NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: May 4, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Eastern Conference Shocks & Series Deciders

The first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs concluded with dramatic upsets, as the Philadelphia 76ers vanquished the Boston Celtics in a Game 7 thriller, marking a stunning reversal after being down in the series. This decisive victory followed earlier playoff takeaways that showed the 76ers managed to steal Game 2 in Boston, setting the tone for Philadelphia's improbable run, though Joel Embiid later urged fans not to sell tickets to Knicks supporters ahead of the next round, signaling high confidence. Elsewhere in the East, the Orlando Magic ruled star Franz Wagner out again for Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons, a contest that saw the Pistons roar back to stun the ice-cold Magic to force the deciding matchup, with Detroit's victory anthem featuring rapper Gmac Cash becoming a fixture at Little Caesars Arena.

Western Conference Advancement & Offseason Outlooks

In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers blew out the Houston Rockets to secure their advancement, setting up a second-round clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the playoff picture remains incomplete as the second round awaits two deciding games elsewhere. For the franchises already eliminated, the focus immediately shifts to strategic rebuilding efforts, with offseason guides detailing required moves for teams like the Charlotte Hornets and the LA Clippers regarding draft and free agency targets. Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors managed to save their season temporarily when RJ Barrett hit a dramatic three-pointer in the closing moments of their game, forcing a Game 7 against their opponent.