The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs entered the 2026 Western Conference playoffs as the clear top seeds after posting the conference's best regular-season records, setting them apart from teams like the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers. Victor Wembanyama's dominance alongside supporting cast members such as Stephon Castle fueled the Spurs' strong form and favorable matchups, while the Thunder relied on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and depth despite injury concerns. Recent playoff results, including series wins over lower seeds and head-to-head history favoring the Spurs in key games, shaped trader views on which squads would reach the conference finals. Schedule rest, home-court advantage, and roster health remain key variables in best-of-seven formats.