The NBA playoffs are about to begin. And it might be a wide-open race to the title again

There was Toronto in 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Milwaukee in 2021, Golden State in 2022, Denver in 2023 and Boston in 2024.

Six different seasons, six different champions. A run of parity like none other in NBA history.

And now the Celtics get their turn at bucking that trend. Boston will try to win back-to-back NBA titles, something no franchise has managed since Golden State did it in 2017 and 2018. The NBA playoffs start Saturday with four Game 1s, continue Sunday with four more Game 1s and just like that a 16-team, two-month journey will be off and running.

“It's the best time of the year,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said.

Favored to win the title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, are the 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder, the top overall seed and No. 1 seed in the Western Conference — a team that set an NBA record this season by outscoring teams by 12.9 points per game. Their fellow No. 1 seed out of the Eastern Conference: the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers, a group that put together the second-best regular season in franchise history.

The Thunder haven't been to the NBA Finals since 2012. The Cavaliers haven't been there since the end of LeBron James' second era in Cleveland in 2018. Over the last six seasons, nine different franchises have made at least one finals appearance — further speaking to the parity leaguewide right now, and the Thunder and Cavs both have eyes on adding to that list.

“This is what you compete for, is to be able to compete on the biggest stages,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “We're now entering that. We've earned the opportunity to be there just like everybody else. We're certainly excited.”

The Cavs aren't even favored to win the East; oddsmakers list Boston as the pick to represent that side of the league in the NBA Finals. Cleveland — a team that led the NBA in scoring this season and finished second in field-goal percentage — may be turning that into fuel.

“I think I've been saying we're humble and hungry,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I don't know if that rings, but it's kind of who we are. ... Within the humility, there's a hunger in that locker room. They want to prove people wrong.”

Among the others in the playoff field: James and the Lakers, Stephen Curry and the Warriors, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee, Nikola Jokic and Denver. All past MVPs, all past champions, and all of them looking to do what Boston did last year.

“We're not defending a championship. We won last year. Can't nobody take it from us," Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said. “But last year was last season. That's out the window. We're not worried about anything besides the Magic right now.”

It's Boston vs. Orlando, New York vs. Detroit and Indiana vs. Milwaukee and Cleveland vs. Miami in the East. In the West, it's Oklahoma City vs. Memphis, Houston vs. Golden State, the Lakers vs. Minnesota and Denver vs. the Los Angeles Clippers. The Heat and Grizzlies both got the last spots and No. 8 seeds on Friday night with play-in, win-or-go-home victories. And Dallas' loss means the West won't have a repeat champion; the Mavericks — with Luka Doncic, now James' teammate with the Lakers — made the finals last season.

James and Curry have four titles apiece. Nobody has gotten to five as a player since Tim Duncan in 2014, when San Antonio won its most recent title. And both have to believe they have a realistic chance of getting through a loaded Western Conference — James and the Lakers bolstered by the addition of Doncic, Curry and the Warriors bolstered by the addition of Jimmy Butler.

“Means a lot to match up against him,” Minnesota star Anthony Edwards said of facing James, his Olympic teammate last summer, in Round 1. “Probably goes down as the greatest player to ever play basketball. So, trying to get putting him out of the playoffs under my belt is going to be a tough one — but it’s going to be a fun road.”

There's one Round 1 rematch from last season: Milwaukee vs. Indiana. The Pacers took advantage of a hobbled Bucks team last year and won in six games, and this year they'll be facing a Bucks team that doesn't have Damian Lillard for at least Game 1. Lillard has been sidelined by a blood clot, though was cleared to resume basketball activity this week.

“We're always going to get their best shot. They’re always going to get our best shot,” Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said. “Plain and simple, we don’t like each other."

There are tons of other storylines.

Denver is seeking its second title in three years, only this time with interim coach David Adelman — who replaced Michael Malone with three games left — at the helm, and the Nuggets open against Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and the airtight defense that the Clippers bring. Detroit is back in the playoffs, now with eyes on ending a 14-game postseason losing streak that goes back to 2008. Houston is back in the field, ending a five-year drought and climbing all the way to the No. 2 seed out West.

The Thunder are the favorite. The Cavs — who will face a 37-45 Heat team in Round 1 — and Celtics both won 60-plus games. The Lakers, Warriors and Nuggets certainly have reasons for confidence. The Timberwolves were the surprise team that made a deep run last year. The Pacers might be that team this year.

Parity may reign again.

“We have something to look forward to now,” Curry said. “And I'm excited about the challenge.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum reacts after scoring a three point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic (77) and LeBron James, center, right, hug and celebrate late in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green , left, compete for possession of the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12) blocks a shot by Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, and forward LeBron James celebrate at the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Friday, April 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Fans react as Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Saturday reiterated calls for structural changes in the U.N Security Council to grant Africa a larger role in shaping global decisions.

El-Sissi made the plea for a “more pluralistic” world order at a conference of the Russia-Africa partnership held in Cairo, which was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and ministers from more than 50 African countries along with representatives from several African and regional organizations.

“The voice of Africa should be present and influential in making global decisions given the continent’s human, economic, political and demographic weight,” el-Sissi said in a statement read out by his foreign minister at the plenary session of the conference. He added that international financial institutions need to undergo similar reforms to ensure Africa an equitable representation.

Since 2005, the African Union has been demanding that Africa be granted two permanent seats with veto powers in the Security Council, arguing that such reforms would contribute to achieving peace and stability on the continent, which has been struggling with wars for decades.

The Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, has not changed from its 1945 configuration: 10 non-permanent members from all regions of the world elected for two-year terms without veto power, and five countries that were dominant powers at the end of World War II are permanent members with veto power: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

In his statement, el-Sissi said that the Russia-Africa ministerial conference will develop a plan to consolidate the partnership ahead of next year’s summit of heads of state.

“We remain a reliable partner for African states in strengthening their national sovereignty, both politically and in matters of security, as well as in other dimensions,” Lavrov said at the the plenary session. “We’re committed to further unlocking the existing enormous potential of our practical cooperation.”

The forum has gained momentum after the 2023 summit in the Russian city of of St. Petersburg, where President Vladimir Putin sought support of African leaders and break the political and economic isolation imposed on Russia by Western countries following its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has also expanded its military footprint in Africa, delivering sophisticated weaponry to sub-Saharan conflict zones, where a Kremlin-controlled military unit that replaced the Wagner mercenaries has been active.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, shakes hands with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, after their joint press conference at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaks during a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaks during a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

In this photo, provided by Egypt's presidency media office, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, front right, greets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, before their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Egyptian Presidency Media Office via AP)