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The NBA playoffs is a 16 team tournament notorious for its comebacks, game winning shots, and dark horses.
Teams like the 2023 Miami Heat, an 8-seed that went all the way to the Finals, or the 2011 Dallas Mavericks who had the greatest finals run of all time, are legendary teams who will never be forgotten.
Now that the 2026 playoffs are upon us, there are two dark horse teams you should be on the lookout for.
In the West, there are more stars in the conference than it’s seen in years, including the top four MVP candidates.
It’s hard to see a lower-seeded team making a run to the conference or NBA finals, but I’m here to tell you that the Minnesota Timberwolves can do it.
With all the super teams in the West, people tend to forget that the Timberwolves are coming off back to back conference finals appearances.
Superstar Anthony Edwards is averaging more points and steals on better efficiency than he was last year.
And don’t forget that the Wolves already beat the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs two years ago. The Nuggets are the Wolves first round match up in this year’s playoffs. The Wolves stole game 2 and tied the series at 1-1.
In all, don’t be surprised if Minnesota makes a run to the NBA Finals.
The Eastern Conference is more open than ever. Teams like the Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics lost superstars Tyrese Haliburton and Jason Tatum to injuries, and it’s created a wide open hole for one team: the Cleveland Cavaliers.
If the Cavaliers are going to make a run to the NBA finals, this is the year to do it.
In each of the past two years Cleveland lost to the Pacers and Celtics, and both went on to reach the NBA finals.
This year is different. The addition of star guard James Harden adds much needed scoring and passing to an already elite defense headed by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Harden also takes some of the scoring load off of their star guard Donovan Mitchell. Even though Tatum is back from injury, the Cavaliers have the pieces and star power to get revenge and make a run to the Finals.
The Cavaliers have secured game 2 on Monday and now have a 2-0 series lead over the Raptors.
In the NBA Playoffs the best teams usually wins, but the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers are here to prove this is not the case.
