, Luka Doncic 2, Jalen Brunson 1, Anthony Edwards 1
